Spectral broadening and pulse compression of a 400 μJ, 20 W Yb:KGW laser using a multi-plate medium
Abstract
We investigate the potential of a multi-plate medium consisting of thin fused silica plates to generate few-cycle pulses from a moderately high energy (400 μJ) and average power (20 W) Yb:KGW laser centered at 1025 nm. By optimizing the thicknesses and positions of the plates, we mitigate the losses associated with spatial and spectral distortions that can accompany self-focusing in bulk solids. Pulses with an initial duration of ∼280 fs were compressed using chirped mirrors, after spectral broadening in a multi-plate medium consisting of 6 mm of fused silica in total, by a factor of >5 to 50 fs. Further spectral broadening in a second stage also consisting of 6 mm of fused silica in total enabled compression to 18 fs with 40 μJ pulse energy, with the energy efficiency limited primarily by the geometry of the chirped mirror compressors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 29, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.5018758
Entities
People
- John E Beetar
- Michael Chini
- Shima Gholam-mirzaei
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- University of Central Florida