Open AccessPicosecond optical parametric generator and amplifier for large temperature-jump
Author(s) -
Mario Citroni,
Samuele Fanetti,
Bastien Guigue,
Paolo Bartolini,
Andrea Taschin,
Andrea Lapini,
Paolo Foggi,
Roberto Bini
Publication year - 2014
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.22.030047
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , picosecond , amplifier , optical parametric amplifier , sapphire , wavelength , birefringence , optical amplifier , optical parametric oscillator , optoelectronics , laser , physics , cmos
An optical parametric generator and amplifier producing 15 ps pulses at wavelengths tunable around 2 μm, with energies up to 15 mJ/pulse, has been realized and characterized. The output wavelength is chosen to match a vibrational combination band of water. By measuring the induced birefringence changes we prove that a single pulse is able to completely melt samples of ice in the 10⁻⁶ cm³ volume range, both at room pressure (263 K) and at high pressure (298 K, 1 GPa) in a sapphire anvil cell. This source opens the possibility of studying melting and freezing processes by spectroscopic probes in water or water solutions in a wide range of conditions as found in natural environments.