Efficient and compact source of tuneable ultrafast deep ultraviolet laser pulses at 50 kHz repetition rate
Christian Brahms, John C. Travers
Abstract
Deep ultraviolet (DUV) laser pulses with tuneable wavelength and very short duration are a key enabling technology for next-generation technology and ultrafast science. Their generation has been the subject of extensive experimental effort, but no technique demonstrated thus far has been able to meet all requirements in one light source. Here we demonstrate a bright, efficient, and compact source of tuneable DUV ultrafast laser pulses based on resonant dispersive wave emission in hollow capillary fiber. In a total footprint of only <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mn>120</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mspace width="thinmathspace"/> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mtext>cm</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> <mml:mo>×</mml:mo> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mn>75</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mspace width="thinmathspace"/> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mtext>cm</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> , including the ytterbium-based drive laser, we generate pulses between <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mn>208</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mspace width="thinmathspace"/> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mtext>nm</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> and <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mn>363</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mspace width="thinmathspace"/> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mtext>nm</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> at <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mn>50</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mspace width="thinmathspace"/> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mtext>kHz</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> repetition rate with a total efficiency of up to <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mn>3.6</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">%</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . Down-scaling of the DUV generation reduces the required energy sufficiently to enable the generation of two-color few-femtosecond DUV pulses.