OSA Open Access Publishing AgreementRueda, P.Videla, F.Witting, T.Torchia, G.A.Furch, F.J.2022-04-042022-04-042021https://oa.tib.eu/renate/handle/123456789/8550https://doi.org/10.34657/7588Compression of 42 fs, 0.29 mJ pulses from a Ti:Sapphire amplifier down to 8 fs (approximately 3 optical cycles) is demonstrated by means of spectral broadening in a compact multi-pass cell filled with argon. The efficiency of the nonlinear pulse compression is limited to 45 % mostly by losses in the mirrors of the cell. The experimental results are supported by 3-dimensional numerical simulations of the nonlinear pulse propagation in the cell that allow us to study spatio-spectral properties of the pulses after spectral broadening.enghttps://www.osapublishing.org/library/license_v1.cfm530CytologySapphire3-dimensionalFs laser pulseMultipass cellNonlinear pulse compressionNonlinear pulse propagationOptical cyclesSpectral broadeningSpectral propertiesCellsArticle