Phase matched scanning optical parametric chirped pulse amplification based on pump beam deflection*

Abstract

Combined with the optical beam deflection, a novel approach of phase matched broadband scanning optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) was proposed. For this scheme, there was no superfluous operations to the chirped signal pulse which propagated in a changeless direction straightforward, but the pump beam were deflected in space with time by passing through a KTN crystal, which was applied with varied driving voltage. The theories of phase matching of each chirped signal frequency based on pump beam deflection was analyzed detailedly. And the type-I amplification of chirped signal with 800 nm central wavelength and 20 nm bandwidth pumped by 532 nm in BBO crystal was simulated as a case in point. The simulation results showed that the spectral distribution of chirped signal pulse was almost the same as the initial form, i.e., there was nearly no narrowing on the amplified spectrum by using of the scanning OPCPA based on pump beam deflection. In addition, the simulations demonstrated that it was worth minimizing the voltage deviation applied to KTN crystal as much as possible for the sake of better waveform, larger bandwidth and higher conversion efficiency of amplified signal pulse in the proposed scanning OPCPA.

Spectrum reshaping of chirped laser pulse by scanning amplitude limiting based on optical Kerr effect

“…With the development of laser pulse technology, the duration of laser pulse in time domain is always decreasing. And the ultrashort laser pulse, especially femtosecond lasers have been widely used in attosecond light source [1] , two -photon polymerization [2] , laser driving X-rays [3] , Laser ignition of inertial confinement fusion [4][5] and laser acceleration experiments [6] . The proposal of chirped pulse amplification(CPA) [7] technology accelerated the rapid development of ultrashort laser pulse, and the Ti-sapphire CPA is the mainstream technology for obtaining petawatts ultra-intense and ultrashort laser pulse nowadays.…”