APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:

Applications requiring broadband precision optical pulse shaping or high power ultrashort laser pulses, such as:

  • Ultrafast spectroscopy
  • Laser material processing
  • Medical diagnostics and treatments
  • Scientific research
  • Defense and security

BENEFITS:

  • Achieves highly broadband, high-resolution optical pulse shaping (spectral intensity & phase)
  • Enables generation of ultrashort laser pulses with very broad spectral ranges
  • Overcomes inherent spectral intensity and phase limits in ultrafast lasers

BACKGROUND:

Digital programmable optical pulse shapers based on spatial light modulators have been commercialized to offer precise control over the spectral intensity and phase of broadband optical pulses. These devices play a crucial role in generating ultrashort pulses in laser amplifier systems. However, existing commercially available high-resolution pulse shapers have limited passbands of less than tens of nanometers, limiting the bandwidth of high-resolution spectral intensity and phase controls. 

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW: 

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a method of coherently-spectrally synthesizing optical pulse shaping and amplification, allowing for precise control over spectral intensity and phase programming across a wide spectrum. By combining multiple pulse shapers, each operating at a different wavelength range, this system achieved highly broadband, high-resolution pulse shaping capabilities. In ultrashort-pulse laser amplifier systems, this system enables full control over spectral intensity and phase across broad spectral ranges, overcoming inherent limitations associated with broad laser bandwidth and high amplification gain. This technology has a range of applications where very broadband precision optical pulse shaping or high power ultrashort laser pulses are needed.

DEVELOPMENT STAGE: 

Engineering/pilot-scale

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

Tong Zhou

Siyun Chen

Qiang Du

Dan Wang

Russell Wilcox

Cameron Geddes

Additional information:

Siyun Chen, Tong Zhou, Qiang Du, Dan Wang, Antonio Gilardi, Jean-Luc Vay, Derun Li, Jeroen van Tilborg, Carl Schroeder, Eric Esarey, Russell Wilcox, and Cameron Geddes, “Broadband spectral combining of three pulse-shaped fiber amplifiers with 42fs compressed pulse duration,” Opt. Express 31, 12717-12724 (2023)

“Spectrally Combining Lasers Could Unleash the Potential of Laser-Plasma Accelerators,” Berkeley Lab Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics Division website, June 27, 2023

IP Status: 

Patent pending

OPPORTUNITIES: 

Available for licensing or collaborative research