High-intensity, high-contrast laser pulses generated from the fully diode-pumped Yb:glass laser system POLARIS

Abstract

We report on the first generation of high-contrast, 164 fs duration pulses from the laser system POLARIS reaching focused peak intensities in excess of 2×10(20) W/cm2. To our knowledge, this is the highest peak intensity reported so far that has been achieved with a diode-pumped, solid-state laser. Several passive contrast enhancement techniques have been specially developed and implemented, achieving a relative prepulse intensity smaller than 10(-8) at t=-30 ps before the main pulse. Furthermore a closed-loop adaptive-optics system has been installed. Together with angular chirp compensation, this method has led to a significant reduction of the focal spot size and an increase of the peak intensity.

Quantum reflection as a new signature of quantum vacuum nonlinearity

“…probe propagation direction and B field are orthogonal, and adopt w = 2λ pump (cf the discussion above). For the other parameters we exemplarily adopt the design parameters of the two high-intensity laser systems to be available in Jena 4 : JETI 200 [44] (λ probe = 800 nm ≈ 4.06 eV −1 , E probe = 4J ≈ 2.50 × 10 19 eV, τ probe = 20 fs ≈ 30.4 eV −1 ) and POLARIS [45] (λ pump = 1030 nm ≈ 5.22 eV −1 , E pump = 150 J ≈ 9.36 × 10 20 eV, τ pump = 150 fs ≈ 228 eV −1 ). The magnetic field strength of the pump is obtained from equation (33) and reads eB pump /m 2 = 3.33 × 10 −4 .…”

Laser photon merging in an electromagnetic field inhomogeneity

“…Even though we have just focused on a one-dimensional field inhomogeneity, as in [16] we exemplarily adopt the design parameters of the two high-intensity laser systems to become available in Jena [40]: JETI 200 [41] (λ = 800nm ≈ 4.06eV −1 , E = 4J ≈ 2.50 · 10 19 eV, τ = 20fs ≈ 30.4eV −1 ) as probe, and POLARIS [42] (λ pump = 1030nm ≈ 5.22eV −1 , E pump = 150J ≈ 9.36 · 10 20 eV, τ pump = 150fs ≈ 228eV −1 ) as pump. This is meant to give a first order of magnitude estimate of the number of induced outgoing photons.…”

Status of the High Average Power Diode-Pumped Solid State Laser Development at HiLASE

“…A folded beam path is used, and the beam size is increased at each pass. Higher pulse energies (>1 J) at lower repetition rates (10 Hz, 100 Hz) have been achieved by using conventional designs [12], thick disks [13][14][15][16], total reflection active mirrors (TRAM) [17] or multi-slabs [18,19]. Some of them employ operation at cryogenic temperatures using the advantages of higher thermal conductivity and higher gain at low temperatures [20,21].…”