Open AccessExperimental demonstration of spatially coherent beam combining using optical parametric amplification
Author(s) -
Takashi Kitahara,
Keiichi Sueda,
Koji Tsubakimoto,
Noriaki Miyanaga
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.014541
Subject(s) - optics , laser beam quality , beam (structure) , parametric statistics , physics , chirped pulse amplification , signal beam , optical parametric amplifier , signal (programming language) , laser , phase modulation , harmonic , phased array , nonlinear optics , phase (matter) , second harmonic generation , optical amplifier , ultrashort pulse , laser beams , phase noise , acoustics , computer science , telecommunications , statistics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , antenna (radio) , programming language
We experimentally demonstrated coherent beam combining using optical parametric amplification with a nonlinear crystal pumped by random-phased multiple-beam array of the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser at 10-Hz repetition rate. In the proof-of-principle experiment, the phase jump between two pump beams was precisely controlled by a motorized actuator. For the demonstration of multiple-beam combining a random phase plate was used to create random-phased beamlets as a pump pulse. Far-field patterns of the pump, the signal, and the idler indicated that the spatially coherent signal beams were obtained on both cases. This approach allows scaling of the intensity of optical parametric chirped pulse amplification up to the exa-watt level while maintaining diffraction-limited beam quality.