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Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Optics and Lasers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2015) | Viewed by 89776

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Prof. Dr. Malte C. Kaluza

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1. Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
2. Helmholtz-Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
Interests: POLARIS-a diode-pumped laser system of the petawatt-class; laser-induced electron acceleration; generation of secondary radiation pulses with laser-accelerated electrons; laser-induced ion acceleration; optical diagnostics of relativistic laser-plasma interactions; development of few-cycle pulses in the mid-IR for ultra-fast probing of plasma wakefield accelerators; new laser materials and development of new amplifier designs
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Dear Colleagues,

Triggered by the invention of the laser more than 50 years ago, we have witnessed an almost unprecedented revolution in fundamental research influencing virtually every field in natural and life sciences and industry. It is foreseeable that this unsurpassed development will continue or even accelerate in the future. Furthermore, the increasing breadth of applications of lasers is no less impressive. As an example, lasers have proven to be potential candidates for next-generation particle accelerators. Their application might pave the way towards the availability of truly table-top sources of high-energy particle and secondary radiation pulses. Eventually, such sources might revolutionize the research which can be conducted in university-scale laboratories, which is nowadays still restricted to large-scale research infrastructures. A large number of such applications call for the availability of pulsed laser sources reaching extremely high peak powers, high average powers and single-pulse durations of the order of 10’s of ps and shorter. For the realization of such laser systems, diode pumping in combination with suitable active laser materials is the central issue. Here, significant progress has been achieved over the last years, highlighted by a few large-scale laser projects, which entirely rely on diode-pumped amplification technology.

This Special Issue of the journal Applied Sciences “Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers“ aims to cover recent advances in the development of lasers with ultra-high peak powers, high average powers and/or sub-10 ps pulse durations, which are directly or indirectly pumped by high-power diode lasers.

Prof. Dr. Malte C. Kaluza
Guest Editor

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Keywords

ultra-short laser pulses
diode-pumped amplification
ultra-high peak power
high average power
laser materials
cryogenic cooling

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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4690 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Generation of 25-TW Femtosecond Laser Pulses at 515 nm with Extremely High Temporal Contrast

by Marco Hornung, Georg Alexander Becker, Andreas Seidel, Jan Reislöhner, Hartmut Liebetrau, Lennart Bock, Sebastian Keppler, Alexander Kessler, Matthew Zepf, Joachim Hein and Malte Christoph Kaluza

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 1970-1979; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5041970 - 19 Dec 2015

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6395

Abstract

We report on the frequency doubling of femtosecond laser pulses at 1030 nm center wavelength generated from the fully diode-pumped laser system POLARIS. The newly generated pulses at a center wavelength of 515 nm have a pulse energy of 3 J with a pulse duration of 120 fs. On the basis of initially ultra-high contrast seed pulses we expect a temporal intensity contrast better 10 17 200 ps before the peak of the main pulse. We analyzed the temporal intensity contrast from milliseconds to femtoseconds with a dynamic range covering more than 20 orders of magnitude. The pulses were focussed with a f/2-focussing parabola resulting in a peak intensity exceeding 10 20 W / cm 2 . The peak power and intensity are to the best of our knowledge the highest values for 515 nm-laser-pulses achieved so far. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Power Diode-Side-Pumped Q-Switched Nd:YAG Solid-State Laser with a Thermoelectric Cooler

by Jian Dong, Xue-Sheng Liu, Chao Peng, You-Qiang Liu and Zhi-Yong Wang

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 1837-1845; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5041837 - 16 Dec 2015

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6672

Abstract

A diode-side-pumped, high-energy, high-beam-quality, pulsed solid-state Nd³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (Nd:YAG) laser with a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is investigated in this study. The pump laser was a pulsed laser diode array with maximum peak power of 15 kW. A 350 mJ laser pulse was obtained with a wavelength of 1064 nm, a pulse duration of 10 ns, a total electrical-to-optical efficiency of 7.5%, a relative stability of output energy of 5%, and a beam quality of M² < 4. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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3035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Shaping of High Peak Power Pulse Trains from a Burst-Mode Laser System

by Jörg Körner, Jürgen Reiter, Joachim Hein and Malte C. Kaluza

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 1790-1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5041790 - 15 Dec 2015

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5281

Abstract

It has been shown in the past that pulsed laser systems operating in the so-called “burst mode” are a beneficial approach to generate high peak power laser pulses at high repetition rates suitable for various applications. So far, most high-energy burst-mode laser systems put great effort into generating a homogeneous energy distribution across the burst duration, e.g., by shaping the pump pulse. In this work, we present a new shaping technique, which is able to produce arbitrary energy distributions within the burst by pre-shaping the seed pulse burst with a Pockels cell. Furthermore, this technique allows for the precompensation of any static modulations across the burst, which may be introduced during the subsequent amplification process. Therefore, a pulse burst with a uniform energy distribution can also be generated. The method is tested with an ultra-short pulse burst mode laser amplifier system producing bursts of a 1 ms duration with a pulse repetition rate of 1 MHz and a maximum output power of 800 W during the burst. Furthermore, a method to predict the influence of the amplifier on a non-uniformly shaped burst is presented and successfully tested to produce a pre-defined pulse shape after amplification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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2990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diode-Pumped High Energy and High Average Power All-Solid-State Picosecond Amplifier Systems

by Jiaxing Liu, Wei Wang, Zhaohua Wang, Zhiguo Lv, Zhiyuan Zhang and Zhiyi Wei

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 1590-1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5041590 - 04 Dec 2015

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7030

Abstract

We present our research on the high energy picosecond laser operating at a repetition rate of 1 kHz and the high average power picosecond laser running at 100 kHz based on bulk Nd-doped crystals. With diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) hybrid amplifiers consisting of a picosecond oscillator, a regenerative amplifier, end-pumped single-pass amplifiers, and a side-pumped amplifier, an output energy of 64.8 mJ at a repetition rate of 1 kHz was achieved. An average power of 37.5 W at a repetition rate of 100 kHz pumped by continuous wave laser diodes was obtained. Compact, stable and high power DPSS laser amplifier systems with good beam qualities are excellent picosecond sources for high power optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) and high-efficiency laser processing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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1815 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theoretical Analysis of Dependence of Nonlinear Effects in Mode-Locked Yb:YAG Lasers with a Highly Nonlinear Intra-Cavity Medium

by Takeshi Yoshida, Hiroaki Okunishi, Keisuke Kyomoto, Kento Kato, Kyosuke Shimabayashi, Shinichi Inayoshi, Motoki Morioka and Sakae Kawato

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 1431-1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5041431 - 27 Nov 2015

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4189

Abstract

Nonlinear ultrashort pulse propagation in a mode-locked Yb:YAG laser with a highly nonlinear intra-cavity medium is analyzed using a nonlinear Schrodinger equation. The output spectra are extended by the increased laser intensity, and spectral bandwidths wider than those of the gain medium are achieved. Moreover, pulse widths are shortened by increased laser intensity to considerably less than those of the gain medium. The simulation results qualitatively agree with the experimental results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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710 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Kerr-Lens Mode-Locked Femtosecond Yb:GdYSiO₅ Laser Directly Pumped by a Laser Diode

by Jiangfeng Zhu, Ziye Gao, Wenlong Tian, Junli Wang, Zhaohua Wang, Zhiyi Wei, Lihe Zheng, Liangbi Su and Jun Xu

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 817-824; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5040817 - 15 Oct 2015

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6400

Abstract

We demonstrate the first Kerr-lens mode-locked operation in a diode-pumped Yb:GdYSiO₅ oscillator. Under a diode pump power of 5 W, 141 fs pulses with an average power of 237 mW were obtained at a repetition rate of 118 MHz. The central wavelength was at 1094 nm with a bandwidth of 10.1 nm. Shorter pulses were obtained by adjusting the cavity to operate at a shorter wavelength, resulting in 55 fs pulse duration at the central wavelength of 1054 nm with a bandwidth of 23.5 nm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MHz Repetion Rate Yb:YAG and Yb:CaF₂ Regenerative Picosecond Laser Amplifiers with a BBO Pockels Cell

by Fedor Bergmann, Mathias Siebold, Markus Loeser, Fabian Röser, Daniel Albach and Ulrich Schramm

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 761-769; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5040761 - 12 Oct 2015

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7442

Abstract

We present picosecond Yb:YAG and Yb:CaF2 regenerative laser amplifiers with ultra-high repetition rates in the MHz range. A maximum pulse energy of 40 μJ was obtained at 20 kHz while we achieved around 1 μJ at 1 MHz. We demonstrated a pulse duration of 2.1 ps for Yb:YAG and 4.8 ps for Yb:CaF₂ when seeded by a mode-locked Yb:KGW fs-oscillator without pulse stretching or phase compensation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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6112 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Q-Switched Operation with Carbon-Based Saturable Absorbers in a Nd:YLF Laser

by Rosa Weigand, Margarita Sánchez Balmaseda and José Manuel Guerra Pérez

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(3), 566-574; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5030566 - 11 Sep 2015

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4411

Abstract

We have numerically studied the influence of the absorption modulation depth of carbon-based saturable absorbers (graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) on the Q-switched regime of a diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser. A short-length cavity was used with an end mirror on which CNTs or mono- or bi-layer graphene were deposited, forming a saturable absorber mirror (SAM). Using a standard model, the generated energy per pulse was calculated, as well as the pulse duration and repetition rate. The results show that absorbers with higher modulation depths, i.e., graphene, deliver higher energy pulses at lower repetition rates. However, the pulse duration did not have a monotonic behavior and reaches a minimum for a given low value of the modulation depth typical of CNTs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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1083 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intensity Correlation Analysis on Blue-Violet FemtosecondPulses from a Dispersion-Compensated GaInN Mode-LockedSemiconductor Laser Diode

by Shunsuke Kono, Rintaro Koda, Hideki Watanabe, Noriyuki Fuutagawa and Hironobu Narui

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(3), 555-565; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5030555 - 10 Sep 2015

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4909

Abstract

We investigated the spectral and temporal characteristics of blue-violetfemtosecond optical pulses generated by a passively mode-locked GaInN laser diode ina dispersion-compensated external cavity. The output optical pulses at 400 nm wereanalyzed in detail by intensity auto- and cross-correlation measurements using secondharmonic generation on the surface of a β-BaB2O4 crystal. The obtained results clarifiedwavelength-dependent chirp characteristics of the optical pulses. The analysis suggestedthat a large frequency shift due to saturation in the saturable absorber and gain sectionsplayed an important role in the generation of femtosecond optical pulses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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1161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optical Fiber Pumped High Repetition Rate and High Power Nd:YVO₄ Picosecond Regenerative Amplifier

by Zhen-Ao Bai, Zhong-Wei Fan, Zhen-Xu Bai, Fu-Qiang Lian, Zhi-Jun Kang and Wei-Ran Lin

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(3), 359-366; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5030359 - 13 Aug 2015

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6923

Abstract

We report a stable optical fiber pumped Nd:YVO₄ all solid state regenerative amplifier with all fiber picosecond laser as seed source. 888 nm Yb optical fiber lasers was chosen as pump source to reduce quantum defect for improved thermal performance. At the repetition rate of 99.6 kHz, maximum power of 19.63 W with 36 ps pulse duration were achieved when seeded by a 150 mW picosecond oscillator. The wavelength delivered was 1064.07 nm with spectral width of 0.14 nm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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Review

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15308 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Application of Cryogenic Laser Physics to the Development of High Average Power Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers

by David C. Brown, Sten Tornegård, Joseph Kolis, Colin McMillen, Cheryl Moore, Liurukara Sanjeewa and Christopher Hancock

Appl. Sci. 2016, 6(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/app6010023 - 20 Jan 2016

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8032

Abstract

Ultrafast laser physics continues to advance at a rapid pace, driven primarily by the development of more powerful and sophisticated diode-pumping sources, the development of new laser materials, and new laser and amplification approaches such as optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification. The rapid development of high average power cryogenic laser sources seems likely to play a crucial role in realizing the long-sought goal of powerful ultrafast sources that offer concomitant high peak and average powers. In this paper, we review the optical, thermal, thermo-optic and laser parameters important to cryogenic laser technology, recently achieved laser and laser materials progress, the progression of cryogenic laser technology, discuss the importance of cryogenic laser technology in ultrafast laser science, and what advances are likely to be achieved in the near-future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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1737 KiB

Open AccessReview

Carrier-Envelope Offset Stabilized Ultrafast Diode-Pumped Solid-State Lasers

by Stéphane Schilt and Thomas Südmeyer

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 787-816; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5040787 - 14 Oct 2015

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 9124

Abstract

Optical frequency combs have been revolutionizing many research areas and are finding a growing number of real-world applications. While initially dominated by Ti:Sapphire and fiber lasers, optical frequency combs from modelocked diode-pumped solid-state lasers (DPSSLs) have become an attractive alternative with state-of-the-art performance. In this article, we review the main achievements in ultrafast DPSSLs for frequency combs. We present the current status of carrier-envelope offset (CEO) frequency-stabilized DPSSLs based on various approaches and operating in different wavelength regimes. Feedback to the pump current provides a reliable scheme for frequency comb CEO stabilization, but also other methods with faster feedback not limited by the lifetime of the gain material have been applied. Pumping DPSSLs with high power multi-transverse-mode diodes enabled a new class of high power oscillators and gigahertz repetition rate lasers, which were initially not believed to be suitable for CEO stabilization due to the pump noise. However, this challenge has been overcome, and recently both high power and gigahertz DPSSL combs have been demonstrated. Thin disk lasers have demonstrated the highest pulse energy and average power emitted from any ultrafast oscillator and present a high potential for the future generation of stabilized frequency combs with hundreds of watts average output power. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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8301 KiB

Open AccessReview

Status of the High Average Power Diode-Pumped Solid State Laser Development at HiLASE

by Ondřej Novák, Taisuke Miura, Martin Smrž, Michal Chyla, Siva Sankar Nagisetty, Jiří Mužík, Jens Linnemann, Hana Turčičová, Venkatesan Jambunathan, Ondřej Slezák, Magdalena Sawicka-Chyla, Jan Pilař, Stefano Bonora, Martin Divoký, Jakub Měsíček, Alina Pranovich, Pawel Sikocinski, Jaroslav Huynh, Patricie Severová, Petr Navrátil, David Vojna, Lucie Horáčková, Klaus Mann, Antonio Lucianetti, Akira Endo, Danijela Rostohar and Tomáš Mocek Show full author list Hide full author list

Appl. Sci. 2015, 5(4), 637-665; https://doi.org/10.3390/app5040637 - 25 Sep 2015

Cited by 78 | Viewed by 11830

Abstract

An overview of the latest developments of kilowatt-level diode pumped solid state lasers for advanced applications at the HiLASE Centre is presented. An overview of subcontracted and in-house-developed laser beamlines is presented. The aim of development is to build kW-class beamlines delivering picosecond pulses between 1- and 100-kHz repetition rates and high-energy nanosecond pulses at 10 Hz. The picosecond beamlines are based on Yb:YAG thin-disk amplifiers and chirped pulse amplification. The current status of the beamlines’ performance is reported. The advantages of zero-phonon line and pulsed pumping are demonstrated with respect to efficiency, thin disk temperature and beam quality. New diagnostics methods supporting the high average power lasers’ development, such as the high-resolution spectroscopy of Yb-doped materials, in situ thin disk deformation measurements, single-shot M² measurement, realization of wavefront correction by a deformable mirror and the laser performance of a new mixed garnet ceramics, are described. The energetic, thermal and fluid-mechanical numerical modeling for the optimization of the multi-slab amplifiers is also described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diode-Pumped, Ultra-Short Pulse Lasers)

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