Nonlinear pulse compression in solid-core fibers for high-average power few-cycle pulses in the MIR

High-average-power ultrashort-pulse laser systems in the mid-infrared (MIR) molecular fingerprint region (2–25 μm) are of great interest for environmental applications, defense and fundamental research, in particular for studies of molecular dynamics on the femtosecond scale, chemical reactions and dynamics of photo-excited charge carriers in semiconductors [1-3]. High-sensitivity spectroscopic applications require excellent laser stability as well as high average powers enabling a high dynamic range and good signal to noise ratio. In addition, few-cycle pulse duration and the control over the carrier envelope phase (CEP) opens the possibility for MIR dual-comb spectroscopy, which allows for significantly shorter measurement times and improved stability [3].