Circular versus linear polarization in laser-amplifiers with Kerr-nonlinearity.
In this contribution it is reported that circularly polarized light is advantageous if the Kerr-effect has to be minimized during laser-amplification. The experimental demonstration is based on a fiber CPA-system. The different polarization states result in different B-integrals, which are measured using phase-only pulse-shaping. The theoretical value of 2/3 for the ratio of the B-integrals of circularly and linearly polarized light is experimentally verified. In laser-amplifiers circularly polarized light reduces the detrimental impact of the Kerr-nonlinearity, and thus, increases the peak-power and the self-focussing threshold.
Schimpf
Damian N
DN
Institute of Applied Physics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Albert-Einstein-Str 15, D-07745 Jena, Germany. damian.schimpf@uni-jena.de
Eidam
Tino
T
Seise
Enrico
E
Hädrich
Steffen
S
Limpert
Jens
J
Tünnermann
Andreas
A