Open AccessCombined Yb/Nd driver for optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers
Author(s) -
Kirilas Michailovas,
Andrius Baltuška,
Audrius Pugžlys,
V. Smilgevičius,
Andrejus Michailovaś,
Audrius Zaukevičius,
R. Danilevičius,
Saulius Frankinas,
N. Rusteika
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.24.022261
Subject(s) - optics , amplifier , materials science , chirped pulse amplification , pulse duration , optical parametric amplifier , ultrashort pulse , femtosecond , laser , regenerative amplification , picosecond , femtosecond pulse shaping , optical amplifier , pulse (music) , optoelectronics , physics , cmos , detector
We report on the developed front-end/pump system for optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers. The system is based on a dual output fiber oscillator/power amplifier which seeds and assures all-optical synchronization of femtosecond Yb and picosecond Nd laser amplifiers operating at a central wavelength of 1030 nm and 1064 nm, respectively. At the central wavelength of 1030 nm, the fiber oscillator generates partially stretched 4 ps pulses with the spectrum supporting a <120 fs pulse duration and pulse energy of 0.45 nJ. The energy of generated 1064 nm pulses is 0.15 nJ, which is sufficient for the efficient seeding of high-contrast Nd:YVO chirped pulse regenerative amplifier/post amplifier systems generating 9 mJ pulses compressible to 16 ps duration. The power amplification stages, based on Nd:YAG crystals, provide 62 mJ pulses compressible to 20 ps pulse duration at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Further energy scaling currently is prevented by limited dimensions of the diffraction gratings, which, because of the fast progress in MLD grating manufacturing technologies is only a temporary obstacle.