OPTICAL PULSE SOURCE WITH INCREASED PEAK POWER

摘要

In at least one embodiment time separated pulse pairs are generated, followed by amplification to increase the available peak and/or average power. The pulses are characterized by a time separation that exceeds the input pulse width and with distinct polarization states. The time and polarization discrimination allows easy extraction of the pulses after amplification. In some embodiments polarization maintaining (PM) fibers and/or amplifiers are utilized which provides a compact arrangement. At least one implementation provides for seeding of a solid state amplifier or large core fiber amplifier with time delayed, polarization split pulses, with capability for recombining the time separated pulses at an amplifier output. In various implementations suitable combinations of bulk optics and fibers may be utilized. In some implementations wavelength converted pulse trains are generated. A method and system of the present invention can be used in time domain applications utilizing multiple beam paths, for example spectroscopy.

主权项

1. A pulsed laser system, comprising:
an input providing time separated pulses having a temporal delay therebetween, each pulse having a different polarization state; and a single medium in which said time separated pulses propagates, wherein a peak power and energy of each pulse is sufficiently low to avoid substantial distortion of a pulse output from said medium, wherein the power of the time separated pulses, if combined in said medium without said temporal delay, would exceed a non-linear threshold of said medium, wherein said system is configured such that the time separated pulses output from said medium propagate in separate optical paths providing for synchronization of time separated pulses.