Angular-dispersion-induced spatiotemporal aberrations in noncollinear optical parametric amplifiers.
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.
Bromage
Jake
J
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA. jbro@lle.rochester.edu
Dorrer
Christophe
C
Zuegel
Jonathan D
JD