Dispersion control over the ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared spectral range with HfO2/SiO2-chirped dielectric multilayers

Abstract

We report the first realization, to the best of our knowledge, of a chirped multilayer dielectric mirror providing dispersion control over the spectral range of 300–900 nm and the first use of hafnium oxide in a chirped mirror. The technology opens the door to the reliable and reproducible generation of monocycle laser pulses in the blue–violet spectral range, will benefit the development of optical waveform and frequencycomb synthesizers over the ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared spectral range, and permits the development of ultrabroadband-chirped multilayers for high-power applications. © 2007 Optical Society of America.