Source: http://aoot.osa.org/josab/abstract.cfm?uri=josab-34-1-88
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 10:17:16+00:00

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We present spectral measurements that uncover the detailed dynamics of the supercontinuum generation in fused silica, YAG, and LiF crystals when pumped with 100 fs pulses with a central wavelength of 2.3 μm, which falls into the range of anomalous group velocity dispersion of the media. The multi-octave supercontinuum spectra, which span from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared, are recorded by means of high-dynamic range measurements over the entire wavelength range covered by the supercontinuum radiation. The spectral dynamics versus the input pulse energy uncovers different mechanisms of spectral broadening, which are characterized by the occurrence of specific but well-distinguished spectral signatures and which are interpreted in terms of plasma-induced and anomalous group velocity dispersion-induced compression of the driving pulse.
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Fig. 1. Spectral broadening in fused silica versus the input pulse energy. Insets on the right show the visual appearance of the output beam in the far field at various stages of spectral broadening. The dimensions of the insets in the following figures are of the same scale.
Fig. 2. Characteristic spectra in fused silica, originating from (a) plasma-induced pulse compression and (b) GVD-induced pulse compression and formation of the light bullet. A step-wise change in the background is due to different noise levels of the detectors.
Fig. 3. Spectral broadening in YAG versus the input pulse energy. Insets on the right show the visual appearance of the output beam in the far field at various stages of spectral broadening.
Fig. 4. Characteristic spectra in YAG, originating from (a) plasma-induced pulse compression and (b) GVD-induced pulse compression and formation of the light bullet.
Fig. 5. (a) Time evolution of the ultraviolet-near infrared part of the SC spectrum in LiF as recorded with the input pulse energy of 10.2 μJ. (b) Examples of the individual SC spectra after a different number of laser shots.
Fig. 6. Spectral broadening in LiF versus the input pulse energy. Insets on the right show the visual appearance of the output beam in the far field at various stages of spectral broadening.
Fig. 7. Characteristic spectra in LiF, originating from (a) plasma-induced pulse compression and (b) GVD-induced pulse compression and formation of the light bullet.

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