Dissertation / PhD Thesis

GSI-2023-01111

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Design and Implementation of a High-Contrast, Millijoule-Level Ultrafast Optical Parametric Amplifier for High-Intensity Lasers

Zobus, Y. (Corresponding author)GSI*

2023

Please use a persistent id in citations: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-242000  doi:10.26083/TUPRINTS-00024200  doi:10.15120/GSI-2023-01111

Abstract: The objective of this work was the development of a laser module to improve the temporal contrast of high-intensity laser systems and its implementation at the high-power laser PHELIX at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH in Darmstadt. By improving the temporal contrast, experiments with laser-plasma interaction under extreme peak intensities should be made possible without disturbing or destroying the target before the arrival of the main pulse. In the frame of this work, I have therefore developed an ultrafast optical parametric amplifier (uOPA), which enables high-temporal-contrast amplification of short laser pulses up to the millijoule range and can thus replace subsequent contrast-degrading amplifier systems. In addition to reducing amplified spontaneous emission, the occurrence of pre-pulses can also be prevented. I have additionally developed a dedicated pump module for this amplifier, which can be used in a wide spectral range around the central wavelength of 1 μm and thereby can be implemented on various laser systems as a pump laser for uOPA systems. Thus, in addition to the high-contrast amplifier for the Nd:glass laser system PHELIX, I have built a second uOPA module for use in the diode-pumped Yb:CaF2 laser system PENELOPE. I implemented the module on the high-power PHELIX laser as part of this work, which successfully replaced an amplifier, which generated intense pre-pulses, in the amplification chain. This allowed me to lower the pre-pulse contrast at PHELIX by nearly three orders of magnitude to a contrast level of 6.2·10⁻¹¹, keeping the pre-pulse intensity, even for the highest possible intensity at PHELIX, below 100 GW/cm².

Note: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License: Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 International https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Note: Dissertation, Technical University of Darmstadt, 2023

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Plasmaphysik / PHELIX (PPH)

Research Program(s):

1. 621 - Accelerator Research and Development (POF4-621) (POF4-621)

Experiment(s):

1. P190: Optimized energy and spectra of laser accelerated protons and deuterons through programmed laser-pulse shapes (POF3-6211; PTA)
2. P-21-00005: Nuclear Excitation and Fission Studies with Short Pulsed Laser-Driven High Energy Gamma Rays (Station: PTA)

Appears in the scientific report 2023

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