High-contrast, high-brightness ultraviolet laser system

Area of Science:

• High-intensity laser physics
• Ultrafast optics
• Nonlinear optics

Background:

• Conventional short-pulse dye/excimer laser systems face limitations in contrast and brightness.
• Achieving high laser intensity is crucial for exploring fundamental laser-matter interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the improved operation of a high-contrast, high-brightness ultraviolet laser system.
• To enhance the performance of excimer laser systems for scientific applications.

Main Methods:

• Modification of a conventional short-pulse dye/excimer laser design.
• Incorporation of three KrF excimer short-pulse amplifiers.
• Implementation of a nonlinear Fourier-filtering stage for contrast enhancement.

Main Results:

• The system produces 100 mJ energy short-pulses with ~700 fs duration.
• Achieved focusability is approximately two times the diffraction limit.
• Demonstrated a focused intensity contrast exceeding 10^12 due to minimal amplified spontaneous emission.

Conclusions:

• The improved laser system provides access to laser-matter interaction experiments at intensities above 10^19 W/cm^2 at 248 nm.
• The nonlinear Fourier-filtering stage significantly boosts laser pulse contrast.
• This advancement enables novel research in high-intensity physics.