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Injection-seeded optical parametric amplifier for generating chirped nanosecond pulses
Shinichirou Miyake1, Yasuhiro Ohshima
1Department of Photo-molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes for Natural Sciences, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
Optics Express
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed a novel optical parametric amplifier (OPA) using Bismuth Borate (BiBO) crystals, achieving tunable frequency chirps and ~40 mJ pulse energy for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear Optics
- Laser Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) are crucial for generating tunable laser light.
- Controlling pulse characteristics like frequency chirp is essential for advanced optical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct and characterize an injection-seeded optical parametric amplifier (OPA) with actively controlled frequency chirp.
- To demonstrate the capability for generating tunable down/up chirps in the OPA output.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Bismuth Borate (BiBO) crystals in a two-stage, injection-seeded OPA setup.
- Employed Ytterbium-doped (Yb) fiber amplifiers for stable seed beam delivery.
- Actively controlled frequency chirp by adjusting radio frequency (RF) modulation and synchronization.
Main Results:
- Achieved stable injection seeding of the OPA with a phase-modulated continuous-wave (cw) beam.
- Demonstrated active control of frequency chirp, achieving shifts up to 500 MHz (down/up chirps).
- Generated output pulses with approximately 40 mJ energy.
Conclusions:
- The developed OPA system offers precise control over pulse frequency chirp.
- The achieved pulse energy and chirp tunability are suitable for applications in frequency conversion and coherent population transfer.
