High-average-power femtosecond laser at 258 nm

Michael Müller, Arno Klenke, Thomas Gottschall, Robert Klas, Carolin Rothhardt, Stefan Demmler, Jan Rothhardt, Jens Limpert, and Andreas Tünnermann

Index: 10.1364/OL.42.002826

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Abstract

We present an ultrafast fiber laser system delivering 4.6 W average power at 258 nm based on two-stage fourth-harmonic generation in beta barium borate (BBO). The beam quality is close to being diffraction limited with an M2 value of 1.3×1.6. The pulse duration is 150 fs, which, potentially, is compressible down to 40 fs. A plain BBO and a sapphire-BBO compound are compared with respect to the achievable beam quality in the conversion process. This laser is applicable in scientific and industrial fields. Further scaling to higher average power is discussed.