title: Wavelength-tunable high-power picosecond pulses from a fiber-pumped diode-seeded high-gain parametric amplifier.
abstract: We describe a high-gain optical parametric amplifier (OPA) and optical parametric generator (OPG) system pumped by a fiber chirped-pulse amplification source based on novel large-mode-area fiber components. 45-nJ OPG thresholds and 34% pump-signal conversion efficiencies are obtained for ~4-ps pulses. OPA gains in excess of 75 dB and pump-signal conversion efficiencies of ~39% (external) are demonstrated. Furthermore, we show that injection seeding of such high-gain parametric devices by use of a low-power continuous-wave beam results in high-power (>18-kW) picosecond pulses with a time-bandwidth produce of ~0.65, some ten times less than from a free-running OPG. Using such an approach, we obtain 2.7-ps 50-nJ pulses at 1.310 mum .
authors: P E
authors: PE
authors: Britton
authors: N G
authors: NG
authors: Broderick
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Richardson
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Smith
authors: G W
authors: GW
authors: Ross
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Hanna