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Large diameter, flying focus driven ionization waves of arbitrary velocity (IWAV's) were produced by a defocused laser beam in a hydrogen gas jet, and their spatial and temporal electron density characteristics were measured using a novel, spectrally resolved interferometry diagnostic. A simple analytic model predicts the effects of power spectrum non-uniformity on the IWAV trajectory and transverse profile. This model compares well with the measured data and suggests that spectral shaping can be used to customize IWAV behavior and increase controlled propagation of ionization fronts for plasma-photonics applications.
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The Laser Shock Station in the Dynamic Compression Sector (DCS) [Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory] links a laser-driven shock compression platform with high energy x-ray pulses from the APS to achieve in situ, time-resolved x-ray measurements (diffraction and imaging) in materials subjected to well-characterized, high stress, short duration shock waves. This station and the other DCS experimental stations provide a unique and versatile facility to study condensed state phenomena subjected to shocks with a wide range of amplitudes (to above â¼350 GPa) and time-durations (â¼10 ns-1 µs). The Laser Shock Station uses a 100 J, 5-17 ns, 351 nm frequency tripled Nd:glass laser with programmable pulse shaping and focal profile smoothing for maximum precision. The laser can operate once every 30 min. The interaction chamber has multiple diagnostic ports, a sample holder to expose 14 samples without breaking vacuum, can vary the angle between the x-ray and laser beams by 135°, and can translate to select one of the two types of x-ray beams. The x-ray measurement temporal resolution is â¼90 ps. The system is capable of reproducible, well-characterized experiments. In a series of 10 shots, the absolute variation in shock breakout times was less than 500 ps. The variation in peak particle velocity at the sample/window interface was 4.3%. This paper describes the entire DCS Laser Shock Station, including sample fabrication and diagnostics, as well as experimental results from shock compressed tantalum that demonstrate the facility's capability for acquiring high quality x-ray diffraction data.
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We derive the relationship between Coddington's equations and the Gaussian curvature for a stigmatic reflective imaging system. This relationship allows parameterizing off-axis conic optical systems using traditional first-order optics by considering the effective curvature at the center of the off-axis sections. Specifically, we demonstrate parameterizing the system requirements of a 2× achromatic image relay for a terawatt laser system. This system required both collimation (far-field) and pupil imaging (near-field) simultaneously. Long working distances and specific spatial constraints limited the available layout options for the imaging components. By parameterizing these system requirements and packaging constraints, the final specifications could be quickly iterated, while allowing for flexibility in the layout of the system during a multi-year conceptual period.
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Two-dimensional chromatic aberrations are characterized by a single-shot scheme based on a simultaneous measurement of chromatically diversified focal spots. The chromatic diversity is introduced by a 2-D grating with holographic defocus terms. The chromatic aberrations in the beam are either subtracted or added by the additional known chromatic aberrations in the grating, depending on the diffraction order. By analyzing the asymmetry in the size of diffracted focal spots, input beam chromatic aberrations can be deduced. Theoretical discussions and experimental results are presented.
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Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry uses incoherent x-ray sources to measure refraction index changes in matter. These measurements can provide accurate electron density mapping through phase retrieval. An adaptation of the interferometer has been developed in order to meet the specific requirements of high-energy density experiments. This adaptation is known as a moiré deflectometer, which allows for single-shot capabilities in the form of interferometric fringe patterns. The moiré x-ray deflectometry technique requires a set of object and reference images in order to provide electron density maps, which can be costly in the high-energy density environment. In particular, synthetic reference phase images obtained ex situ through a phase-scan procedure, can provide a feasible solution. To test this procedure, an object phase map was retrieved from a single-shot moiré image obtained from a plasma-produced x-ray source. A reference phase map was then obtained from phase-stepping measurements using a continuous x-ray tube source in a small laboratory setting. The two phase maps were used to retrieve an electron density map. A comparison of the moiré and phase-stepping phase-retrieval methods was performed to evaluate single-exposure plasma electron density mapping for high-energy density and other transient plasma experiments. It was found that a combination of phase-retrieval methods can deliver accurate refraction angle mapping. Once x-ray backlighter quality is optimized, the ex situ method is expected to deliver electron density mapping with improved resolution. The steps necessary for improved diagnostic performance are discussed.
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A simple diagnostic characterizing one-dimensional chromatic aberrations in a broadband beam is introduced. A Ronchi grating placed in front of a spectrometer entrance slit provides spectrally coupled spatial phase information. The radial-group delay of a refractive system and the pulse-front delay of a wedged glass plate have been characterized accurately in a demonstration experiment.
