chirped dielectric mirrors

We are pursuing the development of ultra-broadband multilayer dielectric mirrors and filters with tailored dispersion and reflectivity characteristics by using state-of-the-art techniques for the design, manufacturing and characterization of complex dielectric multilayer structures. By depositing up to 50-100 layers of dielectric materials on substrates with sub-nanometre accuracy, we produce dispersive mirrors with high reflectivity over spectral bands extending over several hundred terahertz, spanning the range from ultraviolet to infrared frequencies, and a group delay controlled with an accuracy of better than 1 femtosecond over these bandwidths. Alternatively, high dispersion over narrower bands can also be produced.

This chirped mirror technology enables us to generate intense near-single-cycle light waveforms in the visible/near-infrared spectral range, with durations down to ∼3 femtoseconds, which – in turn – give rise to record-duration 80-attosecond laser pulses. With latest electron beam evaporation, ion beam sputtering and magnetron sputtering coating technology, we are extending these precision deposition capabilities towards the deep ultraviolet (→ 200 nm) and mid infrared (→ 3000 nm) regime.

contact: V. Pervak, A. Apolonskiy

references:

1.5-octave chirped mirror for pulse compression down to sub-3 fs, V. Pervak et al. Appl. Phys. B 87, 5 (2007)

Dispersion-control over the ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectral range with HfO27SiO2-chirped dielectric multilayers, V. Pervak Opt. Lett. 32, 1183 (2007)

High dispersive mirrors for femtosecond lasers, V. Pervak et al. Opt. Expr. 16, 10220 (2008)

Intense 1.5-cycle near infrared laser waveforms and their use for the generation of ultra-broadband soft-X-ray harmonic continua, A. L. Cavallieri et al. New J. Phys. 9, 242 (2007)