A table-top high contrast TW laser system

The seed pulses of the laser system is generated in a Kerr-lens-mode-locked Ti:sapphire oscillator pumped with 3.2 W power of a frequency doubled cw Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser. The produced pulses exhibit 16 fs duration at 800 nm with a mean output power of 200 mW at a repetition rate of 72 MHz. The pulses are stretched in an all reflective stretcher consisted of a pair of 1200 mm/sup -1/ gratings and a spherical mirror, which allows the spectral transmission as broad as 200 nm.