Numerical study of fourth-harmonic generation of a picosecond laser pulse with time predelay

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Abstract
We describe fourth-harmonic generation of a picosecond laser pulse with KDP crystals. The coupled nonlinear equations for the parametric process including the third-order nonlinear susceptibility have been solved. Applying a time predelay in the doubling crystal between the extraordinary and the ordinary waves of the fundamental pulse causes the group-velocity mismatch and the nonlinear phase shift in the doubling crystal to be compensated for each other, resulting in pulse duration compression at the fourth-harmonic wavelength. It is shown that the reduction from a 1-ps fundamental pulse to a 0.25-ps fourth-harmonic pulse can be achieved at an incident intensity of 50 GW/cm2.