20 mJ, 1 ps Yb:YAG Thin-disk Regenerative Amplifier

Install and align the optical bench with oscillator, pulse switcher, stretcher, regenerative amplifier, and compressor modules. Verify all optical paths and electronic connections.

Operate the seed oscillator to generate initial ultrashort pulses, activate the electro-optic pulse switcher to select individual pulses, and send pulses through the stretcher to reduce peak power.

Route stretched pulses into the Yb:YAG thin-disk regenerative amplifier cavity, apply pump laser energy, and extract amplified pulses after multiple passes through the gain medium.

Engage active stabilization feedback to maintain cavity alignment and phase stability, then recompress amplified pulses using matched grating compressor to recover ultrashort pulse duration.

Direct high-energy amplifier output as pump laser for the optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) system to generate broadband amplified signal and idler beams.

Monitor pulse energy fluctuation, timing jitter, and second harmonic generation conversion efficiency to confirm system performance meets specifications.