Equipment Grant: Generation of Ultra-High Peak-Power PulsesUsing Chirped Pulse Amplification

这项工程研究设备拨款将用于研究产生具有超高峰值功率和极高峰值与背景强度对比度的光脉冲。利用一种名为啁啾脉冲放大（CPA）的新技术，主要研究人员开发了一种紧凑的桌面大小的激光源，其峰值功率为1太瓦，强度高达1018瓦/平方厘米。目前的研究方向是开发一种能够产生更高峰值功率的系统。为了使这种新的CPA源有效，脉冲非常干净是非常重要的，即它们具有非常高的峰值与背景强度对比度。对于某些应用，这些极端峰值功率脉冲的对比度必须在1010:1的范围内。为了实现这一目标，将构建一个新的模型锁定钛：蓝宝石振荡器，该振荡器使用外部脉冲压缩，能够产生亚皮秒脉冲。

This Engineering Research Equipment grant will contribute to research work on the generation of optical pulses with ultra-high peak power and an extremely high peak-to-background intensity contrast ratio. Using a novel technique called Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) the principal investigators have developed a compact, table-top size laser source producing a peak power of one Terawatt and intensities up to 1018 watts/cm2. Present research is directed towards the development of a system capable of generating even higher peak powers. For this new CPA source to be effective, it is extremely important that the pulses be exceptionally clean, i.e. that they have a very high peak- to-background intensity contrast ratio. For some applications these extreme peak power pulses will have to have a contrast ratio in the range of 1010:1. To achieve this, a new modelocked Ti:sapphire oscillator using external pulse compression will be constructed which is capable of producing subpicosecond pulses.