Comparative study on the temporal contrast of femtosecond mode-locked laser oscillators
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We have investigated the temporal intensity contrast characteristics from a broad range of mode-locked short-pulse oscillators used for seeding high-power terawatt and petawatt class laser systems. Saturable absorber (SESAM), Kerr-lens (KLM), nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE) in optical fibers and synchronously pumped
optical parametric oscillator (OPO) mode-locked sources have been measured using a third-order autocorrelator with up to 1010 dynamic range. We restricted the temporal characterization to features <30ps about the laser pulse that reflect fundamental mode-locking processes. We find additional nonlinear terms and residual higher-order dispersion limits the performance of KLM and NPE sources
up to the 105 contrast level, whilst >108 contrast was observed from the
SESAM and OPO laser pulse trains.
optical parametric oscillator (OPO) mode-locked sources have been measured using a third-order autocorrelator with up to 1010 dynamic range. We restricted the temporal characterization to features <30ps about the laser pulse that reflect fundamental mode-locking processes. We find additional nonlinear terms and residual higher-order dispersion limits the performance of KLM and NPE sources
up to the 105 contrast level, whilst >108 contrast was observed from the
SESAM and OPO laser pulse trains.
Date Issued
2016-07-07
Date Acceptance
2016-06-06
Citation
Optics Letters, 2016, 41 (14), pp.3221-3224
ISSN
1539-4794
Publisher
Optical Society of America
Start Page
3221
End Page
3224
Journal / Book Title
Optics Letters
Volume
41
Issue
14
Copyright Statement
© 2016 Optical Society of America
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/G001324/1
Subjects
Optics
0205 Optical Physics
0206 Quantum Physics
0906 Electrical And Electronic Engineering
Publication Status
Published