title: Numerical simulation of the amplification of a short laser pulse by a ytterbium doped amplifier longitudinally pumped by short pump pulses.
abstract: A simple and original derivation making it possible to analytically compute the performances achievable with an end pumped ytterbium (Yb) amplifier pumped by a pump pulse and seeded by a laser pulse both shorter than the upper-level lifetime is presented. This may be useful when amplifiers or lasers are pumped by a Ti:sapphire laser. The case of a Yb:YAG amplifier is numerically investigated and it is shown that, in these conditions, the resulting efficiency can reach quantum efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire pour Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris, France. gilbert.bourdet@polytechnique.fr
authors.forename: Gilbert L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bourdet