Investigation of a 200-nJ chirped-pulse Ti:Sapphire oscillator for white light generation

Abstract

We report on the optimization of a long-cavity, chirped-pulse Ti:Sapphire oscillator to achieve maximum pulse energy for a given pump source. Effects of the intracavity dispersion on the output spectrum of our laser are studied in detail experimentally. We also present considerations on the cavity length optimization that can be achieved with a given set of resonator mirrors to achieve more energetic pulses. The output of the laser delivered chirped 200 nJ pulses that are compressible to ∼40 fs. These pulses can be ideally used for a white-light and/or few-cycle source with a subsequent extracavity spectral broadening stage.