23 mJ high-power fiber CPA system using electro-optically controlled divided-pulse amplification

TL;DR

This paper presents a high-power fiber chirped pulse amplification system achieving 23 mJ pulse energy and 674 W average power through electro-optically controlled divided-pulse amplification and coherent beam combination, marking a record in fiber CPA technology.

Contribution

The work introduces a novel fiber CPA system with electro-optic pulse control and coherent combination, achieving the highest pulse energy reported for fiber CPA systems.

Findings

Achieved 23 mJ pulse energy at 674 W average power.

Implemented a modular fiber-integrated front end and multi-pass back end.

Demonstrated coherent combination of 96 pulses into a single high-energy pulse.

Abstract

The pulse-energy scaling technique electro-optically controlled divided-pulse amplification is implemented in a high-power ultrafast fiber laser system based on coherent beam combination. A fiber-integrated front end and a multi-pass cell based back end allow for a small footprint and a modular implementation. Bursts of 8 pulses are amplified parallel in up to 12 ytterbium-doped large-pitch fiber amplifiers. Subsequent spatio-temporal coherent combination of the 96 total amplified pulse replicas to a single pulse results in a pulse energy of 23 mJ at an average power of 674 W, compressible to a pulse duration of 235 fs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest pulse energy ever accomplished with a fiber CPA system.