Post-compression of multiterawatt long-wave infrared pulses

We present the development of a robust and efficient post-compressor for long-wave infrared (LWIR) pulses. Based on a systematic characterization of optical materials relevant to the LWIR range, we conceptualized a two-component bulk-material apparatus. Numerical modeling and optimization, validated by two proof-of-principle experiments (low-energy and scaled-up), culminated in an original practical design that is now being deployed to compress a 3TW, 2 ps, 9.2 μm pulse to 500 fs. Furthermore, the potential for achieving 100 fs (approximately three optical cycles) in a next-generation high-peak-power LWIR laser system is predicted.