Abstract

The short pulse duration limit in highpower laser systems employing chirped pulse amplification is set by the limitations on width and shape and relative phase across the output spectrum. It is possible to improve the criteria for assessing the spectrum by looking at the relationship between a spectral distribution and its Fourier transform. This shows that the pulse duration at FWHM is more closely related to the spectral width in the wings of the spectrum, at perhaps the 5% level, than to the FWHM. Conversely, the shape of the spectrum is reflected more in the wings of the pulse and is important in the assessment of pulse contrast ratio.

© 1994 IEEE