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Phase-locking Stability of a Quasi-single-cycle Pulse
Title
Phase-locking Stability of a Quasi-single-cycle Pulse.
Creator
Bodnar, Nathan, Richardson, Martin, Chang, Zenghu, Delfyett, Peter, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
There is increasing interest in the generation of very short laser pulses, even down to attosecond (10-18 s) durations. Laser systems with femtosecond pulse durations are needed for these applications. For many of these applications, positioning of the maximum electric field within the pulse envelope can affect the outcome. The peak of the electric field relative to the peak of the pulse is called the Carrier Envelope Phase (CEP). Controlling the position of the electric field becomes more...
Show moreThere is increasing interest in the generation of very short laser pulses, even down to attosecond (10-18 s) durations. Laser systems with femtosecond pulse durations are needed for these applications. For many of these applications, positioning of the maximum electric field within the pulse envelope can affect the outcome. The peak of the electric field relative to the peak of the pulse is called the Carrier Envelope Phase (CEP). Controlling the position of the electric field becomes more important when pulse duration approaches single-cycle.This thesis focuses on the stabilization of a quasi-single-cycle laser facility. Improvements to this already-established laser facility, HERACLES (High Energy, Repetition rate Adjustable, Carrier-Locked-to-Envelope System) described in this thesis include a stabilized pump line and the improvement in CEP stabilization electronics. HERACLES is built upon an Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplification (OPCPA) architecture. This architecture uses Optical Parametric Amplification (OPA) as the gain material to increase the output energy of the system. OPA relies on a nonlinear process to generate high gain (106) with ultra-wide bandwidth. Instabilities in the OPA driving pump energy can create dynamically fluctuations in the final OPCPA output energy. To reduce these fluctuations two key upgrades were implemented on the pump beam. Both were major improvements in the stability. Firstly, an improved regenerative amplifier design reduced beam pointing fluctuations. Secondly, the addition of a pump monitoring system with feedback-control eliminated long-term power drifts. Both enhanced the OPA pulse-to-pulse and long-term stability.To improve the stability in measuring CEP drifts, modification of the feedback electronics was needed. The modification consisted of integrating noise reduction electronics. This novel noise reducer uses a similar process to a super-heterodyne receiver. The noise reducer resulted in 60 dB reduction of out-of-band noise. This led to increased signal quality with cleaner amplification of weaker signals. The enhanced signal quality led to more reliable long-term locking. The synthetically increased signal-to-noise ratio allows locking of the CEP frequency below the typically requirements. This integration allows relaxed constraints on the laser systems.The optics and electronics of a high-power, quasi-single cycle laser facility were improved. This thesis included the stabilization of the pump line and the stabilization of the CEP. This work allows for new long-duration experiments.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0004654, ucf:49908
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004654
Design and Engineering Criteria for Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplifier Systems
Title
Design and Engineering Criteria for Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplifier Systems.
Creator
Bodnar, Nathan, Richardson, Martin, Delfyett, Peter, Likamwa, Patrick, Baudelet, Matthieu, Shah, Lawrence, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The generation of a quasi-single-cycle laser light pulse is a goal in many laser applications experiments. Some involve in High Harmonic Generation (HHG) and Attosecond Sciences. The demand for ultrafast laser facilities has grown; the techniques and availability of materials have changed; thereby posing new design challenges in building Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplification (OPCPA) laser facilities. The concepts and challenges are discussed in detail in the development of two laser...
Show moreThe generation of a quasi-single-cycle laser light pulse is a goal in many laser applications experiments. Some involve in High Harmonic Generation (HHG) and Attosecond Sciences. The demand for ultrafast laser facilities has grown; the techniques and availability of materials have changed; thereby posing new design challenges in building Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplification (OPCPA) laser facilities. The concepts and challenges are discussed in detail in the development of two laser systems within the Laser Plasma Laboratory, HERACLES and PhaSTHEUS. This dissertation also gives insight to the challenges that are encountered in other cutting edge OPCPA laser facilities. An overview of the design challenges that need to be addressed in any OPCPA laser facility either high energy or high average power that is suitable for high intensity laser physics is discussed in this dissertation.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007158, ucf:52300
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007158