Angular-dispersion-induced spatiotemporal aberrations in noncollinear optical parametric amplifiers

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Optics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.35.002251· OSTI ID:983623

Bromage, Jake; Dorrer, Christophe; Zuegel, Jonathan D.

We characterize spatiotemporal aberrations induced in noncollinear optical parametric amplifiers (NOPAs), for the first time (to our knowledge), using spatially resolved spectral interferometry. Measurements show that when the submillimeter pump and signal beams are not correctly aligned, several degrees of pulse-front tilt caused by angular dispersion are introduced by the NOPA angular-dependent gain, without significant loss of bandwidth. After eliminating the pulse-front tilt, analysis of the residual higher-order aberrations shows that far-field intensities reaching 80% of the theoretical limit can be achieved without complex spatiospectral phase optimization.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC52-08NA28302
• OSTI ID: 983623
• Report Number(s): DOE/NA/28302-963; OPLEDP; 2010-43; 1945
• Journal Information: Optics Letters, Vol. 35, Issue 13; ISSN 0146-9592
• Publisher: Optical Society of America (OSA)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English