Abstract

A wavelength-independent method for optical gating, based on the optical Kerr effect, has been demonstrated. Using this method, we produced 100-ps, 10-kW, two-wavelength pulses (10.3 and 10.6 µm) with a signal-to-background ratio contrast of 10⁵ by slicing a long CO₂ pulse. The capability of gating consecutive pulses separated on a picosecond time scale with this method is also shown.

© 2002 Optical Society of America

Fifteen terawatt picosecond CO₂ laser system

D. Haberberger, S. Tochitsky, and C. Joshi
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Generation of 160-ps terawatt-power CO₂ laser pulses

S. Ya. Tochitsky, R. Narang, C. Filip, C. E. Clayton, K. A. Marsh, and C. Joshi
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Microscopic time-resolved two-dimensional imaging with a femtosecond amplifying optical Kerr gate

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Efficient shortening of self-chirped picosecond pulses in a high-power CO₂ amplifier

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Opt. Lett. 26(11) 813-815 (2001)