HERACLES
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/images/placeholder.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/images/placeholder.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/images/placeholder.png)
The HERACLES facility, currently under construction at the Townes Laser Institute, will feature outstanding output parameters. With expected output pulses of duration ~8 fs, energy up to 2 mJ at repetition rates as high as 25 kHz and carrier envelope phase (CEP) stabilization of the oscillator and amplifier chain, the HICEPS meets the requirements of the most demanding experiments. This facility enables the generation of peak powers approaching 0.25 TW at high repetition rates in a compact tabletop design and makes it an ideal source for driving the generation of high harmonics (HHG) and opens the pathway to the emerging field of attoscience.
High Intensity Femtosecond Laser (HIFL)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/images/placeholder.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/images/placeholder.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/images/placeholder.png)
The High Intensity Femtosecond Laser (HIFL) is a commercial Chirped-Pulse Amplifier (CPA) system with flexible output in repetition rate (10 Hz or 1 kHz) with energy up to respectively 20 mJ and 2 mJ. The Ti:Sapphire oscillator (OSC: Tsunami – Spectra Physics) is pumped by a Nd:YLF doubled CW laser (PUMP1: Millenia – Spectra Physics) generates sub-35 femtosecond pulses with a spectrum centered at 800 nm. It is capable of generating an 80 MHz pulse train of transform limited pulses, ~5 nJ in energy and <35 fs in duration.
The output is directed through an Acousto-Optic Programmable Dispersive Filter pulse shaper (DAZ: Dazzler – Faslite) which is typically used to correct for pulse narrowing in the last pass of the laser amplifier, but may be used for arbitrary pulse shape and temporal profile generation. This shaped pulse is then expanded in grating stretcher (STR) about 10,000 times its initial pulse duration for safe and efficient amplification in a regenerative amplifier.
This stretched beam is then directed into a regenerative amplifier (REG) pumped by a diode-pumped, kHz repetition rate, Q-switched, intra-cavity doubled, Nd:YLF laser (PUMP3: Evolution 30 – Spectra-Physics), where it is amplified in ~12 passes to an energy of ~3 mJ. This amplified pulse can then be directed into a grating compressor (COMP) for an output of ~2.4 mJ and 30 fs at 1 kHz or may be directed into a 2-pass power amplifier (DP) pump by a 600 mJ Nd:YAG laser (PUMP2: Quanta-Ray Pro 290 – Spectra-Physics) for further amplification to >30 mJ prior to pulse compression. The 10 Hz output is typically 30 mJ and 30 fs. