LAUSR

The superposition of signal and idler pulses in dual-chirped optical parametric amplification is proposed for the efficient generation of intensity-modulated pulses with periodic modulation. Both the duration and the modulation period are easily and independently adjustable. Numerical simulations for a three-stage optical parametric amplifier system predicted an efficiency as high as ~50% for about 40 mJ of output pulse energy at a wavelength of 2 µm. Sources of such intensity-modulated pulses near 1.6 µm or 2 µm wavelength, pumped by Ti:sapphire or Yb-doped lasers, can be ideally suited for intense multicycle THz pulse generation with tunable frequency and bandwidth by optical rectification for example in organic, semiconductor, or lithium niobate materials.