High-energy, diode-pumped, picosecond Yb:YAG chirped-pulse regenerative amplifier for pumping optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification

A diode-pumped, cryogenic-cooled Yb:YAG regenerative amplifier utilizing gain-narrowing has been developed. A 1.2-ns chirped-seed pulse was simultaneously amplified and compressed in the regenerative amplifier, which generated a 35-ps pulse with similar to 8-mJ of energy without a pulse compressor. Second-harmonies of the amplified pulse was used to pump picosecond two-color optical parametric amplification. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.