Evaluation of an ultrabroadband high-gain amplification technique for chirped pulse amplification facilities

Recently, an amplification technique for ultrashort pulses was explored in detail in a theoretical paper by Ross et al. [Opt. Commun. 144, 125 (1991)] . The technique, based on nonlinear optics, is called optical parametric ch irped pulse amplification. It has a number of features that, in principle, make it highly attractive. It primarily offers extremely large gains simult aneously with extremely large bandwidths. Additional attractions are virtua lly no spatial and temporal phase distortion of the amplified pulse, high e fficiencies and a low thermal loading, reduced amplified spontaneous emissi on levels, small optical material lengths, and an inherent simplicity of im plementation. We present an evaluation of the technique as a front end ampl ifier for the ultrashort pulse amplification chain of the Vulcan laser syst em. Such a device could replace same of the existing amplification in Nd:gl ass and additionally have a wider effect as a direct replacement of Ti:sapp hire regenerative amplifiers on large-scale chirped pulse amplification sca le facilities. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 320.0320, 32 0.7090, 320.1590, 190.4970.