Abstract

We demonstrate the operation of a $100\mathrm{kHz}$ noncollinear optical parametric amplifier that is pumped by just a few microjoules of $800\mathrm{nm}$ pulses with $50\mathrm{fs}$ duration. The device delivers sub-$20\mathrm{fs}$ pulses tunable from $460\mathrm{nm}$ to beyond $1\mu \mathrm{m}$ and pulse energies up to $750\mathrm{nJ}$ when it is pumped with $7\mu \mathrm{J}$ of energy. The design of the single-stage amplifier has been carefully optimized, and the design considerations are discussed.

© 2006 Optical Society of America