Suppression of the pedestal in a chirped-pulse-amplification laser

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.8.001226· OSTI ID:5688534

Chuang, Y; Meyerhofer, D D; Augst, S; Chen, H; Peatross, J; Uchida, S ^[1]

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1. Laboratory for Lasers Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623-1299 (US)

The pedestal (prepulse and postpulse) associated with a chirped-pulse-amplification (CPA) laser is studied. Four components have been identified that contribute to the pedestal. Pulses are spectrally shaped by gain narrowing in a frequency-matched, regenerative amplifier while self-phase modulation is avoided. The intensity contrast is further improved through the use of a saturable absorber, resulting in Gaussian pulses of {similar to}0.9-ps duration with an intensity contrast exceeding 10{sup 5}:1. Both experimental and numerical descriptions of these processes are presented. This investigation makes possible the study of high-intensity ultrashort laser--plasma interactions with a fiber--grating CPA system.

• DOE Contract Number: FC03-85DP40200
• OSTI ID: 5688534
• Journal Information: Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (USA) Vol. 8:6; ISSN JOBPD; ISSN 0740-3224
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
AMPLIFICATION
BEAM SHAPING
FIBERS
FUNCTIONS
GAUSS FUNCTION
LASERS
NEODYMIUM LASERS
OPTICAL FIBERS
PULSES
SOLID STATE LASERS