Research Index / High-Field Technology / High-Average-Power CPA Research

The primary factor limiting the repetition rate of chirped pulse amplification (CPA) lasers is the effect of thermal loading in the gain media. The rate at which laser material may be cooled depends in part on the volume of the material heated and the amount of heat deposited in the pumping process. In this lab we are studying laser materials with high-density energy storage and low quantum defect as candidates for high-average-power lasers.

For example, Yb:glass has a saturation fluence 30 times greater than that of Ti:sapphire and a quantum defect four times smaller. In order to extract energy from this host we will need to work close to the damage limit with new techniques to extend CPA to the stretching / compression range of 105 to 106.

We are also studying novel cooling methods to enable multi-joule CPA technologies. These experiments include a flashlamp-pumped alexandrite-pumped rotating Nd:glass amplifier and a flashlamp-pumped Ti:sapphire-pumped rotating Yb:glass laser.

Moving Laser: A Simple Technique
to Remove Thermal Distortions

PDF File: 2500 kB 		Towards a More Compact Laser:
Yb:Glass CPA Laser System

PDF File: 1800 kB
Directly Diode-Pumped Yb:Glass
Regenerative Amplifier

PDF File: 1700 kB 		Chirped-Pulse Amplification
in Ytterbium-Doped Fiber

PDF File: 688 kB
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Research Index / High-Field Technology / High-Average-Power CPA Research

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