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Extreme prepulse contrast utilizing cascaded-optical parametric amplification

Conference ·
OSTI ID:896577

It has been shown recently that an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier can be easily reconfigured into a cascaded-optical parametric amplifier (COPA), enabling complete prepulse removal and optical switching with a window defined by the pump pulse duration. We have demonstrated instrument-limited measurement of the COPA prepulse contrast >1.4 x 10{sup 11} using 30-mJ pulses. The COPA technique is applicable to all energy ranges and pulse durations. A convenient millijoule-scale implementation of this technique is presented using a single, large-aspect-ratio quasi-phase-matched nonlinear crystal.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
896577
Report Number(s):
UCRL-PROC-222262
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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