Abstract

We report on the first experimental measurement of high-dynamic-range pulse contrast of compressed optical parametric chirped-pulse-amplification (OPCPA) pulses on the picosecond scale. The measured -80-dB OPCPA contrast at 1054 nm agrees well with theoretical predictions and exceeds the estimated and measured levels for comparable amplification in a Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier by approximately 10 dB. A key to achieving better contrast with OPCPA is the simpler experimental setup that promotes more-efficient coupling of seed pulse energy into the amplification system.

©2007 Optical Society of America

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    [Crossref]
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    [Crossref]
  21. N. Forget, A. Cotel, E. Brambrink, P. Audebert, C. Le Blanc, A. Jullien, O. Albert, and G. Chériaux, “Pump-noise transfer in optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification,” Opt. Lett. 30, 2921–2923 (2005).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]

2006 (1)

2005 (4)

2004 (2)

2003 (3)

2001 (1)

D. Umstadter, “Review of physics and applications of relativistic plasmas driven by ultra-intense lasers,” Phys. Plasmas 8, 1774–1785 (2001).
[Crossref]

1998 (2)

J. Itatani, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, and S. Watanabe, “Suppression of the amplified spontaneous emission in chirped-pulse-amplification lasers by clean high-energy seed-pulse injection,” Opt. Commun. 148, 70–74 (1998).
[Crossref]

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

1997 (2)

I. N. Ross, P. Matousek, M. Towrie, A. J. Langley, and J. L. Collier, “The prospects for ultrashort pulse duration and ultrahigh intensity using optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers,” Opt. Commun. 144, 125–133 (1997).
[Crossref]

I. D. Jung, F. X. Kaertner, J. Henkmann, G. Zhang, and U. Keller, “High-dynamic-range characterization of ultrashort pulses,” Appl. Phys. B B65, 307–310 (1997).
[Crossref]

1996 (2)

1992 (1)

A. Dubietis, G. Jonusauskas, and A. Piskarskas, “Powerful femtosecond pulse generation by chirped and stretched pulse parametric amplification in BBO crystal,” Opt. Commun. 88, 437–440 (1992).
[Crossref]

1985 (1)

D. Strickland and G. Mourou, “Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses,” Opt. Commun. 55, 447–449 (1985).
[Crossref]

Albert, O.

Apolonski, A.

Audebert, P.

N. Forget, A. Cotel, E. Brambrink, P. Audebert, C. Le Blanc, A. Jullien, O. Albert, and G. Chériaux, “Pump-noise transfer in optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification,” Opt. Lett. 30, 2921–2923 (2005).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Augé-Rochereau, F.

Auguste, T.

Bagnoud, V.

Baton, S. D.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Begishev, I. A.

Blanc, C. Le

Bouma, B. E.

Bouvier, M.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Brambrink, E.

Buma, T.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Burgy, F.

Chambaret, J. P.

Chambaret, J.-P.

Chambarét, J.-P.

Cheriaux, G.

Chériaux, G.

Collier, J. L.

I. N. Ross, P. Matousek, M. Towrie, A. J. Langley, and J. L. Collier, “The prospects for ultrashort pulse duration and ultrahigh intensity using optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers,” Opt. Commun. 144, 125–133 (1997).
[Crossref]

Cotel, A.

d’Oliveria, P.

Descamps, D.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Dimauro, L. F.

Dubietis, A.

A. Dubietis, G. Jonusauskas, and A. Piskarskas, “Powerful femtosecond pulse generation by chirped and stretched pulse parametric amplification in BBO crystal,” Opt. Commun. 88, 437–440 (1992).
[Crossref]

Dumas, P.

Etchepare, J.

Falcoz, F.

Faure, J.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

J. Itatani, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, and S. Watanabe, “Suppression of the amplified spontaneous emission in chirped-pulse-amplification lasers by clean high-energy seed-pulse injection,” Opt. Commun. 148, 70–74 (1998).
[Crossref]

Fernandez, A.

Forget, N.

Fuji, T.

Fujita, H.

Fürbach, A.

Gibson, F.

Gibson, G. N.

Guardalben, M. J.

Hamoniaux, G.

Henkmann, J.

I. D. Jung, F. X. Kaertner, J. Henkmann, G. Zhang, and U. Keller, “High-dynamic-range characterization of ultrashort pulses,” Appl. Phys. B B65, 307–310 (1997).
[Crossref]

Ishii, E.

Itatani, J.

J. Itatani, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, and S. Watanabe, “Suppression of the amplified spontaneous emission in chirped-pulse-amplification lasers by clean high-energy seed-pulse injection,” Opt. Commun. 148, 70–74 (1998).
[Crossref]

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Ivanov, V. V.

