The present invention relates to a device (1) for orienting the position of an optical element, in particular for orienting an optical grating (2) in a short pulse laser system, comprising a supporting unit (3) for supporting the device against the surroundings and a receiving unit (5), which is mounted, preferably with a sliding bearing, rotatably relative to the supporting unit (3) about a vertical rotational axis (4), for receiving an optical grating (2), wherein the device (1) preferably comprises a removable adjusting device (16) for setting the angular position of the receiving unit (5) relative to the supporting unit (3) about the vertical axis (4). The invention also relates to a short pulse laser system and to a method for orienting the position of an optical element, in particular an optical grating (2), in a short pulse laser system.
The present invention relates to a method and to a device (2) for spectrally broadening a laser pulse (100) of a laser beam (10) of a laser (1), wherein the laser beam (10) is coupled into a resonator (22), the laser beam (10) passes through the resonator (22) multiple times, the laser pulse (100) of the laser beam (10), when passing through the resonator (22), is spectrally broadened using non-linear interaction with a non-linear medium, the laser beam (10) is focused during at least one time it passes through the resonator (22), and the laser beam (10) is coupled out of the resonator (22), wherein the beam cross-section of the laser beam (10) is elongated in the focus (30), and wherein the focus (30) is preferably a line focus.
The present invention relates to a device (2) for spectrally broadening a laser pulse (100) of a laser beam (10), said device comprising an optical coupling unit (20), at least one non-linear optical unit with a lens effect (224, 224'), and an optical out-coupling unit (26), wherein the optical coupling unit (20) is designed to couple the laser beam (10) into the at least one lens element (224, 224'), and wherein the optical out-coupling unit (26) is designed to couple out the laser beam (10), wherein the laser pulse (100) of the laser beam (10) is spectrally broadened using a non-linear interaction with the at least one non-linear optical unit with a lens effect (224, 224'), and the laser beam (10) is focused by the optical coupling unit (20) and/or the at least one non-linear optical unit with a lens effect (224, 224'), wherein the beam cross-section is elongated in the focus (30), wherein the focus (30) is preferably a line focus.
A laser system includes a laser radiation source for providing pulsed laser radiation, and an optical system that includes a first polarization setting optical unit configured to set a circular polarization state of the pulsed laser radiation and a multipass cell having at least two mirrors. The pulsed laser radiation passes through the multipass cell with formation of a plurality of intermediate focus zones. The multipass cell is filled with a filling gas that has an optical nonlinearity and causes a spectral broadening of the pulsed laser radiation in the intermediate focus zones. A pressure of the filling gas is set in a pressure range so that there is an ionization behavior of the filling gas in a form of multiphoton ionization. Focus diameters of the intermediate focus zones are set such that the pulsed laser radiation passes through the multipass cell without ionization of the filling gas.
H01S 3/036 - Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired gas pressure within the tube, e.g. by gettering or replenishingMeans for circulating the gas, e.g. for equalising the pressure within the tube
H01S 3/08 - Construction or shape of optical resonators or components thereof
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
An optical system for increasing contrast of pulsed laser radiation includes a first polarization setting optical unit for setting an elliptical polarization state of the pulsed laser radiation, and a multipass cell having at least two opposing mirrors. The pulsed laser radiation passes the multipass cell with formation of a plurality of intermediate focus zones. The multipass cell is filled with a gas having an optical nonlinearity that causes an intensity-dependent rotation of an alignment of the elliptical polarization state of the pulsed laser radiation, such that the multipass cell outputs beam portions having differently aligned elliptical polarization states on account of the intensity-dependent rotation. The optical system further includes an optical beam splitting system for splitting the beam portions having differently aligned elliptical polarization states.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
H01S 3/036 - Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired gas pressure within the tube, e.g. by gettering or replenishingMeans for circulating the gas, e.g. for equalising the pressure within the tube
H01S 3/08 - Construction or shape of optical resonators or components thereof
H01S 3/11 - Mode lockingQ-switchingOther giant-pulse techniques, e.g. cavity dumping
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
An optical arrangement spectrally broadens laser pulses for nonlinear pulse compression. The optical arrangement has: a broadening section that is configured to guide a laser pulse repeatedly through at least one nonlinear broadening element. The nonlinear broadening element has a dispersion property that is selected such that the dispersion property compensates any self-focusing of the laser pulse in the nonlinear broadening element.
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
7.
