Abstract
As ultrafast lasers achieve ever higher focused intensities on target, the problem of ensuring a clean laser-solid interaction becomes more pressing. In this paper, we give concrete examples of the deleterious effects of low-contrast interactions, and address the problem of subpicosecond laser intensity contrast ratio on both characterization and control fronts. We present the new technique of high-dynamic-range plasma-shuttered streak camera contrast measurement, as well as two efficient and relatively inexpensive ways of improving the contrast of short pulse lasers without sacrificing on the output energy: a double-pass Pockels cell (PC), and clean high-energy-pulse seeding of the regenerative amplifier.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 449-458 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | IEEE Journal on Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Amplified spontaneous emission
- Chirped-pulse amplification
- Intensity contrast ratio
- Pulse cleaning
- Terawatt lasers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering