LBO Crystal for OPCPA Systems
What is OPCPA?
OPCPA (optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification) amplifies ultrashort laser pulses to high energy while preserving their broad bandwidth. A chirped (stretched) pulse is amplified in a nonlinear parametric stage, then recompressed — bypassing the gain narrowing and thermal load of conventional amplifiers like Ti:sapphire. The nonlinear crystal is the heart of the system, and LBO is one of the most used crystals for broadband OPCPA stages.
Why LBO for OPCPA
LBO (LiB3O5) offers the combination OPCPA needs: a broad phase-matching bandwidth (to amplify the full stretched-pulse spectrum without narrowing), a very high laser-damage threshold (to survive the intense pump), good optical quality at large aperture, and support for non-critical phase matching that widens the bandwidth and removes walk-off. Pumped typically by frequency-doubled Nd-based lasers (~532 nm), LBO can amplify signal pulses across the visible to near-IR.
| Property | LBO for OPCPA |
|---|---|
| Bandwidth | Broad (supports few-cycle/femtosecond amplification) |
| Damage threshold | Very high (handles intense pump) |
| Walk-off | Minimised via non-critical phase matching |
| Typical pump | ~532 nm (frequency-doubled Nd laser) |
| Thermal load | Low (parametric — little heat deposited vs gain media) |
Applications
LBO-based OPCPA powers ultrafast high-peak-power systems for attosecond science, high-harmonic generation, time-resolved spectroscopy and strong-field physics — delivering shorter, higher-energy pulses than narrowed Ti:sapphire amplifiers. See the LBO product page and the BBO vs LBO vs KTP comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Why parametric amplification for ultrafast? It avoids the gain narrowing and heat of laser amplifiers, preserving broad bandwidth for few-cycle pulses.
Why LBO over BBO in OPCPA? LBO's wider bandwidth under non-critical phase matching and higher damage threshold favour broadband high-energy stages; BBO is used where its transparency or tuning range is needed.
Does OPCPA need temperature control? Often — non-critical phase matching in LBO is temperature-tuned, so a stable heated stage is typical.
For more information on crystal materials, please consult info@aogcrystal.com