An optical resilient packet ring node with SOA-based loadable and erasable storage buffer

A Ti:sapphire multipass amplifier producing 2.4 mJ, 26 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 1 kHz and 17 W pump power is described. An aperture mask is essential for a good performance of the multipass amplifier. Diffraction by the apertures is identified as one intrinsic source for pre- and post-pulses. A two-row beam path reduces these parasitic pulses effectively and improves the pulse contrast ratio by about one order of magnitude without reduction in power. The depolarization due to the oblique beam path through the Ti:sapphire crystal is proven to be negligible by measurements and calculations. PACS 42.60.Da; 42.55.Rz; 42.60.Lh