Generation of ultra-broadband pulses in the near-IR by non-collinear optical parametric amplification in potassium titanyl phosphate

Non-collinear optical parametric amplification in potassium-titanyl phosphate (KTP) pumped with 800 nm pulses is reported. Broadband phase matching is achieved with non-collinear geometry and a slightly divergent signal seed. This enables a gain bandwidth up to similar to 2500 cm(-1) in near-IR region. Introducing a chirp into the pump pulse makes it possible to amplify the white light seed in a broad spectral region from similar to 1050 to similar to 1400 nm simultaneously. Pulse compression to sub-40 fs is readily achieved, while the spectrum should support similar to 8.5 fs pulses. Angular dispersion of the broadband output is discussed. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.