Methods and apparatus for idler extraction in high power optical parametric amplifiers
US9280031B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 2014 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2202/40
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical parametric amplifier and methods for idler extraction therein. Certain examples provide a method of extracting the idler at intermediate points within the optical parametric amplifier chain to improve conversion efficiency and/or maintain high beam quality (high Strehl ratio), where the pump beam has non-uniform profile. In one example, optical parametric amplifier includes an amplifier chain having a plurality of gain stages, each gain stage including a non-linear optical crystal, the plurality of gain stages configured to receive a signal seed and a pump beam and to produce an idler and an amplified signal, the pump beam having a non-uniform spatial profile, and a plurality of idler extractors interspersed with the plurality of gain stages and configured to extract the idler from intermediate points within the amplifier chain. The idler extractors can include polarizers, beam displacer crystals, or dichroic mirrors, for example.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.