Generation of 50-TW femtosecond pulses in a Ti:sapphire/Nd:glass chain

Femtosecond pulses in the 50–60-TW power range have been generated at 1064 nm by using the chirped-pulse-amplification technique applied to a Ti:sapphire/Nd:silicate glass (90-mm output aperture) power chain. We have identified the spectral gain narrowing to be one of the main issues, and we show how to solve it.