Optical Parametric Chirped-Pulse-Amplification Contrast Enhancement by Regenerative Pump Spectral Filtering

Journal Article · Fri Aug 17 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Optics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.32.002378· OSTI ID:912761

Dorrer, C ^[1]; Okishev, A V; Begishev, I A; Zuegel, J D; Smirnov, V I; Glebov, L B

---

1. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

We demonstrate an approach to fundamentally improve the contrast of optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifiers (OPCPA). The instantaneous parametric gain couples the temporal variations of the pump-pulse intensity to spectral variations of the intensity of the stretched signal pulse being amplified, which significantly degrade the temporal contrast of the amplified pulse after recompression. Simple and efficient pump-intensity noise reduction in an OPCPA system using a volume Bragg grating in a regenerative amplifier demonstrates contrast improvements up to 30 dB.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC52-92SF19460
• OSTI ID: 912761
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/19460-771; 2007-53, 1739
• Journal Information: Optics Letters, Journal Name: Optics Letters Journal Issue: 16 Vol. 32; ISSN 0146-9592; ISSN OPLEDP
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
BRAGG REFLECTION
DIFFRACTION GRATINGS
GAIN
OPTIMIZATION
PARAMETRIC AMPLIFIERS
PERFORMANCE