Suppression of Pre-Pulse of Chirped Laser Pulse by Scanning Amplitude Limiting Approach Based on Quadratic Electro-Optic Effect

Abstract

Abstract The too intense pre-pulse breaks the conditions of interaction of main pulse with target in experiments where laser pulses interact with matter. An approach of pre-pulse suppression by scanning amplitude limiting is proposed based on quadratic electro-optic effect, according to the characteristics of frequency varies with time of the chirped laser pulse. The scanning amplitude limiting scheme with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer system is depicted and the properties of pre-pulse suppression are analysed both theoretically and numerically. For 800nm central wavelength and magnitude ns duration chirped laser pulse, the simulation result shows that the pre-pulse is suppressed on a scale of 10% to 1‰ or more on the premise of appropriate controlling voltage. Furthermore, the suppressing performance of pre-pulse is sensitive to the deviation and time-delay of voltage which affects the transmittance of system, and it is necessary to reduce the voltage deviation and time-delay so as to suppress the pre-pulse more severe.