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OCIS codes: (320.6629) Supercontinuum generation; (320.7110) Ultrafast nonlinear optics; (190.4223) Nonlinear wave mixing
Abstract:
We generate white light supercontinuum from slightly sub-picosecond pulses at 1.03 µm and 515 nm. We compare the spectra and stability for various crystals, focusing conditions and pulse durations, and determine the best parameters for sub-picosecond driver pulse duration. Comparing the experimental observations with the theory of white-light generation from Brodeur and Chin, it appears that in this particular range of pump pulse duration, two mechanisms interact and prevent a catastrophic collapse of the beam: multi-photon excitation (typical for ~100-fs-long pulses) and avalanche ionization (typical for >1-ps pulses). The two processes both manifest themselves in different experimental observations.
