Ultrahigh-peak and high-average power chirped-pulse amplification of sub-20-fs pulses with Ti:sapphire amplifiers

We present the design and performance of an efficient, ultrashort-duration, ultrahigh-peak power Ti:sapphire amplifier system that has produced 16-fs pulses with a peak power of 10 TW at a 10-Hz repetition rate. We also describe present developmental efforts to extend this system to the 100-TW level at an average power of 20 W and finally outline the design of a future system capable of producing petawatt pulses with 20-fs durations.