title: White-light generation with sub-ps pulses.
abstract: We generate white light supercontinuum from slightly sub-picosecond pulses at 1.03 µm and 515 nm. We compare the spectra and stability for various crystals, focusing conditions and pulse durations, and determine the best parameters for sub-picosecond driver pulse duration. Comparing the experimental observations with the theory of white-light generation from Brodeur and Chin, it appears that in this particular range of pump pulse duration, two mechanisms interact and prevent a catastrophic collapse of the beam: multi-photon excitation (typical for ~100-fs-long pulses) and avalanche ionization (typical for >1-ps pulses). The two processes both manifest themselves in different experimental observations.
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Calendron
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Çankaya
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cirmi
authors.forename: Franz X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Kärtner