10-mJ optically synchronized CEP-stable chirped parametric amplifier at 1.5 μm

We demonstrate the generation of 10-mJ 1.5-mu m few-cycle pulses from a 4-stage OPCPA system. The system is based on a fusion of femtosecond DPSS Yb technology and a picosecond Nd:YAG pump laser. In a first preliminary filamentation experiment in argon at 5 atm, we observe significant spectral broadening of the recompressed multi-mJ 1.5-mu m pulses. The filamentation output spectrum supports the generation of 8 fs pulses equivalent to sub-to-cycle pulses at 1.5 mu m. We foresee that our terawatt-peak-power sub-to-cycle pulse source will open the door to exciting new experiments in attosecond high-field science in the near future.