Matched filter used as an integral part of an SBS system for within cavity pulse reconstruction

Abstract

The invention is a high power laser source, which includes a diode pumped laser having an oscillator that produces an output laser pulse. The output laser pulse is passed through a matched filter. The filter filters and focuses the output laser pulse into an SBS cell such that the SBS cell produces a return pulse that is both phase conjugated and sliced. Then, the return pulse returns back through the matched filter and enters the oscillator such that the oscillator acts as a two pass amplifier. The high power laser also includes a beam expander, which reduces the optical damage sustained previously by reducing the high power density for sub-nanosecond systems operating at high-energy outputs as demonstrated previously. The passive extraction system extracts an output high power pulse after three passes through the system using polarization rotation. The passive extraction system may also extract the output pulse by using a nonlinear element at the actual extraction point using a material that becomes highly reflective at the expected intensity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.