title: Conversion of high-power 15-fs visible pulses to the mid infrared.
abstract: We measure the efficiency of converting high-power 15-fs 0.8-mum pulses to the mid infrared in GaAs and GaSe as well as the pulse duration and the spectrum of the infrared radiation that is produced. Free-carrier production limits the conversion efficiency in GaAs to approximately 5x10(-7) , allowing us to produce 2.5-pJ, 30-fs pulses spanning the spectral range from 6 to 14 mum . In GaSe we obtain, in a moderately saturated regime, a conversion efficiency of 7.5x10(-5) , limited by two-photon absorption, allowing us to produce pulses of 100-fs duration containing 10 nJ of energy.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Likforman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehendale
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joffre
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Corkum