Single-shot laser pulse reconstruction based on self-phase modulated spectra measurements.

We report a method for ultrashort pulse reconstruction based only on the pulse spectrum and two self-phase modulated (SPM) spectra measured after pulse propagation through thin media with a Kerr nonlinearity. The advantage of this method is that it is a simple and very effective tool for characterization of complex signals. We have developed a new retrieval algorithm that was verified by reconstructing numerically generated fields, such as a complex electric field of double pulses and few-cycle pulses with noises, pedestals and dips down to zero spectral intensity, which is challenging for commonly used techniques. We have also demonstrated a single-shot implementation of the technique for the reconstruction of experimentally obtained pulses. This method can be used for high power laser systems operating in a single-shot mode in the optical, near- and mid-IR spectral ranges. The method is robust, low cost, stable to noise, does not require a priori information, and has no ambiguity related to time direction.

Study of the thermo-optical constants of Yb doped Y2O3, Lu2O3 and Sc2O3 ceramic materials.

Thermally induced depolarization and thermal lens of three Konoshima Chemical Co. laser-ceramics samples Yb(3+):Lu(2)O(3)(C(Yb) ≈ 1.8 at.%), Yb(3+):Y(2)O(3)(C(Yb) ≈ 1.8 at.%), and Yb(3+):Sc(2)O(3) (C(Yb) ≈ 2.5 at.%) were measured in experiment at different pump power. The results allowed us to estimate the thermal conductivity of the investigated ceramic samples and compare their thermo-optical properties. The thermo-optical constants P and Q and its sign measured for these materials at the first time.

Self-compensation of thermally induced depolarization in CaF2 and definite cubic single crystals.

Compensation of thermally induced depolarization in laser active elements at small birefringence without additional phase elements was proposed and observed experimentally. Requirements to the crystals were formulated. An order of magnitude reduction of depolarization degree was obtained experimentally. A further modification of the scheme was developed.

Thermal effects in the Input Optics of the Enhanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory interferometers.

We present the design and performance of the LIGO Input Optics subsystem as implemented for the sixth science run of the LIGO interferometers. The Initial LIGO Input Optics experienced thermal side effects when operating with 7 W input power. We designed, built, and implemented improved versions of the Input Optics for Enhanced LIGO, an incremental upgrade to the Initial LIGO interferometers, designed to run with 30 W input power. At four times the power of Initial LIGO, the Enhanced LIGO Input Optics demonstrated improved performance including better optical isolation, less thermal drift, minimal thermal lensing, and higher optical efficiency. The success of the Input Optics design fosters confidence for its ability to perform well in Advanced LIGO.

Adaptive acousto-optic technique for femtosecond laser pulse shaping.

We discuss the theoretical and experimental investigation of acousto-optic dispersive tunable filters, based on quasi-collinear geometry of light-sound interaction in a tellurium dioxide single crystal. The geometry uses the effect of strong acoustic anisotropy in the paratellurite as well as peculiarities of acoustic wave reflections at the free boundary of the crystal. A mathematical concept for determination of optical, electrical, and constructional parameters of the filters is developed. Different experimental acousto-optic filters intended for femtosecond pulse shaping are designed and tested. Preliminary experiments are performed in a subpetawatt optical parametric chirped pulse amplification laser system. The experimental data conform completely with the predicted data.

Synchronization of two Q-switched lasers with 150 ps jitter.

Two Nd:YLF lasers with a pulse duration of about 2 ns have been synchronized. The duration and synchronization of two laser pulses are provided by two pairs of Pockels cells with synchronized voltage pulses. One of the Pockels cells in the first pair ensures Q switching, and the other cuts out a 2 ns pulse from the giant 20 ns pulse. In the second pair, one of the cells, driven by a two-step voltage pulse, forms a giant pulse synchronized with the pulse of the first laser, and the other cell cuts a short pulse out of it. The proposed scheme allows a rather simple and reliable synchronization of two Q-switched lasers with a jitter of 150 ps.

Interferometry based technique for intensity profile measurements of far IR beams.

We present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, method for measuring the intensity profile of far-IR beams. The method is based on the measurements of nonstationary variation in optical thickness of a fused-silica plate heated by the studied radiation. The optical thickness is observed by means of a reflecting interferometer. Purpose-made experimental setup allows one to measure beams with an aperture of up to 60 mm with a spatial resolution of 1 mm. The accessibility of the utilized technologies and the possibility to easily increase the aperture are the major advantages of this approach. The probable area of application for the method is measurements of beams produced by powerful industrial far-IR lasers.

High-precision methods and devices for in situ measurements of thermally induced aberrations in optical elements.

An optical system that comprises two devices for remote measurements, a broadband optical interferometer and a scanning Hartmann sensor, is described. The results of simultaneous measurements with both devices and the results of numerical modeling of sample surface heating are presented.

Thermally induced birefringence in Faraday devices made from terbium gallium garnet-polycrystalline ceramics.

We have developed a model that describes thermally induced birefringence in polycrystalline ceramics that are exposed to a magnetic field. Conditions under which traditional compensation techniques (for glass and single crystals) can be effective for ceramics have been found. It is shown that a ceramic is almost equivalent to a [111]-oriented crystal if the ratio of the rod length to the grain size is approximately 300 or more. In particular, residual depolarization (after the compensation techniques are applied) is inversely proportional to this ratio, which is an important consequence of the random nature of thermally induced birefringence in ceramics.

Slab-based Faraday isolators and Faraday mirrors for 10-kW average laser power.

It is shown that the use of slabs instead of rods makes it possible to fabricate Faraday isolators and Faraday mirrors operating at a multikilowatt power. Analytical dependences of thermally induced depolarization in Faraday devices on radiation power and on slab aspect ratio have been obtained.

Thermally induced birefringence in Nd:YAG ceramics.

Analytical expressions for eigenpolarizations and phase delays in grains of thermally loaded Nd:YAG ceramic rods have been derived. It is shown that the depolarization of radiation in polycrystalline ceramics results in beam modulation with a characteristic size of the order of the ceramic grain size. It is reasonable to increase the ratio of rod length to grain length both to diminish this modulation depth and to compensate for birefringence by use of known techniques.