Efficient broadband 400 nm noncollinear second-harmonic generation of chirped femtosecond laser pulses in BBO and LBO.

We report on 400 nm broadband type I frequency doubling in a noncollinear geometry with pulse-front-tilted and chirped femtosecond pulses (λ =800  nm; Fourier transform limited pulse duration, 45 fs). With moderate power densities (2 to 10  GW/cm2) thus avoiding higher-order nonlinear phenomena, the energy conversion efficiency was up to 65%. Second-harmonic pulses of Fourier transform limited pulse duration shorter than the fundamental wave were generated, exhibiting good beam quality and no pulse-front tilt.

Impact of wave front and coherence optimization in coherent diffractive imaging.

We present single shot nanoscale imaging using a table-top femtosecond soft X-ray laser harmonic source at a wavelength of 32 nm. We show that the phase retrieval process in coherent diffractive imaging critically depends on beam quality. Coherence and image fidelity are measured from single-shot coherent diffraction patterns of isolated nano-patterned slits.

Wavelength dispersion measurement of electro-optic coefficients in the range of 520 to 930 nm in rubidium titanyl phosphate using spectral interferometry.

Rubidium titanyl phosphate (RTP) is widely used for electro-optical applications at low switching voltages. RTP is nonhygroscopic and does not induce piezoelectric ringing up to the megahertz range. It has large electro-optic (EO) coefficients and a high damage threshold.

Carrier-Envelope Phase stabilization of a 20 W, grating based, chirped-pulse amplified laser, using electro-optic effect in a LiNbO₃ crystal.

Using an original CEP stabilization technique based on the linear electro-optical effect in a specific crystal, we achieved long term CEP stabilization of a 20 W, 1 kHz laser with residual noise as low as 440 mrad (rms). At 3 W, the CEP shot to shot noise is kept as low as 320 mrad (rms) over half an hour.