Izawa, Y.

Jonusauskas, G.

A. Dubietis, G. Jonusauskas, and A. Piskarskas, “Powerful femtosecond pulse generation by chirped and stretched pulse parametric amplification in BBO crystal,” Opt. Commun. 88, 437–440 (1992).
[Crossref]

Jullien, A.

Jung, I. D.

I. D. Jung, F. X. Kaertner, J. Henkmann, G. Zhang, and U. Keller, “High-dynamic-range characterization of ultrashort pulses,” Appl. Phys. B B65, 307–310 (1997).
[Crossref]

Kaertner, F. X.

I. D. Jung, F. X. Kaertner, J. Henkmann, G. Zhang, and U. Keller, “High-dynamic-range characterization of ultrashort pulses,” Appl. Phys. B B65, 307–310 (1997).
[Crossref]

Kalashnikov, M. P.

Kaplan, D.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Keller, U.

I. D. Jung, F. X. Kaertner, J. Henkmann, G. Zhang, and U. Keller, “High-dynamic-range characterization of ultrashort pulses,” Appl. Phys. B B65, 307–310 (1997).
[Crossref]

Kitagawa, Y.

Klank, R.

Kodama, R.

Krausz, F.

Langley, A. J.

I. N. Ross, P. Matousek, M. Towrie, A. J. Langley, and J. L. Collier, “The prospects for ultrashort pulse duration and ultrahigh intensity using optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers,” Opt. Commun. 144, 125–133 (1997).
[Crossref]

Maksimchuk, A.

Matousek, P.

I. N. Ross, P. Matousek, M. Towrie, A. J. Langley, and J. L. Collier, “The prospects for ultrashort pulse duration and ultrahigh intensity using optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers,” Opt. Commun. 144, 125–133 (1997).
[Crossref]

Michard, A.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Migus, A.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Minkovski, N.

Mooney, T.

Mourou, G.

V. V. Ivanov, A. Maksimchuk, and G. Mourou, “Amplified spontaneous emission in a Ti:Sapphire regenerative amplifier,” Appl. Opt. 42, 7231–7234 (2003).
[Crossref]

J. Itatani, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, and S. Watanabe, “Suppression of the amplified spontaneous emission in chirped-pulse-amplification lasers by clean high-energy seed-pulse injection,” Opt. Commun. 148, 70–74 (1998).
[Crossref]

D. Strickland and G. Mourou, “Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses,” Opt. Commun. 55, 447–449 (1985).
[Crossref]

Mourou, G. A.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Nantel, M.

J. Itatani, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, and S. Watanabe, “Suppression of the amplified spontaneous emission in chirped-pulse-amplification lasers by clean high-energy seed-pulse injection,” Opt. Commun. 148, 70–74 (1998).
[Crossref]

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Nees, J. A.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Paillard, J. L.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Pesme, D.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Piskarskas, A.

A. Dubietis, G. Jonusauskas, and A. Piskarskas, “Powerful femtosecond pulse generation by chirped and stretched pulse parametric amplification in BBO crystal,” Opt. Commun. 88, 437–440 (1992).
[Crossref]

Poppe, A.

Pronko, P. P.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Puth, J.

Risse, E.

Rompay, P. Van

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Ross, I. N.

I. N. Ross, P. Matousek, M. Towrie, A. J. Langley, and J. L. Collier, “The prospects for ultrashort pulse duration and ultrahigh intensity using optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers,” Opt. Commun. 144, 125–133 (1997).
[Crossref]

Rousseau, J.-P.

Rousseau, P.

Salin, F.

Saltiel, S. M.

Sander, W.

Schönnagel, H.

Strickland, D.

D. Strickland and G. Mourou, “Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses,” Opt. Commun. 55, 447–449 (1985).
[Crossref]

Suautivet, A. M.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Tien, A.-C.

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Timsit, H.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Towrie, M.

I. N. Ross, P. Matousek, M. Towrie, A. J. Langley, and J. L. Collier, “The prospects for ultrashort pulse duration and ultrahigh intensity using optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers,” Opt. Commun. 144, 125–133 (1997).
[Crossref]

Umstadter, D.

D. Umstadter, “Review of physics and applications of relativistic plasmas driven by ultra-intense lasers,” Phys. Plasmas 8, 1774–1785 (2001).
[Crossref]

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Walker, B.

Watanabe, S.