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Conventional lens-based image relays introduce radial group delay that significantly reduces focal-spot intensity of ultra-broadband short pulses. A direct compensation scheme that can be used with conventional singlet image relays is proposed. The compensation scheme is based on using two negative lenses embedded within an Offner imaging system. The setup allows a single-pass configuration and eliminates the need for polarization switching optics. The performance of this setup is calculated using ray tracing. The compensation improves the spatiotemporal Strehl ratio from 0.02 to 0.97.
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Optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) impose an optical parametric phase (OPP) onto the amplified signal. It manifests itself as a spectral phase in the case of broadband signals and, therefore, hampers pulse compression. Here we present, for the first time, a complete experimental characterization of this OPP for different ultra-broadband noncollinear OPA configurations. This measurement allows us to compensate the OPP and to achieve Fourier-limited pulses as short as 1.9 optical cycles. A numerical model is in excellent agreement with our measurements and reveals the importance of high order phase compensation in the case of noncollinear phase matching. In contrast, operation at degeneracy enables almost complete compensation of the OPP by second-order dispersion only.
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Spatially resolved spectral interferometry is used to measure the mode content of a Yb-doped photonic-crystal fiber rod amplifier with a 2300 µm(2) mode area. The technique, known as S(2) imaging, was adapted for the short fiber amplifier at full power and revealed a small amount of a copolarized LP(11) mode. Simulations illustrate the potential for weak mode suppression in this fiber and agree qualitatively with the measurements of S(2) and M(2). Higher-order-mode content depends on the alignment of the input signal at injection and ranged from -18 dB for optimized alignment to -13 dB when the injection alignment was offset along the LP(11) axis by 30% of the 55 µm mode-field diameter.
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We characterize spatiotemporal aberrations induced in noncollinear optical parametric amplifiers (NOPAs), for the first time (to our knowledge), using spatially resolved spectral interferometry. Measurements show that when the submillimeter pump and signal beams are not correctly aligned, several degrees of pulse-front tilt caused by angular dispersion are introduced by the NOPA angular-dependent gain, without significant loss of bandwidth. After eliminating the pulse-front tilt, analysis of the residual higher-order aberrations shows that far-field intensities reaching 80% of the theoretical limit can be achieved without complex spatiospectral phase optimization.
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We present an on-shot focal-spot characterization technique based on a phase-retrieval scheme that retrieves near-field phase from multiplane focal-spot measurements in an experimental target chamber. The technique is easy to implement inside a target chamber and is demonstrated in a multiterawatt laser system. It is also found that phase retrieval can quantitatively detect residual angular dispersion coming from the pulse compressor misalignment.
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The operation of a single-shot cross-correlator based on a pulse replicator is described. The correlator uses a discrete sequence of sampling pulses that are nonlinearly mixed with the pulse under test. The combination of a high reflector and partial reflector replicates an optical pulse by multiple internal reflections and generates a sequence of spatially displaced and temporally delayed sampling pulses. This principle is used in a cross-correlator characterizing optical pulses at 1053 nm. A dynamic range higher than 60 dB is obtained over a temporal range larger than 200 ps.
Asunto(s)
Algoritmos , Diseño Asistido por Computadora , Modelos Teóricos , Óptica y Fotónica/instrumentación , Procesamiento de Señales Asistido por Computador/instrumentación , Simulación por Computador , Diseño de Equipo , Análisis de Falla de EquipoRESUMEN
The impact of high-frequency spectral phase modulation on the temporal intensity of optical pulses is derived analytically and simulated in two different regimes. The temporal contrast of an optical pulse close to the Fourier-transform limit is degraded by a pedestal related to the power spectral density of the spectral phase modulation. When the optical pulse is highly chirped, its intensity modulation is directly related to the spectral phase variations with a transfer function depending on the second-order dispersion of the chirped pulse. The metrology of the spectral phase of an optical pulse using temporal-intensity measurements performed after chirping the pulse is studied. The effect of spatial averaging is also discussed.
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Luz , Modelos Teóricos , Procesamiento de Señales Asistido por Computador , Análisis Espectral/métodos , Simulación por ComputadorRESUMEN
We demonstrate a wavelength-tunable semiconductor pump diode for Raman amplification. Thediode is stabilized by a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) that can be continuously tuned over more than 20 nm. Tuning of the diode output wavelength is achieved by varying the center wavelength of the FBG, since the diode preferentially lases within the FBG bandwidth. We investigate the effects of wavelength tuning on the diode spectrum on its corresponding Raman gain, and on pump-pump four-wave mixing in fiber having zero-dispersion wavelength coincident with the Raman pumps.