Trends in ultrashort and ultrahigh power laser pulses based on optical parametric chirped pulse amplification

Since the proof-of-principle demonstration of optical parametric amplification to efficiently amplify chirped laser pulses in 1992,optical parametric chirped pulse amplification(OPCPA)became the most promising method for the amplification of broadband optical pulses.In the meantime,we are witnessing an exciting progress in the development of powerful and ultrashort pulse laser systems that employ chirped pulse parametric amplifiers.The output power and pulse duration of these systems have ranged from a few gigawatts to hundreds of terawatts with a potential of tens of petawatts power level.Meanwhile,the output pulse duration based on optical parametric amplification has entered the range of fewoptical-cycle field.In this paper,we overview the basic principles,trends in development,and current state of the ultrashort and laser systems based on OPCPA,respectively.     

Wavefront correction of Ti:sapphire terawatt laser with varying precision of phase conjugation between deformable mirror and wavefront sensor

The phase conjugation between the deformable mirror and the wavefront sensor in the aberration correction of a terawatt Ti:sapphire laser is studied experimentally and theoretically in this paper. At varying values of phase-conjugation precision, we focus the corresponding beams into spots of the same size of 5.1 μm×5.3 μm with a f/4 parabola in the 32 TW/36 fs Ti:sapphire laser system. The results show that the precision of conjugation can induce an intensity modulation but does not significantly affect the wavefront correction.     

全固态激光器抽运的PPLN光参变振荡

用全固态1064nm调Q激光输出，抽运多周期PPLN，实现了宽调谐的准相位匹配光参变振荡，振荡阈值10．3μJ（脉宽22ns)，信号光最高输出平均功率为42．5mW，斜率效率为12．5％。     

Diode-pumped Yb:Lu_2Si_2O_7 laser with tunable and efficient output

Diode-pumped laser action of a new crystal yb3＋：Lu2Si207 （LPS） is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. An output power of 2.22 W at 1070 nm and a slope efficiency of 34.7% were achieved with a 5 at.-% Yb： LPS sample. The tuning can cover the range form 1034 to 1080 nm.     

基于周期极化LiTaO3晶体的高增益简并啁啾脉冲参量放大

根据准相位匹配理论计算了周期极化LiTaO₃(PPLT)晶体中0类准相位匹配过程(e+e→e)的增益曲线.在此基础上，使用数百μJ的低抽运能量获得了～10⁶的增益和～10.3%的转换效率，实现了中心波长位于1064nm的基于简并光学啁啾脉冲参量放大(OPCPA)技术的高增益放大，为产生超短超强激光脉冲提供了新的技术手段.实验结果与理论预期基本符合.     

周期性极化铌酸锂晶体中半非共线型宽带光学参变放大理论研究

基于周期性极化铌酸锂晶体(PPLN)的准相位匹配光参变放大过程,通过倾斜周期极化铌酸锂晶体中极化域(极化光栅)一定角度,实现了介于共线匹配方式和非共线匹配方式之间的一种半非共线型准相位匹配方式,并以该匹配方式下的各光矢量几何关系得出相位匹配曲线,找到在特定抽运光和信号光波长下能获得宽带增益放大的周期极化长度。并研究其极化倾斜角度与温度特性。模拟计算表明,在合适的角度与温度条件下,该方式可以532 nm抽运光抽运的信号光在800 nm和1064 nm处均获得宽带光参变放大。     

Optical property measurements of 235 mm large-scale Ti:sapphire crystal

A Ti:sapphire crystal with a diameter of 235 mm and thickness of 72 mm was grown by the heat exchange method(HEM). The absorption intensity of the crystal at 532 nm averaged at 91%. The figures of merit(FOMs)at different positions of the crystal were measured and the FOM value in the central region was found to reach 90.The transmittance laser beam was intact with no obvious distortions and had only a small deformation compared with the incident laser beam. A small-signal amplification experiment was performed on the Ti:sapphire crystal and a gain of more than 6 times was achieved with a pump energy density of 1.98 J∕cm~2. These tests indicate that the 235 mm Ti:sapphire crystal has excellent optical qualities and will further improve the energy output of a 10 PW laser system.     

Diode-pumped efficient laser action of Yb~(3+):LYSO crystal

Effective diode-pumped continuous wave (CW) tunable laser action of a new alloyed crystal Yb:LYSO is demonstrated. The alloyed LYSO crystal possesses the desirable physical and laser performance of La2SiO5 (LSO), as well as the favorable growth properties and costs of Y2SiO5 (YSO) in the same time. With a 5 at.-% Yb:LYSO sample, the output power of 2.84 W at 1085 nm and an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 54.5% are achieved. Its laser wavelength can be tuned over a broad range of 81 nm, from 1030 to 1111 nm.     

Violet to Infraned Multiwavelength Generation in Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Pumped by a Q—Switched Nd：YVO4 Laser

Six output wavelengths from violet to infrared have been observed simultaneously from an all-solid-state laser pumped optical parametric oscillator in a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal.The output wavelengths can be tuned by varying the quasi-phase matched period and/or temperature.The pump laser is a diode-pumped pasive Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser operated at 1064nm.Using a crystal with a 29.9μm grating period,we measured six wavelengths at 448,515,532,630,773 and 1546nm and obtained efficient output.We explain the multiwavelength generation by multiwave coupling theory.This phenomenon may have novel applications in photonic devices.     

基于周期极化LiTaO3晶体的高增益简并啁啾脉冲参量放大

根据准相位匹配理论计算了周期极化LiTaO3(PPLT)体中0类准相位匹配过程(e+e→e)的增益曲线.在此基础上,使用数百μJ的低抽运能量获得了～106的增益和-10.3%的转换效率,实现了中心波长位于1064nm的基于简并光学啁啾脉冲参量放大(OPCPA)技术的高增益放大,为产生超短超强激光脉冲提供了新的技术手段.实验结果与理论预期基本符合.