FLASH has been a user facility since 2005, delivering radiation in the wavelength range between 4.1 and 45 nm using the SASE principle. So far the user requests for beam time by far exceeds the time available. In order to increase user beam time and improve the radiation properties delivered to users, a mayor extension of the user facility called FLASH II has been proposed by DESY in collaboration with the HZB, which is a seeded FEL over the parameter range of FLASH. After several years of design, the project now enters its construction phase, which will last approximately 2 years. In the mean time, tests are performed in order to prepare for a multi-undulator operation of the facility. In addition, complete start-to-end simulations will complete the simulations which have been performed so far.

Ultra-fast laser sources have revolutionized many fields in science. As technology improves, new applications can be made accessible. The OPCPA technique has shown potential to be the key technology for future amplifier systems, but hasn’t achieved a breakthrough such as Ti:Sapphire laser technology, mostly due to the complex pump amplifier design. We present an operationally stable OPCPA system that might turn the tide for OPCPA technology. This first prototype system will be used in the accelerator environment at the FLASH free electron laser at DESY in Hamburg. The envisioned key parameters for this amplifier are >1 mJ pulse energy with a repetition rate of 100 kHz and a pulse duration of <7 fs.