Laser developer National Energetics Co. has installed a 10-Hz, 20-TW laser system at Tel Aviv University in Israel. The system is currently the most powerful laser in the Middle East. The laser uses picosecond optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (PS-OPCPA) for most of the system gain, followed by a traditional Ti:Sapphire power amplifier. PS-OPCPA offers significant improvements to current Ti:Sapphire ultrafast laser architectures. This technique amplifies the seed pulse in a picosecond window, enhancing contrast and eliminating pre-pulses associated with the use of classic regenerative amplifiers. “The laser is compact, stable and easy to use,” said Ishay Pomerantz, principal investigator at the School of Physics and Astronomy of Tel Aviv University. “We needed a turnkey laser that would allow us to focus on our research into laser-driven particle acceleration rather than dedicate time to align and support a typical high-energy laser system. The laser from National Energetics has delivered to our specifications, including a contrast ratio of better than 1010:1 with no measureable pre-pulses.” PS-OPCPA is a key component for next-generation, ultra-intense laser systems. With this technique, amplification of a chirped pulse by interactions in nonlinear optical crystals replaces traditional laser amplifiers in at least some of the laser chain. National Energetics is a developer of high-energy lasers and laser systems.