Biomedical applications of free-electron lasers: generation of ultrashort high-peak-power optical pulses

Eric B. Szarmes; John M. J. Madey

doi:10.1117/12.142544

7 August 1992 Biomedical applications of free-electron lasers: generation of ultrashort high-peak-power optical pulses

Eric B. Szarmes, John M. J. Madey

Proceedings Volume 1646, Laser-Tissue Interaction III; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.142544
Event: OE/LASE '92, 1992, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The Mark III free-electron laser (FEL) is an rf linac-driven infrared laser continuously tunable from 2 to 9 microns which delivers diffraction-limited optical pulses with durations of several picoseconds and peak output powers of several megaWatts. By driving the laser with electron pulses which exhibit a linear energy chirp over time, one can create broadband optical pulses which exhibit a linear frequency chirp and are susceptible to pulse compression in an external dispersive delay line. Numerical simulations of the Mark III FEL at 3.35 μm using electron pulses with only a 2% energy chirp over 4 ps have demonstrated subsequent optical pulse compression from 3.4 ps to 230 fs, and compressed peak output powers of 30 MW; such pulses can be focused to intensities greater than 10¹³ W/cm². We review the extension of the technique to other wavelengths, and describe the design of prism compressors in the wavelength ranges of 2.5-4.1 μm and 7.5-9.1 μm which have been procured for applications in a user-oriented program at Duke University.

Citation Download Citation

Eric B. Szarmes and John M. J. Madey "Biomedical applications of free-electron lasers: generation of ultrashort high-peak-power optical pulses", Proc. SPIE 1646, Laser-Tissue Interaction III, (7 August 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.142544

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