We present the setup of a polarization rotating device and its adaption for high-power short-pulse laser systems. Compared to conventional halfwave plates, the all-reflective principle using three zero-phase shift mirrors provides a higher accuracy and a higher damage threshold. Since plan-parallel plates, e.g. these halfwave plates, generate postpulses, which could lead to the generation of prepulses during the subsequent laser chain, the presented device avoids parasitic pulses and is therefore the preferable alternative for high-contrast applications. Moreover the device is easily scalable for large beam diameters and its spectral reflectivity can be adjusted by an appropriate mirror coating to be well suited for ultra-short laser pulses.

© 2012 OSA

1. D. Strickland and G. Mourou, “Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses,” Opt. Commun.55, 447–449 (1985). [CrossRef]
2. M. C. Kaluza, J. Schreiber, M. I. K. Santala, G. D. Tsakiris, K. Eidmann, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, and K. J. Witte, “Influence of the laser prepulse on proton acceleration in thin-foil experiments,” Phys. Rev. Lett.93, 045003 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. S. P. D. Mangles, A. G. R. Thomas, M. C. Kaluza, O. Lundh, F. Lindau, A. Persson, Z. Najmudin, C. -G. Wahlström, C. D. Murphy, C. Kamperidis, K. L. Lancaster, E. Divall, and K. Krushelnick, “Effect of laser contrast ratio on electron beam stability in laser wakefield acceleration experiments,” Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion48, B83–B90 (2006). [CrossRef]
4. A. Henig, D. Kiefer, K. Markey, D. C. Gautier, K. A. Flippo, S. Letzring, R. P. Johnson, T. Shimada, L. Yin, B. J. Albright, K. J. Bowers, J. C. Fernández, S. G. Rykovanov, H. -C. Wu, M. Zepf, D. Jung, V. Kh. Liechtenstein, J. Schreiber, D. Habs, and B. M. Hegelich, “Radiation-pressure acceleration of ion beams driven by circularly polarized laser pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett.103, 045003 (2009). [CrossRef]
5. N. V. Didenko, A. V. Konyashchenko, A. P. Lutsenko, and S. Yu. Tenyakov, “Contrast degradation in a chirped-pulse amplifier due to generation of prepulses by postpulses,” Opt. Express16, 3178–3190 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. M. Hornung, R. Bödefeld, M. Siebold, A. Kessler, M. Schnepp, R. Wachs, A. Sävert, S. Podleska, S. Keppler, J. Hein, and M. C. Kaluza, “Temporal pulse control of a multi-10-TW diode-pumped Yb:Glass laser,” Appl. Phys. B101, 93–102 (2010). [CrossRef]
7. S. Keppler, R. Bödefeld, M. Hornung, A. Sävert, J. Hein, and M. C. Kaluza, “Prepulse suppression in a multi-10-TW diode-pumped Yb:glass laser,” Appl. Phys. B104, 11–16 (2011). [CrossRef]
8. C. E. Greninger, “Reflective device for polarization rotation” Appl. Opt.27, 774–776 (1988). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. according to supplier data (CVI Melles Griot)
10. according to supplier data (LAYERTEC GmbH)

Appl. Opt.

• C. E. Greninger, “Reflective device for polarization rotation” Appl. Opt.27, 774–776 (1988). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. B

• M. Hornung, R. Bödefeld, M. Siebold, A. Kessler, M. Schnepp, R. Wachs, A. Sävert, S. Podleska, S. Keppler, J. Hein, and M. C. Kaluza, “Temporal pulse control of a multi-10-TW diode-pumped Yb:Glass laser,” Appl. Phys. B101, 93–102 (2010). [CrossRef]
• S. Keppler, R. Bödefeld, M. Hornung, A. Sävert, J. Hein, and M. C. Kaluza, “Prepulse suppression in a multi-10-TW diode-pumped Yb:glass laser,” Appl. Phys. B104, 11–16 (2011). [CrossRef]

Opt. Commun.

• D. Strickland and G. Mourou, “Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses,” Opt. Commun.55, 447–449 (1985). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• N. V. Didenko, A. V. Konyashchenko, A. P. Lutsenko, and S. Yu. Tenyakov, “Contrast degradation in a chirped-pulse amplifier due to generation of prepulses by postpulses,” Opt. Express16, 3178–3190 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• A. Henig, D. Kiefer, K. Markey, D. C. Gautier, K. A. Flippo, S. Letzring, R. P. Johnson, T. Shimada, L. Yin, B. J. Albright, K. J. Bowers, J. C. Fernández, S. G. Rykovanov, H. -C. Wu, M. Zepf, D. Jung, V. Kh. Liechtenstein, J. Schreiber, D. Habs, and B. M. Hegelich, “Radiation-pressure acceleration of ion beams driven by circularly polarized laser pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett.103, 045003 (2009). [CrossRef]
• M. C. Kaluza, J. Schreiber, M. I. K. Santala, G. D. Tsakiris, K. Eidmann, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, and K. J. Witte, “Influence of the laser prepulse on proton acceleration in thin-foil experiments,” Phys. Rev. Lett.93, 045003 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion

• S. P. D. Mangles, A. G. R. Thomas, M. C. Kaluza, O. Lundh, F. Lindau, A. Persson, Z. Najmudin, C. -G. Wahlström, C. D. Murphy, C. Kamperidis, K. L. Lancaster, E. Divall, and K. Krushelnick, “Effect of laser contrast ratio on electron beam stability in laser wakefield acceleration experiments,” Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion48, B83–B90 (2006). [CrossRef]

Other

• according to supplier data (CVI Melles Griot)
• according to supplier data (LAYERTEC GmbH)

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