This thesis describes the development of a multi-mJ, few-cycle, absolute-phase
controlled laser system based on optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA)
operating at a kHz repetition rate. A laser system with these specifications will
provide a table-top platform to enable a broad range of experiments in demanding
research areas, including laser electron acceleration and the creation of exotic highenergy
density plasmas from solid targets. The approach of the work is a combination
of both experimental effort and numerical simulations used to guide and aid interpretation
of laboratory studies. The non-collinear parametric gain stages of the laser
have been optimised using detailed numerical simulations. A comparison is given on
phase matching conditions in BBO and LBO crystals along with a novel nonlinear
material BiBO. The production of 600 μJ pulses with a bandwidth that supports a
transform limited temporal duration of 8.5 fs is presented in a three stage BBO based
design.
An all optical, low-jitter synchronisation scheme for the OPCPA pump and signal
pulses has been designed and implemented by use of solitonic wavelength shifting
in a photonic crystal fiber (PCF). Commercially available fibers with various core
sizes have been assessed. The propagation of few-cycle pulses in the PCF has been
studied by numerically solving the generalised Schr¨odinger equation with the splitstep
Fourier method.
An OPA pump laser with excellent spatial and temporal qualities has been developed.
Amplification of the PCF output at 1053 nm is achieved in a regenerative
diode pumped Nd:YLF amplifier and a multipass power amplifier. Self-phase modulation
and gain narrowing is greatly reduced using a customised 500 μm low-finesse
etalon in the regenerative amplifier cavity. Spectral modulation was found to increase
both frequency doubling and parametric amplification efficiency and stability. The
construction of an alternative 10 Hz, high-energy pump beam line is also presented.