Speaker
Description
Laser-wakefield acceleration and related schemes require driver lasers with the maturity of conventional accelerator technology. For ultrafast, high-power long-wave-infrared (LWIR) systems based on high-pressure CO₂ amplifiers, key challenges are increasing repetition rate and wall-plug efficiency of multi-terawatt systems, while enabling robust sub-picosecond operation. Replacing electric-discharge pumping with optical pumping of the gain medium is widely viewed as the main path to these goals.
We present a systematic theoretical study aimed at identifying optimal configurations of optically pumped CO₂ CPA amplifiers. An updated amplifier model with improved treatment of rovibrational molecular dynamics is introduced, and recent results on the choice of pump wavelength and practically achievable optical-to-optical efficiency are discussed. Based on these findings, we outline a conceptual design for a multi-terawatt, high-repetition-rate LWIR laser that appears feasible with present-day laser technology.
Funding Agency
U.S. Department of Energy under contract DESC0012704
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