Chirped Chirped Mirror WQ-CM-800-250

Overview

The WaveQuanta Chirped Mirror 800nm (-250 fs² per bounce) delivers mid-range group delay dispersion (GDD) compensation optimized for Ti:Sapphire-based chirped pulse amplification (CPA) systems and external compression stages. With -250 fs² per bounce, this mirror provides balanced dispersion control for ultrafast laser systems requiring moderate total GDD correction—approximately 24 bounces compensate 6000 fs² of accumulated positive dispersion from optical components and amplifier media.

This GDD value positions the WQ-CM-800-250 as an ideal solution for compact compressor geometries where higher bounce counts (50+ reflections) are impractical, yet finer dispersion tuning than high-GDD mirrors (-500 to -1000 fs²/bounce) is essential. The -250 fs² specification enables precise compression of femtosecond pulses while maintaining manageable cavity dimensions in both double-pass and multi-pass configurations.

Applications

• Ti:Sapphire CPA Systems: External pulse compression for 800 nm regenerative and multipass amplifiers generating sub-100 fs pulses
• OPCPA Pre-compression: GVD compensation in optical parametric CPA pump chains and seed stretcher/compressor assemblies
• Hollow-Core Fiber Compression: Post-compression dispersion management for few-cycle pulse generation systems
• Multiphoton Microscopy: Pulse width optimization for two-photon imaging systems requiring precise delivery of 50–200 fs pulses to biological samples

Construction & Performance

Manufactured on UVFS substrates, the WQ-CM-800-250 features ion beam sputtered (IBS) dielectric multilayer coatings engineered for P-polarization at standard angles of incidence (0–10°). The coating architecture delivers high reflectance (>99.5%) across the 750–850 nm bandwidth while maintaining the specified -250 fs² GDD with tight tolerances (±15 fs²). Designed for femtosecond laser operation, the mirror withstands 0.2 J/cm² laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) for pulse durations below 100 fs, ensuring reliable performance in multi-mJ CPA systems.

Storage & Handling

Operate at 25 °C, 40–60% RH. Clean only with >99% optical-grade ethanol and lint-free lens tissue using single-pass drag method. Avoid abrasive cloths and water.