Downchirped pulse amplification
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado
InventorsHenry C. Kapteyn, Sterling J. Backus
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Abstract
An ultrashort pulse amplifier produces high-power ultrafast laser pulses. Pulses first have net negative (i.e. blue to red) chirp applied, and are then amplified in a laser amplifier. After amplification, the pulses are compressed using propagation through a block of material or other convenient optical system with a positive sign of chromatic dispersion. High-order dispersion correction may also be included.
Claims20
A pulse amplifier for generating high-power ultra-short pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising:
- a subsystem for applying negative chirp to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having negative group velocity dispersion;
- an amplifier for amplifying the moderate power, long pulses to generate high power long pulses;
- and
- a compressor for de-chirping the moderate power, long pulses by applying positive group velocity dispersion to generate ultra-short, high power pulses.
A pulse amplifying subsystem for generating high-power longer duration pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising:
- a subsystem for applying negative chirp to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having negative group velocity dispersion;
- and
- an amplifier for amplifying the moderate power, long pulses to generate high power long pulses.
The method of generating high-power ultra-short pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising the steps of:
- applying negative chirp to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having negative group velocity dispersion;
- amplifying the moderate power, long pulses to generate high power long pulses;
- and
- compressing and de-chirping the moderate power, long pulses by applying positive group velocity dispersion to generate ultra-short, high power pulses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.