Seidel aberrations in grating pulse stretchers

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Ultrafast Laser Science
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Ultrashort pulse characterization is crucial for advanced laser applications.
• Aberrations in pulse stretchers introduce spectral phase distortions.
• Accurate modeling of spectral phase is essential for pulse compression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To derive a formula for calculating the spectral phase of ultrashort pulses through aberrated stretchers.
• To analyze the impact of Seidel aberrations on spectral phase dispersion and angular dispersion.
• To provide a practical example using a Martinez/Banks stretcher with spherical optics.

Main Methods:

• Application of Seidel aberration theory to pulse propagation.
• Derivation of analytical expressions for spectral phase dispersion terms.
• Calculation of residual angular dispersion based on aberration coefficients.

Main Results:

• A formula for spectral phase calculation in aberrated stretchers was derived.
• The dependence of spectral phase dispersion and angular dispersion on Seidel aberration coefficients was established.
• Specific calculations for a Martinez/Banks stretcher demonstrated spectral phase deviation and angular dispersion.

Conclusions:

• Seidel aberration theory provides a robust framework for understanding spectral phase distortions in pulse stretchers.
• The derived formula enables quantitative prediction of aberrations' impact on ultrashort pulses.
• This work facilitates the design and optimization of stretcher systems for high-fidelity pulse delivery.