Numerical modeling of pulse-pumped ultrafast regenerative amplifier with unstable pump laser

Abstract

A numerical model of a regenerative amplifier based on the Frantz-Nodvik equation with spatially dependent stored energy density in the active medium has been developed. The model was used to investigate the stability of the output energy of the amplifier associated with fluctuations of the pump energy and pump beam position. It was found that, same as in the known case with the fluctuations of the pump energy, the influence of the fluctuations of the pump beam position is much weaker at oversaturated operation of the regenerative amplifier. Opposite to fluctuations of the pump energy, fluctuations of the pump beam position result in highly-asymmetric histogram of the output energy, which is highly skewed to the lower energies.