60 fs, 1030 nm FEL pump-probe laser based on a multi-pass post-compressed Yb:YAG source

This paper reports on nonlinear spectral broadening of 1.1 ps pulses in a gas-filled multi-pass cell to generate sub-100 fs optical pulses at 1030 nm and 515 nm at pulse energies of 0.8 mJ and 225 mu J, respectively, for pump-probe experiments at the free-electron laser FLASH. Combining a 100 kHz Yb:YAG laser with 180 W in-burst average power and a post-compression platform enables reaching simultaneously high average powers and short pulse durations for high-repetition-rate FEL pump-probe experiments.

Automated summary

This paper demonstrates the nonlinear spectral broadening technique in a gas-filled multi-pass cell to generate sub-100 fs optical pulses for pump-probe experiments at the free-electron laser FLASH. By combining a high-power Yb:YAG laser with a post-compression platform, high average powers and short pulse durations are simultaneously achieved, enabling high-repetition-rate FEL pump-probe experiments.