Sub-20 fs visible pulses with 750 nJ energy from a 100 kHz NOPA

A single stage noncollinearly phase matched optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) was used to generate sub-20 fs tunable visible pulses at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. The single stage NOPA pumped by the 100 kHz 50 fs pulses is an extremely simple, compact and stable device that delivers tunable visible pulses with unprecedented pulse energy and in particular much shorter duration than previously available. These pulses will be most useful for various spectroscopic experiments in molecular, surface and biological physics.