Implementation of a phase plate for the generation of homogeneous focal-spot intensity distributions at the high-energy short-pulse laser facility PHELIX. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bagnoud, V.; Hornung, J.; Afshari, M.; Eisenbarth, U.; Brabetz, C.; Major, Z.; Zielbauer, B.
• Is Part Of: High power laser science and engineering. Volume 7(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: beam shaping, -- high-power laser, -- phase plate, -- short-pulse laser; High power lasers -- Periodicals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1017/hpl.2019.48
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2095-4719

Abstract

Abstract : We propose and demonstrate the use of random phase plates (RPPs) for high-energy sub-picosecond lasers. Contrarily to previous work related to nanosecond lasers, an RPP poses technical challenges with ultrashort-pulse lasers. Here, we implement the RPP near the beginning of the amplifier and image-relay it throughout the laser amplifier. With this, we obtain a uniform intensity distribution in the focus over an area 1600 times the diffraction limit. This method shows no significant drawbacks for the laser and it has been implemented at the PHELIX laser facility where it is now available for users.