title: Picosecond optical parametric generator and amplifier for large temperature-jump.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Citroni
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanetti
authors.forename: Bastien
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guigue
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartolini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taschin
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foggi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bini
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D001718:Birefringence; D005615:Freezing; D007053:Ice; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007053:Ice