A COMPACT HIGH POWER ND:YAG LASER PULSE COMPRESSOR VIA BULK PLASMA SWITCHING AND STIMULATED BRILLOUIN SCATTERING

摘要

We provide details on the development of a Nd: YAG laser pulse compression technique using both bulk plasma switching and stimulated Brillouin scattering to reduce pulses lengths from 20 nsec at 85 mJ/pulse to below 2 nsec at 150 mJ/pulse. The laser operates at a wavelength of 1.06 μm . This technique uses the laser first as an oscillator and then as an amplifier. Hence, a rather careful design of the laser cavity is required. The technique is general and applicable to any laser possessing pulse length and wavelength that supports stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS).