Open AccessUltrabroadband supercontinuum and third-harmonic generation in bulk solids with two optical-cycle carrier-envelope phase-stable pulses at 2 μm
Author(s) -
J. Darginavičius,
D. Majus,
Vytautas Jukna,
N. Garejev,
G. Valiulis,
Arnaud Couairon,
A. Dubietis
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.025210
Subject(s) - supercontinuum , carrier envelope phase , optics , filamentation , materials science , phase (matter) , sapphire , interferometry , envelope (radar) , second harmonic generation , high harmonic generation , nonlinear optics , frequency comb , doppler broadening , laser , physics , spectral line , photonic crystal fiber , optical fiber , telecommunications , radar , quantum mechanics , astronomy , computer science
We report on the generation of ultrabroadband supercontinuum (SC) by filamentation of two optical-cycle, carrier-envelope phase-stable pulses at 2 μm in fused silica, sapphire, CaF₂ and YAG. The SC spectra extend from 450 nm to more than 2500 nm, and their particular shapes depend on dispersive properties of the materials. Prior to spectral super-broadening, we observe third-harmonic generation, which occurs in the condition of large phase and group velocity mismatch and consists of free and driven components. A double-peaked third-harmonic structure coexists with the SC pulse as demonstrated by the numerical simulations and verified experimentally. The SC pulses have stable carrier envelope phase with short-term rms fluctuations of ∼ 300 mrad, as simultaneously measured in YAG crystal by f-2f and f-3f interferometry, where the latter makes use of intrinsic third-harmonic generation.