LASER SYSTEM COMPRISING AN OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR THE SPECTRAL BROADENING OF PULSED LASER RADIATION AND METHOD FOR THE SPECTRAL BROADENING OF PULSED LASER RADIATION
The invention relates to a laser system (1) comprising a laser radiation source (7) for providing pulsed laser radiation (9), wherein the pulsed laser radiation comprises laser pulses (11) with pulse energies in the region of 1 mJ to 100 J or in the region of 10 mJ to 1 J and with pulse durations in the region of 10 fs to 5 ps or in the region of 500 fs to 1.5 ps. The laser system (1) also comprises an optical system (3) for the spectral broadening of the pulsed laser radiation (9). The optical system (3) comprises: a first polarisation adjustment lens (19), which adjusts a circular polarisation state (17B) of the pulsed laser radiation (9); and a multipass cell (5) having at least two mirrors (25A, 25B), through which the pulsed laser radiation (9) passes forming a plurality of intermediate focus zones (29), wherein the multipass cell (5) is filled with a filler gas (5A), which has an optical non-linearity, wherein the filler gas (5A) brings about a spectral broadening of the pulsed laser radiation (9) in the intermediate focus zones (29). In addition, a pressure of the filler gas (5A) is adjusted within a pressure range, in which there is ionisation behaviour of the filler gas (5A) within the scope of multiphoton ionisation, and focus diameters (d) of the intermediate focus zones (29) are adjusted in such a way that the pulsed laser radiation (9) passes through the multipass cell (5) without ionisation of the filler gas (5).
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
The invention relates to an optical system (3) for increasing contrast of pulsed laser radiation (9) using a non-linear eliptical polarisation rotation, comprising: a first polarisation adjustment lens (19) for adjusting an elliptical polarisation state (17B) of the pulsed laser radiation (9); a multipass cell (5) comprising two opposing mirrors (25A, 25B), forming a concentric resonator, which is passed through multiple times by the pulsed laser radiation (9) forming a plurality of intermediate focus zones (29), wherein the multipass cell (5) is filled with a gas (5A), which has an optical non-linearity, which brings about an intensity-dependent rotation of an orientation of the eliptical polarisation state (17B) of the pulsed laser radiation (9), such that the multipass cell (5) outputs beam parts with differently orientated elliptical polarisation states on the basis of the intensity-dependent rotation; and an optical beam splitting system (41) for splitting the beam parts with differently orientated elliptical polarisation states.
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR SPECTRALLY BROADENING LASER PULSES, METHOD FOR SPECTRALLY BROADENING A LASER PULSE, METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A NONLINEAR BROADENING ELEMENT, AND KIT COMPRISING SUCH A NONLINEAR BROADENING ELEMENT
The invention relates to an optical arrangement (1) for spectrally broadening laser pulses (5) for nonlinear pulse compression, said arrangement comprising a broadening path (3) designed to guide a laser pulse (5) repeatedly through at least one nonlinear broadening element (7), wherein the nonlinear broadening element (7) has a scattering property selected such that the scattering property compensates for self-focusing of a laser pulse (5) in the nonlinear broadening element (7).
A Pockels cell utilizes high-voltage pulses for a polarization adjustment of electromagnetic radiation passing through the crystal, in particular laser radiation. The polarization adjustment involves applying a sequence of useful voltage pulses (N) to the crystal, each having a useful period duration (TP, N) and a useful pulse width (TN), and induces birefringence of the crystal via electric polarization in the crystal for polarization adjustment of the electromagnetic radiation. A sequence of compensation pulses (K, K1, K2) are applied to the crystal, each having a voltage curve, wherein the sequence is temporally overlaid by the sequence of useful voltage pulses (N) so that the voltage curves of the compensation pulses (K, K1, K2) counteract the inducing of a mechanical vibration in the crystal of the Pockels cell by the useful voltage pulses (N).
H01S 3/115 - Q-switching using intracavity electro-optic devices
G02F 1/01 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
G02F 1/03 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels or Kerr effect
G02F 1/09 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on magneto-optical elements, e.g. exhibiting Faraday effect
H01S 3/107 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating by controlling devices placed within the cavity using electro-optic devices, e.g. exhibiting Pockels or Kerr effect
11.
