Acousto-optic Programmable Dispersive Filter Research Articles

Infrared generation by filamentation in air of a spectrally shaped laser beam

We demonstrated the generation of infrared radiation by filamentation of a spectrally shaped femtosecond laser beam. The spectrum is divided in two distinctive parts using an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF) as a pulse shaper, resulting in two pulses of different colors. One pulse is frequency doubled and the beams are then focused to produce an optical filament. Efficient infrared generation occurred in the filament zone through the four-wave mixing interaction. This in-line setup allowed perfect spatial overlap of the pulses, fine control of the relative delay and the remote control of the infrared spectral distribution through spectral shaping of the initial femtosecond laser beam via the AOPDF.

Dispersion control with reflection grisms of an ultra-broadband spectrum approaching a full octave

We report the design, implementation, and characterization of a grism-pair stretcher in a near-infrared noncollinear optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) that is capable of controlling a bandwidth of 440 nm. Our dynamic dispersion control scheme relies on the grism stretcher working in conjunction with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (Dazzler) to jointly compensate large amount of material dispersion. A spectral interference technique is used to characterize the spectral phase of the grism stretcher. This ultra-broadband device opens up the way to generate sub-2-cycle laser pulses.

Space–time coupling of shaped ultrafast ultraviolet pulses from an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter

A comprehensive experimental analysis of spatiotemporal coupling effects inherent to the acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF) is presented. Phase and amplitude measurements of the AOPDF transfer function are performed using spatially and spectrally resolved interferometry. Spatiotemporal and spatio-spectral coupling effects are presented for a range of shaped pulses that are commonly used in quantum control experiments. These effects are shown to be attributable to a single mechanism: a group-delay-dependent displacement of the shaped pulse. The physical mechanism is explained, and excellent quantitative agreement between the measured and calculated coupling speed is obtained. The implications for quantum control experiments are discussed.

Direct mid-infrared femtosecond pulse shaping with a calomel acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter

Direct amplitude and phase shaping of mid-infrared femtosecond pulses is realized with a calomel-based acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter transparent between 0.4 and 20 μm. The shaped pulse electric field is fully characterized with high accuracy, using chirped-pulse upconversion and time-encoded arrangement spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction techniques. Complex mid-infrared pulse shapes at a center wavelength of 4.9 μm are generated with a spectral resolution of 14 cm(-1), which exceeds by a factor of 5 the reported experimental resolutions of calomel-based filters.

Generation and control of ultrafast pulse trains for quasi-phase-matching high-harmonic generation

Two techniques are demonstrated to produce ultrashort pulse trains capable of quasi-phase-matching high-harmonic generation. The first technique makes use of an array of birefringent crystals and is shown to generate high-contrast pulse trains with constant pulse spacing. The second technique employs a grating-pair stretcher, a multiple-order wave plate, and a linear polarizer. Trains of up to 100 pulses are demonstrated with this technique, with almost constant inter-pulse separation. It is shown that arbitrary pulse separation can be achieved by introducing the appropriate dispersion. This principle is demonstrated by using an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter to introduce third- and fourth-order dispersions leading to a linear and quadratic variation of the separation of pulses through the train. Chirped-pulse trains of this type may be used to quasi-phase-match high-harmonic generation in situations where the coherence length varies through the medium.

Sub-20 fs pulses shaped directly in the UV by an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter

Direct pulse shaping in the UV was used to compress and structure pulses throughout the range of 250 - 400 nm. Broadband pulses generated by SHG of a NOPA were used as input to an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter. As this shaper creates lateral dispersion, aspects of Gaussian and geometric optics had to be considered for the design of the beam path. Special care was taken to produce a homogeneous input beam. We show nearly Fourier-limited pulses as short as 16.8 fs at 320 nm and 19.5 fs at 260 nm. Full control over amplitude and phase is demonstrated by generating arbitrary shapes like square pulses and complex pulse sequences. The subpulses were manipulated individually in intensity, temporal delay, chirp, relative phase and central wavelength.

1-mJ, sub-5-fs carrier–envelope phase-locked pulses

We report the routine generation of sub-5-fs laser pulses with 1-mJ energy and stable carrier–envelope phase at 1-kHz repetition rate, obtained by compressing the multi-mJ output from a phase-locked Ti:sapphire amplifier in a rare-gas-filled hollow fiber. The dual-stage amplifier features a hybrid transmission grating/chirped mirror compressor providing 2.2-mJ, 26-fs pulses at 1 kHz with standard phase deviation of 190 mrad rms. We demonstrate hour-long phase stability without feedback control of grating position or rigorous control of the laser environment, simply by using small pulse stretching factors in the amplifier, which minimize the beam pathway in the compressor. The amplifier also integrates a versatile AOPDF (acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter) for closed-loop spectral phase optimization. The various factors influencing the overall phase stability of the system are discussed in detail. Using the optimized output, 1-mJ, 4.5-fs pulses are generated by seeding the neon gas filled hollow fiber with a circularly polarized input beam. A standard phase deviation of 230 mrad after the HCF is obtained by direct f-to-2f detection and slow-loop feedback to the oscillator locking electronics without any additional spectral broadening.

Examining the feedback signals used in closed-loop control of intense laser fragmentation ofCO+

A closed-loop feedback system is used to determine the optimal pulse shapes for manipulating the branching ratio of carbon monoxide following ionization by an intense laser pulse. We focus on manipulating the ${\text{C}}^{+}+\text{O}$ and $\text{C}+{\text{O}}^{+}$ branching ratios of excited states of transient ${\text{CO}}^{+}$. The feedback control system consists of a high resolution time-of-flight spectrometer coupled via a genetic feedback algorithm to an acousto-optical programmable dispersive filter that is incorporated into the ultrafast laser system. Using the spectrometer resolution to distinguish dissociation pathways and select a specific pathway to drive the algorithm, we are able to demonstrate enhanced control of some fragmentation channels. Principal control analysis indicates that the more specific feedback results in numerically simpler optimal pulse shapes. The combination of a more specific target and reduction in pulse complexity could lead to more straightforward investigations of the control mechanism. Analysis of the pulse shapes in conjunction with measurement of the fragment kinetic energy release distributions obtained from the optimized laser pulses is used to probe the dissociative ionization mechanisms.

Generation and control of chirped, ultrafast pulse trains

A method for generating non-uniformly spaced (chirped) trains of high-energy, high-contrast, femtosecond pulses is described and demonstrated. In this method a temporally stretched laser pulse is passed through an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF), a birefringent plate, and a linear polarizer. It is demonstrated that linear and nonlinear variation of the pulse separation within the train may be controlled by changing respectively the third- and fourth-order dispersion introduced by the AOPDF. Programmable, non-uniform pulse trains of this type may find applications in quasi-phase matching high-harmonic generation.

Closed-loop carrier-envelope phase stabilization with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter

We demonstrate arbitrary carrier-envelope (CE) phase control of femtosecond laser pulses by an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF), with an accuracy better than pi/100 at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. We also demonstrate, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, 15 Hz closed-loop CE phase stabilization using an AOPDF inside a 1 kHz chirped pulse amplifier to correct for slow CE phase drifts.

Carrier-envelope phase stabilization of a multi-millijoule, regenerative-amplifier-based chirped-pulse smplifier dystem

This article reports on the successful stabilization of the carrier-envelope phase of a 1-kHz laser system that includes a large grating stretcher, a regenerative amplifier, a multipass amplifier and a grating compressor. Phase stability for pulse energies up to 6 mJ is demonstrated using electronic feedback to the oscillator locking electronics as well as feedback via an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter.

Direct shaping of tunable UV ultra-short pulses

Time shaping of ultra-short UV pulses has been performed using a specially designed acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter in KDP material. A time shaping window up to 5 ps has been obtained in the 260–410 nm range. A temporal/spectral characterization of shaped pulses on this broad UV spectral range is presented. The efficiency at shorter wavelength is limited by two-photon absorption. However several µJ is obtained at the output of the device allowing chemistry coherent control experiment.

Carrier-envelope phase stabilization and control using a transmission grating compressor and an AOPDF

Carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stabilization of a femtosecond chirped-pulse amplification system featuring a compact transmission grating compressor is demonstrated. The system includes two amplification stages and routinely generates phase-stable (approximately 250 mrad rms) 2 mJ, 25 fs pulses at 1 kHz. Minimizing the optical pathway in the compressor enables phase stabilization without feedback control of the grating separation or beam pointing. We also demonstrate for the first time to the best of our knowledge, out-of-loop control of the CEP using an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter inside the laser chain.

Deformation Measurements of High-Speed MEMS With Combined Two-Wavelength Single-Pulse Digital Holography and Single Phase Reconstruction Using Subpicosecond Pulses

Holographic contouring of high-speed microelectromechanical system optical scanner mirrors operating at resonance frequencies close to 1 kHz is performed with ultrashort-pulse lasers containing two spectral components. These particular pulses are obtained by shaping the spectrum of sub-30 fs pulses of a Ti:sapphire laser system by an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter. The separation of the two spectral components is adjustable within the 50-nm gain bandwidth. Single-pulse dual-wavelength contouring is achieved by an extended Twyman-Green type interferometer including two CMOS cameras. The deformation obtained from a single-wavelength interferogram is combined with the coarse-shape information deduced from the phase difference map of the two interferograms captured at different wavelengths to yield a combined reconstruction.

Pulse compression and shaping of broadband optical parametric amplifier laser source

We report pulse compression and shaping of a 100 Hz broadband optical parametric amplifier (OPA) laser source generated by self-phase modulation in a hollow-core fiber. The amplitude and phase of the broadband OPA laser pulses are controlled using an acousto optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF). Using the AOPDF, we demonstrate compression, characterization, and amplitude/phase control of 1300 nm 20 fs laser pulses with energies up to 10 microJ. This novel source is suitable for seeding successive OPA amplification stages and for time-resolved spectroscopy.

Active spectral phase control by use of an acousto-optic programmable filter in high-repetition-rate sub-80 fs nonlinear fiber amplifiers

We report the generation of sub-80 fs pulses with energy in the 100 nJ range at 1050 nm and a repetition rate up to 164 kHz based on a nonlinear fiber amplification system combined with an active control of the spectral phase. This control is performed by an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter operated at a multiple of its acoustic repetition rate. This result opens up its possible use in highly nonlinear fiber chirped-pulse amplification setups.

Recent progress and future prospects of high-energy peta-watt laser in LFRC, CAEP

The laser system with output energy larger than 150 Joules, output pulse width less than 1-ps has been finished in last year in Research Center of Laser Fusion (LFRC) at China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). The front-end of the system can emit 4-mJ, 1053-nm femtosecond laser by optical parametric amplification based on supercontinuum white-light injection. Then the laser is stretched to chirped pulse with 2ns pulse duration and amplified to near 200 Joules by multi-stage phosphate Nd:glass amplifiers. Subsequent amplification in a chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) chain will result in a sometimes substantial lengthening of the output pulses owing to gain narrowing and uncompensated phase errors. The acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF) [2] is used to modulate the amplitude and phase of ultrashort pulses in order to maintain the short pulse duration after amplification. The size of a single gratings is not enough for high energy pulse compression, Therefore we developed tiled-gratings technology. A single-pass tiled-gratings-compressor (TGC) [3] is used in this system. Real-time monitoring and on-line alignment system has been established to achieve coherent addition of the tiled gratings. Impact of vibration being eliminated to a least level, the tiled gratings can keep stable for a several hours.

Parameterization of an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter for closed-loop learning experiments

A representation of the search space in optical pulse shaping problems employing an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF) is presented for use in closed-loop learning experiments where the optimal spectral phase function to some control problem is determined by an iterative learning algorithm. The representation allows the algorithm to select a value for the optical chirp at each frequency control point such that only acoustic grating functions which preserve the spectrum of the shaped pulses are tested. The limits of this space with respect to the rate of applied optical chirp, optical bandwidth and acoustic power are examined and tested through diffraction efficiency studies performed using a commercial AOPDF. The main benefits of this representation are the elimination of undesirable frequency mixing effects, reduction of diffraction efficiency variation between arbitrary pulse shapes and faster convergence of the evolutionary algorithm.

Simple technique for generating trains of ultrashort pulses

A simple method for generating trains of high-contrast femtosecond pulses is proposed and demonstrated: a linearly polarized, frequency-chirped laser pulse is passed through a multiple-order wave plate and a linear polarizer. It is shown theoretically that this arrangement forms a train of laser pulses, and in experiments the production of a train of approximately 100 pulses, each of 200 fs duration, is demonstrated. In combination with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter this technique could be used to generate and control pulse trains with chirped spacing. Pulse trains of this type have widespread applications in ultrafast optics.

Femtosecond pulse shaping in the mid-infrared generated by difference-frequency mixing: a simulation and experiment

We have examined phase- and amplitude-modulated femtosecond laser pulses in the mid-infrared (MIR) region (3-10 μm) generated by difference-frequency mixing both theoretically and experimentally. Transfer of the pulse shape from near infrared to MIR by a difference-frequency process was evaluated in detail for various spectra, linear chirps, phases, and optical delays of two pulses before the different frequency was compared and with experimentally obtained MIR shapes. In the experiment, the signal pulse of an optical parametric amplifier was shaped with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter and mixed in an AgGaS2 crystal with the idler pulse that was temporally stretched by passing it through a dispersion block to generate a shaped MIR pulse. The agreement between the theory and experiment was reasonable despite the complicated experimental procedure. It was demonstrated that the resultant MIR pulse shape could be completely different from the pulse shape before the difference-frequency generation. However, it is possible to reproduce any shape of MIR pulses by predicting the pulse shape using the present theoretical framework. This will allow us to manipulate rovibrational wave packets of real molecules for practical applications.