Patent ID: 8072678
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A fiber based chirped pulse amplification system generating output pulses in the range of 1-1.15 μm, comprising: a seed source comprising a diode-pumped, passively modelocked fiber laser comprising a saturable absorber and generating pulses in the 1-1.15 μm wavelength region; a pulse stretcher which receives said pulses from said seed source, stretches said pulses in time, and outputs said stretched optical pulses; a Yb: fiber amplifier which receives said stretched optical pulses and generates amplified and stretched optical pulses; an optical modulator disposed between said passively modelocked fiber laser and said Yb: fiber amplifier, said modulator being controllable to reduce the repetition rate of pulses injected into said Yb: fiber amplifier, to increase the available pulse energy of pulses amplified with said Yb: fiber amplifier, and to provide for selection of pulses for amplification with said Yb: fiber amplifier; and a pulse compressor which inputs said amplified and stretched pulses and temporally compresses the amplified and stretched pulses to approximately their bandwidth limit.