Single optical cycle laser pulse in the visible and near-infrared spectral range

Since the inception of the laser, pulse duration has been continuously decreased by the use of a variety of techniques: Q-switching, mode-locking, and pulse compression. We would like to present a new technique based on the addition of laser sub-harmonic, ALS, that allows the production of a single-cycle pulse with single-femtosecond pulse duration. This simple technique takes advantage of the recent progress made in the generation of a few optical cycles and in optical parametric amplification. Received: 10 March 1999 / Revised version: 17 May 1999 / Published online: 30 July 1999