7/24/03

ARO Introduces 800 nm Optics for Ultrafast Lasers and Amplifiers

Alpine Research Optics (ARO, Boulder, CO) has introduced a comprehensive line of long-life optics specifically optimized for use with ultrafast laser beams. The full product line includes mirrors, windows, spherical & cylindrical lenses, beamsplitters and output couplers. Two series of optics offer a choice of broadband performance for use with lower power systems, or ultra-high damage resistance for high power systems such as regenerative amplifiers. All of the optics are suitable for both intracavity and beam delivery applications.

The lower power optics utilize state-of-the-art coatings designed to offer the widest spectral bandwidth (>150 nm). This makes them ideal for use with tunable ultrafast sources or with transform-limited pulses. (Conventional coatings could skew the spectral profile of these pulses causing temporal broadening). The high power optics are intended for use with regenerative and multipass amplifier systems. Here the coatings are optimized to withstand the extremely high peak powers characteristic of these short, high-energy pulses. Standard products are centered at a nominal wavelength of 800 nm to match Titanium:sapphire lasers. Custom wavelengths and sizes can be produced upon request.