Optimizing input and output chirps up to the third-order for sub-nanojoule, ultra-short pulse compression in small core area PCF

Compression of sub-nanojoule laser pulses using a commercially available photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with zero dispersion wavelength of 860 nm is discussed. A twofold pulse compression starting from 24 fs transform limited seed pulses around 800 nm is experimentally demonstrated as a verification of our simulations. Theory shows that by the optimization of input and output chirp parameters up to the third order, high quality, 5.7 fs pulses can be generated from a cost efficient experimental setup. Further calculations show that 1 ps pulses with central wavelength of 800 nm can be compressed down to 50 fs in the normal dispersion regime of the fiber with proper dispersion compensation. Calculations also show that dispersion flattened fibers can improve both the quality and the duration of compressed pulses.