Work

Polarization state control for high-peak-power applications

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The use of circularly polarized high-peak-power ultrashort pulses has various applications in extreme field science. Commonly used quarter-wave plates are unsuitable here, while multi-mirror schemes are technically complicated. We have demonstrated that simple PET film, 20.5µm thick, can be used to manipulate the polarization state of the high-peak-power beam and achieve ellipticity of up to 0.8 with negligible nonlinear phase distortion. Furthermore, the film can withstand 10 3 shots at an intensity of I =3⋅10 12 W/cm 2 without sustaining visible damage. Thus, PET film is suitable for long-term use in a PW laser system, with a 20 cm beam diameter. We confirmed this experimentally by measuring the angular distribution of the second harmonic from the plasma channel created in an undercritical gas plume, with a 1 TW femtosecond Ti:Sa laser.

Source: Journal of the Optical Society of America A

DOI: 10.1364/josaa.544487

Authors: E. M. Starodubtseva, I. N. Tsymbalov, D. A. Gorlova, K. A. Ivanov, A. B. Savel’ev

Institutions: Institute for Nuclear Research, P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Russian Science Foundation

Award: G3553506241