Open AccessUltrafast thin-disk multipass amplifier with 720 mJ operating at kilohertz repetition rate for applications in atmospheric research
Author(s) -
Clemens Herkommer,
Peter Krötz,
Robert Jung,
Sandro Klingebiel,
Christoph Wandt,
Robert Bessing,
Pierre Walch,
Thomas Produit,
Knut Michel,
Dominik Bauer,
Reinhard Kienberger,
Thomas Metzger
Publication year - 2020
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.404185
Subject(s) - optics , ultrashort pulse , amplifier , materials science , laser , thin disk , pulse duration , wavelength , pulse (music) , regenerative amplification , optical amplifier , optoelectronics , physics , stars , cmos , astronomy , detector
We present an ultrafast thin-disk based multipass amplifier operating at a wavelength of 1030 nm, designed for atmospheric research in the framework of the Laser Lightning Rod project. The CPA system delivers a pulse energy of 720 mJ and a pulse duration of 920 fs at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. The 240 mJ seed pulses generated by a regenerative amplifier are amplified to the final energy in a multipass amplifier via four industrial thin-disk laser heads. The beam quality factor remains ∼ 2.1 at the output. First results on horizontal long-range filament generation are presented.