Downchirped pulse amplification
First Claim
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1. A pulse amplifier for generating high-power ultra-short pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising:
- a subsystem configured for applying negative group velocity dispersion to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having negative chirp;
an amplifier configured for amplifying the moderate power, long pulses to generate high power long pulses; and
a compressor configured for de-chirping the moderate power, long pulses by applying positive group velocity dispersion to generate ultra-short, high power pulses;
wherein the negative dispersion subsystem is configured to apply sufficient negative dispersion to result in pulses having negative chirp after the amplifier amplifies the pulse; and
wherein the negative dispersion subsystem is configured to result in sufficient pulse stretching to avoid nonlinear distortion within the amplifier or damage to the amplifier.
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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.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A pulse amplifier for generating high-power ultra-short pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising:
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a subsystem configured for applying negative group velocity dispersion to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having negative chirp; an amplifier configured for amplifying the moderate power, long pulses to generate high power long pulses; and a compressor configured for de-chirping the moderate power, long pulses by applying positive group velocity dispersion to generate ultra-short, high power pulses; wherein the negative dispersion subsystem is configured to apply sufficient negative dispersion to result in pulses having negative chirp after the amplifier amplifies the pulse; and wherein the negative dispersion subsystem is configured to result in sufficient pulse stretching to avoid nonlinear distortion within the amplifier or damage to the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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11. A pulse amplifying subsystem for generating high-power longer duration pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising:
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a subsystem configured for applying negative group velocity dispersion to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having chirp; and an amplifier configured for amplifying the moderate power, long pulses to generate high power long pulses; wherein the negative dispersion subsystem is configured to apply sufficient negative dispersion to result in pulses with negative chirp after the amplifier amplifies the pulses; and wherein the negative dispersion subsystem is configured to result in sufficient pulse stretching to avoid nonlinear distortion within the amplifier or damage to the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 26)
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15. The method of generating high-power ultra-short pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising the steps of:
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applying negative group velocity dispersion to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having negative chirp; 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; wherein the step of applying negative dispersion applies sufficient negative dispersion to result in pulses with negative chirp after the amplifier amplifies the pulses; and wherein the step of applying negative dispersion results in sufficient pulse stretching to avoid nonlinear distortion within the amplifier or damage to the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A pulse amplifier configured for generating high-power ultra-short pulses from moderate-power ultra-short pulses comprising:
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a subsystem configured for applying negative group velocity dispersion to the moderate-power ultra-short pulses to generate moderate power, longer-duration pulses having negative chirp; an amplifier configured for amplifying the moderate power, long pulses to generate high power long pulses; and a compressor configured for de-chirping the moderate power, long pulses by applying positive group velocity dispersion to generate ultra-short, high power pulses; wherein the amplifier is configured to operate in saturated gain mode; and wherein the negative dispersion subsystem is configured to result in sufficient pulse stretching to avoid nonlinear distortion within the amplifier or damage to the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification