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Prepulse suppression in a multi-10-TW diode-pumped Yb:glass laser

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Abstract

We describe a novel method to improve the temporal intensity contrast (TIC) between the main pulse and prepulses in a high-power chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) laser system. Pre- and post-pulses originating from the limited extinction ratio of the polarization gating equipment are suppressed by carefully adjusting the round-trip times of the regenerative amplifiers (RAs) with respect to the oscillator. As a result, leaking pulses from earlier or later round-trips in the RAs are hidden below the temporal shape of the main pulse. The synchronization can easily be controlled by a contrast measurement on a picosecond time scale using a third-order cross-correlator that enables a sub-mm precise adjustment of the cavity lengths. Finally, a method based on spectral interference is introduced that can be used for a fine-adjustment of the cavity lengths for the daily operation, making this new method easy to implement into existing laser systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, FSU Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743, Jena, Germany

    S. Keppler, R. Bödefeld, M. Hornung, A. Sävert, J. Hein & M. C. Kaluza

  2. Helmholtz-Institute Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743, Jena, Germany

    R. Bödefeld, M. Hornung & M. C. Kaluza

Authors
  1. S. Keppler
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  2. R. Bödefeld
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  3. M. Hornung
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  4. A. Sävert
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  5. J. Hein
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  6. M. C. Kaluza
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Correspondence to S. Keppler.

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Keppler, S., Bödefeld, R., Hornung, M. et al. Prepulse suppression in a multi-10-TW diode-pumped Yb:glass laser. Appl. Phys. B 104, 11–16 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-011-4633-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-011-4633-x

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