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Optical switching and contrast enhancement in intense laser systems by cascaded optical parametric amplification

Journal Article · · Optics Letters
OSTI ID:883595
Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) can be used to improve the prepulse contrast in chirped-pulse amplification systems by amplifying the main pulse with a total saturated OPCPA gain, while not affecting the preceding prepulses of the seed oscillator mode-locked pulse train. We show that a simple modification of a multistage OPCPA system into a cascaded optical parametric amplifier (COPA) results in an optical switch and extreme contrast enhancement which can completely eliminate the preceding and trailing oscillator pulses. Instrument-limited measurement of prepulse contrast ratio of 1.4 x 10{sup 11} is demonstrated from COPA at a 30-mJ level.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
883595
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JRNL-215289
Journal Information:
Optics Letters, Journal Name: Optics Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 31; ISSN 0146-9592; ISSN OPLEDP
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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