Near-infrared optical parametric amplifier at 1 MHz directly pumped by a femtosecond oscillator

We demonstrate a high-average-power optical parametric amplifier directly pumped by a cavity-dumped Yb:KYW mode-locked laser oscillator at 1 MHz repetition rate. The two-stage system uses periodically poled lithium niobate crystals both for optical parametric generation and for power amplification. We obtain average powers as high as 190 mW with 220 fs average pulse widths and wavelength tunability in the 1.3-1.6 mu m (signal) and 3.1-4.6 mu m (idler) range. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.