Figure 1. ILAO-Star 400 – ‘one of the Stars of Imagine Optic‘s ILAO-STAR deformable mirrors, meticulously crafted to meet the requirements of state-of-the-art Ultrashort Petawatt-class laser pulses.
High-power laser systems are at the forefront of technological innovation, enabling breakthroughs in numerous fields like particle acceleration, high harmonic generation, and laser fusion, to name a few. In the realm of high-power laser systems, precision isn’t just a requirement—it’s a necessity. Maintaining beam quality and maximizing on-target peak intensity demands sophisticated solutions for optical aberration correction, and Imagine Optic’s ILAO-STAR deformable mirror stands at the forefront of this innovation. Designed to overcome the challenges of wavefront distortion, the ILAO-STAR provides unmatched performance and adaptability, making it a cornerstone in advanced laser applications [1-9].
The Challenge of Wavefront Distortion in high-power lasers: Why Optical Aberration Correction Matters
High-power laser systems often face a critical issue: wavefront distortion. This can occur due to optical element misalignment, thermal effects in amplifiers, and mechanical constraints, all of which can degrade beam quality and reduce the intensity of focused light [6, 8]. For applications demanding maximal on-target peak intensity, such distortions in the spatial phase of the laser light degrade beam quality, reducing the focused intensity crucial for cutting-edge applications. That’s where the ILAO-STAR comes in to shape the spatial phase of intense laser light with nanometric precision.
Figure 2. Laser Light-Beam Shaping: Exploiting Imagine Optic’s ILAO-STAR deformable mirror to ‘craft’ a ‘butterfly’ intensity profile via wavefront manipulation of laser light with nanometric precision. Image of the Week – Optics & Photonics News, Optica (17/03/2023).
ILAO-Star: Tailored for High-Power Lasers
The ILAO-STAR deformable mirror, developed by Imagine Optic, is a groundbreaking innovation designed to address the challenges of wavefront distortion in the most extreme conditions. Designed specifically for high-power lasers, ILAO-STAR stands out with its extensive customization options, allowing seamless integration into diverse laser setups. The ILAO-STAR offers customizability of beam sizes (20 mm to 600 mm), intensity profiles (Gaussian, super-Gaussian, or top-hat), and beam shapes (circular, elliptical, rectangular, or square), making it suitable for a wide range of configurations, including multi-petawatt systems [1-5, 8-9].
Figure 3. 550 mm x 500 mm (left image), and 400 mm x 500 mm (right image) high-vacuum compatible ILAO-STAR deformable mirrors for multi-petawatt ultrashort laser pulses exhibiting rectangular (left) and elliptical (right) beam geometry at the plane of incidence.
Figure 4. 600 mm diameter high-vacuum compatible ILAO-STAR for State-of-the-art 10-Petawatt ultrashort laser pulses; human face for scale.
Moreover, ILAO-STAR’s reflective coatings—available in dielectric, metallic, or hybrid options—are optimized to withstand the demanding conditions of high-power laser systems. Additionally, its ability to operate at correction frequencies up to 10 Hz with high stability, puts it at the forefront for wavefront control of high repetition rate Petawatt-class laser systems [3].
In conclusion, the ILAO-STAR deformable mirror represents a significant advancement in optical aberration correction for high-power lasers. Its adaptability, performance, and customization options make it a valuable tool for researchers and engineers pushing the boundaries of laser technology. By effectively addressing wavefront distortion, the ILAO-STAR ensures optimal laser beam quality, maximizing intensity and enabling breakthroughs in fields ranging from particle acceleration to laser fusion.
But the innovation doesn’t stop here! Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll dive into the features of the new generation of ILAO-STAR.
References:
[1] F. Lureau et al., “High-energy hybrid femtosecond laser system demonstrating 2 × 10 PW capability,” High Power Laser Science and Engineering, vol. 8, p. e43 (2020).
[3] R. S. Nagymihály et al., “The petawatt laser of ELI ALPS: reaching the 700 TW level at 10 Hz repetition rate,” Opt. Express 31, 44160-44176 (2023).
[4] H. Kiriyama et al., “Laser Output Performance and Temporal Quality Enhancement at the J-KAREN-P Petawatt Laser Facility,” Photonics 2023, 10(9), 997 (2023).
[5] H.-S. Mao et al., “High-quality spatial modes for petawatt-class lasers,” AIP Conf. Proc. 28 October 2016; 1777 (1): 110003 (2016).
[5] S Toth et al., “SYLOS lasers – the frontier of few-cycle, multi-TW, kHz lasers for ultrafast applications at extreme light infrastructure attosecond light pulse source,” J. Phys. Photonics 2 045003 (2020).
[6] R. Clady et al., “22 W average power multiterawatt femtosecond laser chain enabling 1019 W/cm2 at 100 Hz”, Appl. Phys. B 124, 89 (2018).
[7] S.J. Hawkes et al., “Laser wakefield acceleration with active feedback at 5 Hz,” Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 22, 041303 (2019).
[8] F. Canova et al., “Wavefront Correction and Aberrations Pre-Compensation in the Middle of Petawatt-Class CPA Laser Chains,” in Conference on Lasers and ElectroOptics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies, OSA Technical Digest Series (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2007), paper JThD125.