Fast laser field reconstruction method based on a Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm with mode decomposition

TL;DR

This paper introduces a fast, hybrid laser field reconstruction method combining mode decomposition and a modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, effectively handling pointing instabilities and providing accurate field descriptions from measurements.

Contribution

The novel GSA-MD method integrates mode decomposition with a modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm for efficient, accurate laser field reconstruction considering pointing instabilities.

Findings

Reconstruction results agree well with experimental data.

Method effectively handles pointing instabilities.

Provides rapid and accurate laser field descriptions.

Abstract

Knowledge of the electric field of femtosecond, high intensity laser pulses is of paramount importance to study the interaction of this class of lasers with matter. A novel, hybrid method to reconstruct the laser field from fluence measurements in the transverse plane at multiple positions along the propagation axis is presented, combining a Hermite-Gauss modes decomposition and elements of the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm. The proposed Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm with modes decomposition (GSA-MD) takes into account the pointing instabilities of high intensity laser systems by tuning the centers of the HG modes. Furthermore, it quickly builds a field description by progressively increasing the number of modes and thus the accuracy of the field reconstruction. The results of field reconstruction using the GSA-MD are shown to be in excellent agreement with experimental measurements from two different high-peak power laser facilities.