Patent ID: 8780440

Claim:
A chirped pulse amplification system comprising: a laser source providing an input laser pulse along an optical path, the input laser pulse being characterized by a first temporal duration; a multi-pass pulse stretcher disposed along the optical path, wherein the multi-pass pulse stretcher comprises: a first set of mirrors operable to receive input light in a first plane and output light in a second plane parallel to the first plane; a first diffraction grating operable to receive light from one or more of the first set of mirrors; a second set of mirrors operable to receive light diffracted from the first diffraction grating; a second diffraction grating operable to receive light from the second set of mirrors; and a reflective element operable to reflect light diffracted from the second diffraction grating; an amplifier disposed along the optical path; a pulse compressor disposed along the optical path; and a passive dispersion compensator disposed along the optical path.