Abstract

The phase delay function of grating-pair pulse compressors can be expanded in a Taylor series in terms of powers (ω - ω₀), where ω is the frequency of spectral components of the pulse and ω₀ is the central frequency of the pulse. The quadratic term in this expansion corresponds to a linear path variation with frequency, and to the ideal compression of a linearly chirped pulse. Higher-order terms in this phase delay function are often undesirable, particularly for broad-spectrum input pulses. Using the concept of shaped volume transmission gratings,¹ grating-pair pulse compressors are described in which all phase delay function terms higher than second order are eliminated. This is accomplished by solving for the grating shape that provides the phase delay described by the truncated Taylor series. Similarly, selected quantities of higher-order terms may be added to better match the compressor to input pulses having deviations from an ideal linear chirp. Specific solutions for tailored pulse compressors are presented, including the purely quadratic case (no higher-order terms).

© 1991 Optical Society of America