Configuration Model of a Grating Pair Pulse Compressor

This paper proposes the unifying model that describes configuration of a wide-aperture laser compressor formed by pairs of parallel diffraction gratings. The model couples eight independent parameters of broadband laser radiation, diffraction gratings, and pulse compressor configuration. A new analytical method to describe delays in a wide-aperture beam propagating through a system of several grating pairs is proposed based on separate analysis of monochromatic and wavelength-dependent delays. Model-based optimization can be applied to spectral, phase, temporal, spatial, and energy characteristics of radiation at the output of a high-power laser facility. It is shown that the model allows minimizing the required size of diffraction gratings and increasing the cross section of the light beam at the output of a Nd-glass laser facility. A new multi-paired architecture of the compressor is described.