IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,873,454
Granted Patent B2
US 6,873,454 · App. 10/304,262 · Granted Mar 29, 2005

Hybrid chirped pulse amplification system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,873,454
App. No.
10/304,262
Granted
Mar 29, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid chirped pulse amplification system wherein a short-pulse oscillator generates an oscillator pulse. The oscillator pulse is stretched to produce a stretched oscillator seed pulse. A pump laser generates a pump laser pulse. The stretched oscillator seed pulse and the pump laser pulse are directed into an optical parametric amplifier producing an optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse and an optical parametric amplifier output unconverted pump pulse. The optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse and the optical parametric amplifier output laser pulse are directed into a laser amplifier producing a laser amplifier output pulse. The laser amplifier output pulse is compressed to produce a recompressed hybrid chirped pulse amplification pulse.

Claims (85)

1. A hybrid chirped pulse amplification system, comprising:

an optical parametric amplifier,

a short-pulse oscillator,

a stretcher operatively connected to said short-pulse oscillator and operatively connected to said optical parametric amplifier,

a pump laser operatively connected to said optical parametric amplifier,

a laser amplifier operatively connected to said optical parametric amplifier, and

a compressor operatively connected to said laser amplifier.

2. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a beta-barium borate (BBO) amplifier.

3. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium borate (LBO) amplifier.

4. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) amplifier.

5. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a trihydrogen phosphate (KTP) amplifier.

6. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ) amplifier.

7. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) amplifier.

8. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP) amplifier.

9. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) amplifier.

10. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium iodate (LilO 3 ) amplifier.

11. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least one of lithium borate (LBO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), trihydrogen phosphate (KTP), lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ), periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP), potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), and lithium iodate (LilO 3 ).

12. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least two of lithium borate (LBO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), trihydrogen phosphate (KTP), lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ), periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP), of potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), and lithium iodate (LilO 3 ).

13. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is a Ti:sapphire laser amplifier.

14. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is a Nd:glass laser amplifier.

15. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is a Cr:LiSAF amplifier.

16. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is a Cr:LiCAF amplifier.

17. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is an alexandrite amplifier.

18. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is an Er:glass amplifier.

19. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is a Nd:YLF amplifier.

20. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is a dye amplifier.

21. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least one of Cr:LiSAF, Cr:LiCAF, alexandrite, Er:glass, Nd:YLF, and dye.

22. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 1 wherein said laser amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least two of Cr:LiSAF, Cr:LiCAF, alexandrite, Er:glass, Nd:YLF, and dye.

23. A hybrid chirped pulse amplification system, comprising:

oscillator means generating an oscillator pulse;

stretcher means for receiving said oscillator pulse, stretching said oscillator pulse, and producing a stretched oscillator pulse;

pump laser means for generating a pump laser pulse; p 1 optical parametric amplifier means for receiving said stretched oscillator pulse, for receiving said pump laser pulse, for producing a parametric amplifier output oscillator pulse, and for producing a parametric amplifier output laser pulse;

laser amplifier means for receiving said optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse, for receiving said optical parametric amplifier output unconverted pump pulse, and for producing a laser amplifier output signal pulse; and

compressor means for receiving said laser amplifier output signal pulse, compressing said laser amplifier output pulse, and producing a recompressed hybrid chirped pulse amplification pulse.

24. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said hybrid chirped pulse amplification system produces a residual unconverted pump pulse with a pulse width and including means for delaying said optical parametric amplifier signal pulse with respect to said optical parametric amplifier output unconverted pump pulse by the pulse width of said residual unconverted pump pulse prior to said laser amplifier, ensuring that said optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse is fully absorbed in said laser amplifier prior to the arrival of said optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse in said laser amplifier.

25. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a beta-barium borate (BBO) parametric amplifier.

26. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium borate (LBO) amplifier.

27. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) amplifier.

28. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a trihydrogen phosphate (KTP) amplifier.

29. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ) amplifier.

30. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) amplifier.

31. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP) amplifier.

32. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) amplifier.

33. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium lodate (LiO 3 ) amplifier.

34. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 (wherein said optical parametric amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least one of lithium borate (LBO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), trihydrogen phosphate (KTP), lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ), periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP), potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), and lithium iodate (LilO 3 ).

35. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least two of lithium borate (LBO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), trihydrogen phosphate (KTP), lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ), periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP), potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), and lithium iodate (LilO 3 ).

36. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is a Ti:sapphire laser amplifier.

37. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is a Nd:glass laser amplifier.

38. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is a Cr:LiSAF amplifier.

39. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is a Cr:LiCAF amplifier.

40. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is an alexandrite amplifier.

41. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is an Er:glass amplifier.

42. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is a Nd:YLF amplifier.

43. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is a dye amplifier.

44. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least one of Cr:LiSAF, Cr:LiCAF, alexandrite, Er:glass, Nd:YLF, and dye.

45. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification system of claim 23 wherein said laser amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least two of Cr:LiSAF, Cr:LiCAF, alexandrite, Er:glass, Nd:YLF, and dye.

46. A hybrid chirped pulse amplification method, comprising the steps of:

generating an oscillator pulse,

stretching said oscillator pulse to produce a stretched oscillator seed pulse,

generating a pump laser pulse,

directing said stretched oscillator seed pulse and said pump laser pulse into an optical parametric amplifier and producing an optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse and an optical parametric amplifier output unconverted pump pulse,

directing said optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse and said optical parametric amplifier output laser pulse into a laser amplifier and producing a laser amplifier output pulse, and

compressing said laser amplifier output pulse to produce a recompressed hybrid chirped pulse amplification pulse.

47. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein a residual unconverted pump pulse with a pulse width is produced and including the steps of delaying said optical parametric amplifier signal pulse with respect to said optical parametric amplifier output unconverted pump pulse by the pulse width of said residual unconverted pump pulse prior to injection onto said laser amplifier, ensuring that said optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse is fully absorbed in said laser amplifier prior to the arrival of said optical parametric amplifier output amplified signal pulse in said laser amplifier.

48. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a beta-barium borate (BBO) parametric amplifier.

49. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium borate (LBO) amplifier.

50. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) amplifier.

51. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a trihydrogen phosphate (KTP) amplifier.

52. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ) amplifier.

53. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) amplifier.

54. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP) amplifier.

55. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) amplifier.

56. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is a lithium iodate (LiO 3 ) amplifier.

57. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 48 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least one of lithium borate (LBO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), trihydrogen phosphate (KTP), lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ), periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP), potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), and lithium iodate (LilO 3 ).

58. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said optical parametric amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least two of lithium borate (LBO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), trihydrogen phosphate (KTP), lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ), periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), periodically poled trihydrogen phosphate (PPKTP), potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), and lithium iodate (LilO 3 ).

59. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is a Ti:sapphire laser amplifier.

60. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is a Nd:glass laser amplifier.

61. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is a Cr:LiSAF amplifier.

62. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is a Cr:LiCAF amplifier.

63. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is an alexandrite amplifier.

64. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is an Er:glass amplifier.

65. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is a Nd:YLF amplifier.

66. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is a dye amplifier.

67. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least one of Cr:LiSAF, Cr:LiCAF, alexandrite, Er:glass, Nd:YLF, and dye.

68. The hybrid chirped pulse amplification method of claim 46 wherein said laser amplifier is an amplifier comprised of at least two of Cr:LiSAF, Cr:LiCAF, alexandrite, Er:glass, Nd:YLF, and dye.

Assignments (2)
50% UNDIVIDED INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2007
From: CALIFORNIA, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
To: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
Reel/Frame 020010/0195 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 1, 2003
From: CALIFORNIA, REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
To: ENERGY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
Reel/Frame 014221/0367 →