All-solid-state Ce/sup 3+/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/ amplifier for femtosecond ultraviolet pulses toward terawatt level

Chirped-pulse amplification in the ultraviolet region using Ce/sup 3+/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/ crystal is demonstrated for the first time, and 6-mJ, 290-nm pulses are compressed to 115 fs. For future upgrade over terawatt-level, 70-mm-diameter Ce/sup 3+/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/ crystal is grown successfully.