Table-top optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers: past and present

The generation of power- and wavelength-scalable few optical cycle pulses remains one the major challenges in modern laser physics. Over past decade, development table-top parametric chirped pulse amplification-based systems was progressing at amazing speed, demonstrating excellent performance characteristics terms duration, energy, peak power repetition rate, which place them front line ultrafast technology. At present, amplifiers comprise a unique class light sources, currently amplify octave-spanning spectra produce carrier-envelope phase-stable, with multi-gigawatt to multi-terawatt powers multi-watt average powers, carrier wavelengths spanning considerable range spectrum. This article gives an overview on state art amplifiers, addressing their relevant scientific technological aspects, provides short outlook practical applications growing field science.