Dispersion-engineered multi-pass cell for single-stage post-compression of an ytterbium laser

Post-compression methods for ultrafast laser pulses typically face challenging limitations, including saturation effects and temporal pulse breakup, when large compression factors and broad bandwidths are targeted. To overcome these lim-itations, we exploit direct dispersion control in a gas-filled multi-pass cell, enabling, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, single-stage post-compression of 150 fs pulses and up to 250 mu J pulse energy from an ytterbium (Yb) fiber laser down to sub-20 fs. Dispersion-engineered dielectric cav-ity mirrors are used to achieve nonlinear spectral broadening dominated by self-phase modulation over large compression factors and bandwidths at 98% throughput. Our method opens a route toward single-stage post-compression of Yb lasers into the few-cycle regime.Published by Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Cre-ative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published arti-cle's title, journal citation, and DOI.

Automated summary

To overcome limitations in post-compression methods for ultrafast laser pulses, researchers utilize direct dispersion control in a gas-filled multi-pass cell, achieving single-stage post-compression of 150 fs pulses and up to 250 μJ pulse energy. Dispersion-engineered dielectric cavity mirrors enable nonlinear spectral broadening at 98% throughput, opening a route for compressing ytterbium lasers into the few-cycle regime.