J. Itatani, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, and S. Watanabe, “Suppression of the amplified spontaneous emission in chirped-pulse-amplification lasers by clean high-energy seed-pulse injection,” Opt. Commun. 148, 70–74 (1998).
[Crossref]

Waxer, L. J.

Yamanaka, T.

Yariv, A.

A. Yariv, Quantum electronics, 3rd ed. (Wiley, New York, 1989).

Yoshida, H.

Zhang, G.

I. D. Jung, F. X. Kaertner, J. Henkmann, G. Zhang, and U. Keller, “High-dynamic-range characterization of ultrashort pulses,” Appl. Phys. B B65, 307–310 (1997).
[Crossref]

Zou, J.

J. Zou, D. Descamps, P. Audebert, S. D. Baton, J. L. Paillard, D. Pesme, A. Michard, A. M. Suautivet, H. Timsit, and A. Migus, “LULI 100-TW Ti:Sapphire/Nd:Glass laser: A first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility,” in Third International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion, H. Lowdermilk, ed. (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1999), Vol. 3492, pp. 94–97.

Zuegel, J. D.

Appl. Opt. (2)

Appl. Phys. B (1)

I. D. Jung, F. X. Kaertner, J. Henkmann, G. Zhang, and U. Keller, “High-dynamic-range characterization of ultrashort pulses,” Appl. Phys. B B65, 307–310 (1997).
[Crossref]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. (1)

M. Nantel, J. Itatani, A.-C. Tien, J. Faure, D. Kaplan, M. Bouvier, T. Buma, P. Van Rompay, J. A. Nees, P. P. Pronko, D. Umstadter, and G. A. Mourou, “Temporal contrast in Ti:Sapphire lasers: Characterization and control,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4, 449–458 (1998).
[Crossref]

Opt. Commun. (4)

A. Dubietis, G. Jonusauskas, and A. Piskarskas, “Powerful femtosecond pulse generation by chirped and stretched pulse parametric amplification in BBO crystal,” Opt. Commun. 88, 437–440 (1992).
[Crossref]

D. Strickland and G. Mourou, “Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses,” Opt. Commun. 55, 447–449 (1985).
[Crossref]

J. Itatani, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, and S. Watanabe, “Suppression of the amplified spontaneous emission in chirped-pulse-amplification lasers by clean high-energy seed-pulse injection,” Opt. Commun. 148, 70–74 (1998).
[Crossref]

I. N. Ross, P. Matousek, M. Towrie, A. J. Langley, and J. L. Collier, “The prospects for ultrashort pulse duration and ultrahigh intensity using optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers,” Opt. Commun. 144, 125–133 (1997).
[Crossref]

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Phys. Plasmas (1)

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[Crossref]

Other (2)

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Figures (4)

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Calculated relative OPG power of an LBO as a function of the internal noncollinear emission angle and emission wavelength. The yellow square represents the spectral and angular acceptance of the laser system.

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Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.

Experimental setup of the OMEGA EP front-end prototype.

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Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.

3ω cross-correlation trace recorded after the diagnostic compressor. On the measurement trace, the dips show the instrument noise floor, when the 1ω and 2ω arms of the cross correlator are blocked.

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Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.

(a) Third-order cross correlations show the measured maximum contrast of -79 dB for a compressed OPCPA pulse for times greater than ~100 ps before the main compressed pulse. For comparison, the maximum contrast measured for a comparable Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier [16] with the same instrument is -70 dB. (b) A higher-resolution cross-correlation signal of the OPCPA pulses (blue line) shows three additional regions of contrast. The contrast of the transform-limited pulse is limited to -27 dB, while two additional pedestal regions are observed with different slopes. The slope (10 dB per 15 ps) of a second-order autocorrelation signal of the mode-locked oscillator (black dots) is consistent with the first observed pedestal, which indicates it might be limited by the performance of the seed pulse.

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Equations (7)

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I OPG = 1 2 n c c v c λ c 2 Δ ω sys Δ θ sys 2 sinh 2 γ L ,
I OPG = 1 λ 2 Δ ω s Δ θ sys 2 sinh 2 γ L .
Φ OPG = 1 λ 2 Δ ω s Δ θ sys 2 S sinh 2 γ L .
Φ signal = E s ħ ω s Δ t s sinh 2 γ L ,
C = Φ OPG Φ s ≈ ħ ω s E s S Δ θ sys 2 2 λ 2 ( Δ ω s ∙ Δ t s ) .
C = 1 8 π ħ ω s E s S ω bd Ω τ σ ( Δ ω s ∙ Δ t s )
C = ħ ω s E s λ 2 8 π n 2 ω bd τ σ ( Δ ω s ∙ Δ t s ) .

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