Femtosecond optical parametric generation (OPG) in periodically poled stoichiometric LiTaO/sub 3/ with <1 W average power

Summary form only given. We present a parametric generator based on the novel nonlinear material periodically poled stoichiometric LiTaO/sub 3/ (PPSLT) and a recently developed high-power femtosecond Yb:KY(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ (Yb:KYW) thin-disk laser. We achieved simple and robust single-pass OPG at the full repetition rate of 24 MHz. We obtained stable 1 W signal power in 320 fs-pulses with a good transverse beam quality (M/sup 2/ = 1.1) at 1.45 /spl mu/m and 0.6 W of idler power at 3.55 /spl mu/m for 7.8 W pump power. For a few minutes, even 2.5 W of signal output power have been achieved. The damage resistance of PPSLT seems to be significantly better than for congruent PPLN.