title: Optimization of few-cycle pulse generation: spatial size, mode quality and focal volume effects in filamentation based pulse compression.
abstract: We demonstrate the key role played by the spatial characteristics and focusing conditions of a femtosecond multi-cycle laser pulse in optimization of filament output for the purpose of obtaining compressed light pulses in the few-cycle regime. We find that for a given beam profile and focal parameters, driving the filament with energy above a certain limiting value can negatively impact pulse compression. However, for a given energy, a smaller and cleaner input beam mode obtained by using a hard aperture can substantially improve the pulse compression ability. In addition, we show that a larger focal volume can assist in creation of a shorter output pulse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shivaram
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Arvinder
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandhu
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007834:Lasers; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*