EXTRACTION-ENERGY-CONTROLLED SWITCHING PROCESS OF A LASER SYSTEM
The invention relates to a method for operating a laser system (1', 11, 11'), wherein the laser system (1', 11, 11') provides a beam path (12) through a laser medium (15) for strengthening laser radiation (13), and an adjustable extraction mechanism (25) for the extraction of energy out of the laser medium (15). The beam path (12) is determined for an operation at at least one working point via optical parameters of the laser medium (15), which are established via an energy supply at the respective working point into the laser medium (15), and an energy discharge at the respective working point out of the laser medium (15) into the beam path (12). The method comprises a step of carrying out an extraction-energy-controlled switching process (II, II'). The switching process (II, II') comprises a step of suppling energy into the laser medium (15), corresponding to the energy supply at a specific working point, a step of discharging energy out of the laser medium (15) with the extraction mechanism (25), and a step of discharging energy out of the laser medium (15) into the beam path (12). During the extraction-energy-controlled switching process (II, II'), the energy discharged with the extraction mechanism (25) and the energy discharged into the beam path (12) together correspond with the energy to be discharged in laser radiation at a specific working point.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
H01S 3/23 - Arrangement of two or more lasers not provided for in groups , e.g. tandem arrangement of separate active media
H01S 3/06 - Construction or shape of active medium
H01S 3/08 - Construction or shape of optical resonators or components thereof
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
H01S 3/11 - Mode lockingQ-switchingOther giant-pulse techniques, e.g. cavity dumping
12.
Relative phase measurement for coherent combining of laser beams
A phase control system for controlling the relative phase (φ) of two laser beams of a laser system, which are to be coherently combined, is disclosed that enables providing a phase-controlled sum laser beam. An optical system of the phase control system includes a beam input for receiving a measuring portion of two collinear coherent laser beams, which are superimposed to form a sum laser beam, and provides measuring beams or measuring beam regions, which are used with associated photodetectors for outputting photodetector signals. For determining the relative phase from the photodetector signals, the phase control system has an evaluation device and a delay device for being inserted into the beam path of at least one of the two laser beams. The optical system is configured such that the measuring beams or measuring beam regions are related to different phase offsets.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
The invention relates to a method for exciting a crystal (5A) of a Pockels cell (5) with high-voltage pulses for a polarization adjustment of electromagnetic radiation passing through the crystal (5A), in particular laser radiation (33). The method comprises applying a sequence of useful voltage pulses (N) to the crystal (5A), each of which comprises a useful period duration (TP, N) and a useful pulse width (TN), and is configured to induce birefringence of the crystal (5A) via electric polarization in the crystal for polarization adjustment of the electromagnetic radiation, in particular the laser radiation (33). The method further comprises applying a sequence of compensation pulses (K, K1, K2) to the crystal (5A), each of which has a voltage curve, wherein the sequence of compensation pulses (K, K1, K2) is temporally overlaid by the sequence of useful voltage pulses (N) in such a way that the voltage curves of the compensation pulses (K, K1, K2) counteract the inducing of a mechanical vibration in the crystal (5A) of the Pockels cell (5) by the useful voltage pulses (N).
G02F 1/03 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels or Kerr effect
H01S 3/107 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating by controlling devices placed within the cavity using electro-optic devices, e.g. exhibiting Pockels or Kerr effect
H01S 3/115 - Q-switching using intracavity electro-optic devices
14.
RELATIVE PHASE MEASUREMENT FOR THE COHERENT COMBINING OF LASER BEAMS
The invention relates to a phase control system (5) for controlling the relative phase (φ) of two laser beams (17A, 17B) of a laser system (1) to be coherently combined, in particular permitting the provision of a phase-controlled sum laser beam (19). An optical unit (7) of the phase control system (5) comprises a beam input (33) for receiving a measurement portion (19') of two coherent laser beams (17A, 17B) that are/are to be superimposed in a collinear manner to form a sum laser beam (19), and provides measuring beams (31A, 31B, 31C) or measuring beam regions (131A, 131B, 131C), which are used with associated photodetectors (41A, 41B, 41C) for the output of photodetector signals. In order to determine the relative phase from the photodetector signals, the phase control system (5) has an evaluation unit (9) and a delay device (11) for introducing at least one of the two laser beams (17A, 17B) into the beam path. The optical unit is designed in such a way that the measuring beams (31A, 31B, 31C) or measuring beam regions (131A, 131B, 131C) are assigned different phase offsets.
An optical parametric amplifier system (1) for amplifying an in particular pulsed signal laser beam (19) by means of a pump laser beam (17) comprises a nonlinear optical crystal (3, 33) having an entry face (5) and a coated rear face (7) reflecting the signal laser beam (19) and the pump laser beam (17). The nonlinear optical crystal (3, 33) has a crystal axis (27) which is arranged such with respect to the rear face (7), to the signal laser beam (19) and to the pump laser beam (17) that the pump laser beam (17) and the signal laser beam (19) propagate in the crystal (3, 33) before and after reflection on the rear face (7) under phase adaptation conditions which result in an optical parametric amplification.
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