Dispersion compensation in a chirped pulse amplification system
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for producing ultra-short optical pulses are provided. According to various embodiments, optical pulses are generated, stretched, amplified, and compressed to ultra-short lengths. In order to achieve the ultra-short lengths, dispersion compensation is provided prior to amplification and optionally before compression. Dispersion compensation prior to amplification can be performed by passing the optical pulses through a polarization-maintaining fiber that includes a nonlinear Bragg grating. In some embodiments, the optical pulses are repeatedly circulated through the polarization-maintaining fiber that includes the nonlinear Bragg grating. Dispersion compensation before compression can be achieved by passing the amplified optical pulse through another length of polarization-maintaining fiber.
1. A method comprising:
generating an optical pulse;
stretching the optical pulse to produce a stretched optical pulse;
producing a dispersion-compensated optical pulse by passing the stretched optical pulse through a polarization-maintaining fiber including a nonlinear Bragg grating;
circulating the dispersion-compensated optical pulse through the polarization-maintaining fiber including the nonlinear Bragg grating;
producing an amplified optical pulse from the dispersion-compensated optical pulse; and
compressing the amplified optical pulse.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising passing the amplified optical pulse through a length of polarization-maintaining fiber before compressing the amplified optical pulse.
3. A method comprising:
generating an optical pulse;
producing a dispersion-compensated optical pulse by passing the optical pulse through a polarization-maintaining fiber including a nonlinear Bragg grating;
circulating the dispersion-compensated optical pulse through the polarization-maintaining fiber including the nonlinear Bragg grating;
stretching the dispersion-compensated optical pulse to produce a stretched optical pulse;
producing an amplified optical pulse from the stretched optical pulse; and
compressing the amplified optical pulse.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising passing the amplified optical pulse through a length of polarization-maintaining fiber before compressing the amplified optical pulse.
5. A method comprising:
generating an optical pulse;
producing a stretched and dispersion-compensated optical pulse by passing the optical pulse through a polarization-maintaining fiber including a nonlinear Bragg grating;
circulating the stretched and dispersion-compensated optical pulse through the polarization-maintaining fiber including the nonlinear Bragg grating;
producing an amplified optical pulse from the stretched and dispersion-compensated optical pulse; and
compressing the amplified optical pulse.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising passing the amplified optical pulse through a length of polarization-maintaining fiber before compressing the amplified optical pulse.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising directing the compressed amplified optical pulse toward a target as an ablation beam.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising focusing the ablation beam through a variable-focus lens onto the target using a controller.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising sensing a reflection from the target and controlling the ablation beam according to a color of the target area.