title: Diffractive optics for spectral control of the supercontinuum generated in sapphire with femtosecond pulses.
abstract: We propose the use of kinoform diffractive lenses to focus near infrared femtosecond pulses in sapphire crystals for supercontinuum generation. It is shown that a strongly peaked structure appears in the blue region of the supercontinuum spectra. The central wavelength of this peak can be easily controlled by simply changing the lens-crystal distance. Moreover, when compared with the supercontinuum generated with a refractive lens in analogous conditions, the spectral extension of the so-generated continuum is larger. Our results were corroborated for sapphire plates with different thicknesses as well as in other transparent dielectrics such as fused silica.
authors: Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain. cromero@usal.es
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Romero
authors: Rocío
authors: R
authors: Borrego-Varillas
authors: Acner
authors: A
authors: Camino
authors: Gladys
authors: G
authors: Mínguez-Vega
authors: Omel
authors: O
authors: Mendoza-Yero
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Hernández-Toro
authors: Javier R
authors: JR
authors: Vázquez de Aldana