ALL-SOLID-STATE GENERATION OF 100-KHZ TUNABLE MIDINFRARED 50-FS PULSES IN TYPE-I AND TYPE-II AGGAS2

We report the operation of an all-solid-state system for the generatio n of tunable mid-infrared sub-50-fs pulses. A Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier, pumped by 10 W of power from 532-nm, diode-pumped, frequen cy-doubled Nd:YVO4 lasers, produced 4-mu J energy, sub-50-fs pulses at 800 nm with a 100-kHz repetition rate. This output was used to drive a beta-BaB2O4 optical parametric amplifier followed by a difference-fr equency generator based on a AgGaS2 crystal. Continuous tuning of ultr afast pulses hom 2.4 mu m to longer than 12 mu m was obtained. A perfo rmance comparison of difference-frequency generation an type I and typ e II phase-matched AgGaS2 is reported. (C) 1998 Optical Society of Ame rica.