KTiOPO4, KTiOAsO4, and KNbO3 crystals for mid-infrared femtosecond optical parametric amplifiers:: analysis and comparison

We have designed a simple mid-LR femtosecond OPA seeded by a white-light continuum and delivering very stable, largely tunable and energetic output pulses. This OPA requires fewer than 200 mu J of 120-fs Ti:sapphire pump pulses as energy. This system allowed us to experimentally compare the performances of potassium crystals (KTP, KTA, and KNbO3) for the generation of up to 100-fs Fourier-transform-limited pulses tunable in 1-4.6 mu m mid-IR wavelengths.