Generation of intense femtosecond optical pulses near 3 μm with a kilohertz repetition rate

Abstract

A simple extension of a commercial laser system permits the generation of intense femtosecond infrared pulses near 3 µm by optical parametric generation and amplification at kilohertz repetition rates. Pulse durations of a few hundred femtoseconds and pulse energies of tens of microjoules can be routinely produced, thus permitting nonlinear optical studies of molecular vibrations.