High Power Dynamic Polarization Control Using Plasma Photonics.
We report the first experimental demonstration of a plasma wave plate based on laser-induced birefringence. An elliptically polarized input was converted into a nearly ideal circularly polarized beam using an optical system composed of a second laser beam and a plasma. The results are in excellent agreement with linear theory and three-dimensional simulations up to phase delays exceeding π/4, thus establishing the feasibility of laser-plasma photonic devices that are ultrafast, damage-resistant, and easily tunable.
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
D
D
Turnbull
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
P
P
Michel
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
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T
Chapman
York Plasma Institute, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DQ, United Kingdom.
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E
Tubman
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
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BB
Pollock
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
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CY
Chen
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
C
C
Goyon
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
J S
JS
Ross
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
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L
Divol
York Plasma Institute, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DQ, United Kingdom.
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N
Woolsey
National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
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JD
Moody