Optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier producing ultrashort 10.5 mJ pulses at 1.55 μm

We present an optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA) delivering 10.5 mJ pulses with durations down to 220 fs, at 100 Hz repetition rate, centered at 1550 nm. The system is pumped by a picosecond Nd:YAG amplifier at 1064 nm based on quasi-continuous-wave diode pumping and seeded by a femtosecond mode-locked Er fiber laser at 1550 nm. This choice of wavelengths enables the use of well-established technology and optical components for both pump and signal beams, resulting in a straightforward and robust system design and the ability for further power scaling to be used in high-energy laser-produced plasma experiments. (C) 2019 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement