Temporal pulse quality of a Yb:YAG burst-mode laser post-compressed in a multi-pass cell

Nonlinear pulse post-compression represents an efficient method for ultrashort, high-quality laser production. The temporal quality is, however, limited by amplitude and phase modulations intrinsic to post-compression. We here characterize in frequency time domain with high dynamic range individual post-compressed pulses within bursts comprising 100-kHz-rate trains. spectrally broaden 730 fs, 3.2 mJ from a Yb:YAG gas-filled multi-pass cell post-compress them 56 fs. exhibit nearly constant energy content of 78% the main peak over burst plateau, which is close theoretical limit. Our results demonstrate attractive characteristics, making lasers very applicable pump–probe spectroscopy at, e.g., free-electron or as drivers secondary conversion stages.