Applications of High Power Slow Mode-locked Lasers for Ablation and Non-linear Optics

Luther-Davies, Barry; Gamaly, Eugene G; Rode, Andrei V; Kolev, Vesselin Z; Madsen, Nathan; Duering, M.; Giesekus, J

Applications of High Power Slow Mode-locked Lasers for Ablation and Non-linear Optics

Date

2004

Authors

Luther-Davies, Barry

Gamaly, Eugene G

Rode, Andrei V

Kolev, Vesselin Z

Madsen, Nathan

Duering, M.

Giesekus, J

Publisher

SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

Abstract

High average power (10-50W) slow mode-locked lasers operating with repetition rates of a few MHz provide a unique combination of high peak power, short pulse duration, and high brightness that makes them ideal for applications in pulsed laser ablation and nonlinear optics. With peak powers in the MW range and near diffraction-limited output beams, focussed intensities can exceed 1012W/cm2: sufficient for ablation of most solid materials or to saturate nonlinear optical interactions.