Phase matched scanning optical parametric chirped pulse amplification based on pump beam deflection*

Combined with the optical beam deflection, a novel approach of phase matched broadband scanning optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) was proposed. For this scheme, there was no superfluous operations to the chirped signal pulse which propagated in a changeless direction straightforward, but the pump beam were deflected in space with time by passing through a KTN crystal, which was applied with varied driving voltage. The theories of phase matching of each chirped signal frequency based on pump beam deflection was analyzed detailedly. And the type-I amplification of chirped signal with 800 nm central wavelength and 20 nm bandwidth pumped by 532 nm in BBO crystal was simulated as a case in point. The simulation results showed that the spectral distribution of chirped signal pulse was almost the same as the initial form, i.e., there was nearly no narrowing on the amplified spectrum by using of the scanning OPCPA based on pump beam deflection. In addition, the simulations demonstrated that it was worth minimizing the voltage deviation applied to KTN crystal as much as possible for the sake of better waveform, larger bandwidth and higher conversion efficiency of amplified signal pulse in the proposed scanning OPCPA.

Automated summary

A novel approach of phase matched broadband scanning optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) was proposed in this study, where the pump beam deflection enabled phase matching of each chirped signal frequency. Simulation results showed that this method could maintain the spectral distribution of chirped signal pulse almost unchanged.