Experimental amplification of 10-ns pulses to energy of 1 J at repetition rate of 10-100 Hz in cryogenic multipass total-reflection active-mirror (TRAM) amplifier is reported for the first time. By using a monolithic multi-TRAM, which is a YAG ceramic composite with three thin Yb:YAG active layers, efficient energy extraction was achieved without parasitic lasing. A detailed measurement of output characteristics of the laser amplifier is presented; results are discussed and compared with numerical calculations.
We have demonstrated a seed source for an optical parametric chirped pulse amplification pumping source through a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG regenerative amplifier, which can vary the pulse duration depending on the number of passes and generate a very high chirp rate. The Fourier-transform-limited pulse duration of 10 ps was extended to a few hundred picoseconds (109 to 165 ps) to prevent damage to the gain medium in the subsequent high-pulse-energy pumping source, which was seeded by the regenerative amplifier. This was achieved by inserting a transmission diffraction grating pair inside the cavity of the regenerative amplifier. The variable pulse duration could be set between 109 and 165 ps by electronically adjusting the pass number of pulses inside the cavity. The stretched pulse duration and the spectral width as functions of the pass number were characterized by considering the dispersion from the grating stretcher as well as the gain narrowing effect.
Spectral enhancement of a mode-locked fiber oscillator has been proposed by using gain spectral filtering technique. A wide spectral width of 83 nm at 1030 nm, with 5.2 nJ pulse energy was achieved with positive net cavity dispersion. Fiber oscillator output spectrum was analyzed numerically, showing larger gain spectral filtering effect in longer gain medium systems. We show that the gain spectral filtering plays the same role as spectral filter element inside the resonator, hence could replace it in dispersion managed lasers improving the output spectrum and simplifying fiber oscillator designs.
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