title: The impact of spectral modulations on the contrast of pulses of nonlinear chirped-pulse amplification systems.
abstract: A detrimental pulse distortion mechanism inherent to nonlinear chirped-pulse amplification systems is revealed and analyzed. When seeding the nonlinear amplification stage with pulses possessing weak side-pulses, the Kerr-nonlinearity causes a transfer of energy from the main pulse to side pulses. The resulting decrease in pulse contrast is determined by the accumulated nonlinear phase-shift (i.e., the B-integral) and the initial pulse-contrast. The energy transfer can be described by Bessel-functions. Thus, applications relying on a high pulse-contrast demand a low B-integral of the amplification system and a master-oscillator that exhibits an excellent pulse-contrast. In particular, nonlinear fiber CPA-systems operated at B-integrals far beyond pi have to be revised in this context.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15,D-07745 Jena, Germany. damian.schimpf@uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Damian N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Schimpf
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seise
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Limpert
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tünnermann
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D004867:Equipment Design; D005898:Glass; D007477:Ions; D007834:Lasers; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007477:Ions