Effect of self-phase modulation in chirped-pulse-amplification-like schemes

A detailed analytical investigation is made of the effect of nonlinear self -phase modulation in chirped-pulse-amplification-like schemes. It is demons trated that self-phase modulation in the amplifier between the stretcher an d the compressor breaks the dispersive sign symmetry of the configuration. This implies that, although self-phase modulation is usually considered a d eleterious effect, different situations are possible, depending on the para meter regimes considered. In particular, the influence of self-phase modula tion on the low-intensity wings of the compressed pulse may be more or less deleterious, depending on the dispersive sign combination of the stretcher and the compressor; in certain parameter regimes, it may in fact even enha nce the pulse compression. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224( 99)02210-9].