Carrier-Envelope-Offset Frequency Stabilization of a High Peak and Average Power Thin-Disk Oscillator

TL;DR

This paper reports the first stabilization of the carrier-envelope-offset frequency in a high-power, high-peak-power thin-disk laser oscillator, enabling advanced frequency comb applications in the UV range.

Contribution

It demonstrates the highest peak power in a stabilized thin-disk oscillator and introduces a novel intra-cavity loss modulation technique for CEO stabilization.

Findings

Achieved 180 W average power with stabilized CEO frequency.

Demonstrated intra-cavity peak power exceeding 500 MW.

Enabled high harmonic generation in noble gases.

Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate carrier-envelope-offset (CEO) frequency stabilization of a Kerr-lens mode-locked thin-disk oscillator delivering 180 W average power, 80 MW output peak power, and >500 MW intra-cavity peak power, the highest peak power achieved in any stabilized thin-disk oscillator system. The CEO frequency detection is performed with an f-2f interferometer based on supercontinuum generation in a YAG crystal. Intra-cavity loss modulation using an acousto-optic modulator, that simultaneously provides the Kerr lens, yields 50 mrad of residual phase noise with a 250 kHz control bandwidth. After pulse compression to 0.9 GW peak power in a dual-stage multipass cell, the system directly enables high harmonic generation in noble gases. These results represent a significant step in realizing a compact and robust high-repetition-rate driver system suitable for vacuum ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet frequency comb generation.