Generation of high-energy self-phase-stabilized pulses by difference-frequency generation followed by optical parametric amplification

We produce ultrabroadband self-phase-stabilized near-IR pulses by a novel approach where a seed pulse, obtained by difference-frequency generation of a hollow-fiber broadened supercontinuum, is amplified by a two-stage optical parametric amplifier. Energies up to 20 mu J with a pulse spectrum extending from 1.2 to 1.6 mu m are demonstrated, and a route for substantial energy scaling is indicated. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.