Generation of high energy 10 fs pulses by a new pulse compression technique

An optical compression technique which is particularly suitable for ultrashort pulses of high energy is presented. Spectral broadening is achieved by pulse propagation along a hollow-core fused silica waveguide filled with noble gases at high pressure, Pulse compression is then obtained in a prisms dispersive delay line. Experiments performed with pulses of 140 fs duration and 660 mu J energy from a Ti:sapphire laser demonstrate the generation of compressed pulses of 10 fs duration and 240 mu J energy. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.