High energy, short pulse fiber laser front end for kilo-Joule class CPA systems

Abstract

We are developing an all fiber laser system optimized for providing input pulses for short (1-10ps), high energy (~1kJ) glass laser systems. Fiber lasers are ideal solutions for these systems as they are highly reliable and enable long term stable operation. The design requirements for this application are very different than those commonly seen in fiber lasers. High-energy lasers often have low repetition rates (as low as one every few hours), and thus high average power and efficiency are of little practical value. What is of high value is energy, high signal to noise ratio (expressed as pre-pulse contrast), good beam quality, consistent output parameters and timing. Our system focuses on optimizing these parameters. Our prototype system consists of a mode-locked fiber laser, a compressed fiber amplifier, a pulse cleaner, a chirped fiber Bragg grating, selectors, a transport fiber system and a large mode area fiber amplifier. We will review the system and present theoretical and experimental studies of critical aspects, in particular the requirement for high pre-pulse contrast.