Hybrid CO₂-Ti:sapphire laser with tunable pulse duration for mid-infrared-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy

Ultrafast optical excitation with intense mid-infrared and terahertz pulses has emerged as a new tool to control materials dynamically. As most experiments are performed femtosecond pulse excitation, typical lifetimes of light-induced phenomena in solids only few picoseconds. Yet, many scientific applications require longer drive lifetimes. Here, we describe pump - terahertz-probe setup based on CO$\mathrm{_2}$ laser seeded 10.6 $\mathrm{\mu}$m wavelength from an parametric amplifier, itself pumped by Ti:Al$\mathrm{_2}$O$\mathrm{_3}$ laser. The output the produces high power nanosecond duration, which synchronized Hence, these can be tuned duration slicing their front back edges semiconductor-plasma mirrors irradiated replicas seed pulses. Variable lengths 5 ps 1.3 ns achieved, used pump, probe generated electro-optically sampled