Solid-State Source of Subcycle Pulses in the Midinfrared.

We demonstrate a robust, all-solid-state approach for the generation of microjoule subcycle pulses in the midinfrared through a cascade of carefully optimized parametric-amplification, difference-frequency-generation, spectral-broadening, and chirp-compensation stages. This method of subcycle waveform generation becomes possible due to an unusual, ionization-assisted solid-state pulse self-compression dynamics, where highly efficient spectral broadening is enabled by ultrabroadband four-wave parametric amplification phase matched near the zero-group-velocity wavelength of the material.