A versatile 10-TW laser system with robust passive controls to achieve high stability and spatiotemporal quality

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Lasers and optics, 2004-07, Vol.79 (2), p.193-201
• Main Authors: CHU, H.-H, HUANG, S.-Y, YANG, L.-S, CHIEN, T.-Y, XIAO, Y.-F, LIN, J.-Y, LEE, C.-H, CHEN, S.-Y, WANG, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amplifiers; Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation; Beams (radiation); Control equipment; Design of specific laser systems; Dispersions; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laser optical systems: design and operation; Lasers; Modulation; Nonlinear optics; Optics; Physics; Spontaneous emission; Stability; Ultrafast processes; optical pulse generation and pulse compression
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-004-1533-3

We discuss the design, construction, and output characteristics of a versatile 10-TW Ti{/content/HFFB47YME308Q00T/xxlarge8201.gif}:{/content/HFFB47YME3 0 8Q00T/xxlarge8201.gif}sapphire laser system of high stability and spatiotemporal quality. By pumping the three amplifier stages independently and running at saturation, an energy stability of 1.3% is obtained. Controls over self-phase modulation, high-order dispersion, spatial aberration, and amplified spontaneous emission are done by robust passive methods. A time--bandwidth product of 1.2 times the Fourier-transform limit with a temporal contrast larger than 5X10 in the -10-ns scale, 2X10 in the -100-ps scale, and 10 in the -1-ps scale are achieved. The beam can be focused down to 1.2 times the diffraction limit with 80% of the energy enclosed in the Gaussian focal spot. Beam-pointing stability is