Optimization and characterization of dual-chirped optical parametric amplification ∗Invited contribution to the special issue on optical parametric processes. (18th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Yuxi; Takahashi, Eiji J; Zhang, Qingbin; Lu, Peixiang; Midorikawa, Katsumi
• Is Part Of: Journal of optics. Volume 17:Number 12(2015:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2015-11-18
• Subjects: high-energy -- optical parametric amplification -- infrared -- femtosecond laser -- dispersion; Optics -- Periodicals; 535.05
• DOI: 10.1088/2040-8978/17/12/124001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-8978

Abstract

Abstract: We report optimization and characterization of a dual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) scheme (2011 Opt. Express 19 7190 ). By increasing a pump pulse energy to 100 mJ, a total (signal + idler) output energy exceeding 30 mJ was recorded with higher than 30% conversion efficiency. The feasibility of further increasing the output energy to a higher scale using the DC-OPA scheme was confirmed by a proof-of-principle experiment, in which 30%–40% conversion efficiency was observed. The signal pulse with the center wavelength of 1.4 μ m was compressed to 27 fs (FWHM), which was very close to a transform-limited pulse duration of 25 fs. Since the DC-OPA scheme is efficient for generating high-energy infrared (IR) pulses with excellent scaling ability, the design parameters for obtaining hundred-mJ-level and even joule-level IR pulses are discussed and presented in detail.