J. P. Chambaret

Compact and efficient multipass Ti:sapphire system for femtosecond chirped-pulse amplification at the terawatt level

We have developed efficient multipass Ti:sapphire amplifiers for femtosecond chirped-pulse amplification. With only two of these devices we get an amplification factor of 10(8), which corresponds to a peak power of ~0.5 TW after compression. We present a detailed analysis of such a system and its advantages in terms of its high quantum yield (0.3), flexibility, optical quality, and potential for tunability.

Enhancement of high-order harmonic generation at tuned wavelengths through adaptive control

An adaptive learning loop enhances the efficiency and tuning of high-order harmonic generation. In comparison with simple chirp tuning, we observe a broader tuning range and a twofold to threefold enhancement in integrated photon flux in the cutoff region. The driving pulse temporal phase varies significantly for different tunings and is more complicated than a simple chirp. We compare our experimental results with a one-dimensional, time-dependent model that incorporates the intrinsic atomic response, the experimental pulse temporal phase, ionization effects, and transverse coherence of the spatial mode of the laser. The model agrees with our experimental results and indicates that a specific quantum path coupled with ionization effects determines the optimized harmonic spectrum.

Apollon-10P: Status and implementation

The objective of the Institut de Lumie`re Extreme consists in providing early in 2014 to the international scientific community an unique laser based facility delivering 150 J, 15 fs pulses at 1 shot per minute repetition rate allowing to investigate an unexplored domain of laser-matter interaction at 1023 - 1024 W/cm2 intensity level.

100 TW ultra-intense femtosecond laser systems

Since the beginning of the 90s the generation of high-intense laser pulses has known an unprecedented evolution thanks to the conjunction of the possibility of the Chirped Pulse Technique and the availability of spectrally broad-band laser media. Lasers capable of producing petawatt pulses can now be built on few optical tables in a small laboratory. We review the generation and the amplification of ultra-short pulses by the Chirped Pulse Amplification technique.

High Repetition Rate kJ-class Nanosecond to Femtosecond Lasers

Using novel liquid cooled slab laser amplifier technology we have developed laser systems capable of amplifying nanosecond laser pulses to energy of ~1 kJ at repetition rate up to 0.1 Hz. The design and performance of these liquid cooled amplifiers at 18 cm aperture will be described along with plans to scale this technology to larger aperture and higher repetition rate.

Complete thermal lens control of a 10-100 Hz terawatt system

Summary form only given. We demonstrate a novel 10-100-Hz terawatt source where the thermal distortion is not anymore an issue while varying the repetition rate. The problem of thermal distortion has been already demonstrated for high repetition rates laser as 1-kHz. One recent example for controlling this effect is a thermal eigenmode amplifier where the thermal lens is used to transform a classic multipass amplifier to a real eigenmode cavity. This method has shown very good results in a several mJ, ultrashort Ti:sapphire amplifier laser chain. An amplifier crystal cooled to 125-K has been also demonstrated for a kHz, 0.2-TW laser system. For intermediate repetition rate (10-100 Hz) the thermal aberration is less critical due to the relative high diameter of the pump beam on the amplifier. Nevertheless, it has to be taken into account to preserve a constant high beam quality during amplification.