Analysis of pump-to-signal noise transfer in two-stage ultra-broadband optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification
In optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA), pump temporal intensity modulation is transferred to the chirped-signal spectrum via instantaneous parametric gain and results in contrast degradation of the recompressed signal. We investigate, for the first time to our knowledge, the pump-to-signal noise transfer in a two-stage ultra-broadband OPCPA pumped by a single laser and show the dependence of pump-induced signal noise, characterized both before and after pulse compression, on the difference in pump-seed delay in the two stages. We demonstrate an up-to-15-dB reduction of the pump-induced contrast degradation via pump-seed delay optimization. Experiments and simulations show that, even when parametric amplifiers are operated in saturation, the pump-seed delay can be used to minimize the pump-induced contrast degradation that is attributed largely to the noises from the unsaturated edges of the pulse and that of the beam.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0003856
- OSTI ID:
- 1830883
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1831799
- Journal Information:
- Optics Express, Journal Name: Optics Express Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 29; ISSN 1094-4087; ISSN OPEXFF
- Publisher:
- Optical Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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