High Average Power Type II Frequency Doubling with a Predelay for Pulse Compression and Peak Intensity Enhancement

Abstract

Fourfold pulse compression from 840 fs to 192 fs was obtained by inserting a time delay between the ordinary- and extraordinary fundamental pulses prior to type II frequency doubling in a BBO crystal. Despite a conversion efficiency of 26 %, an increase of peak power of nearly 20 % was achieved.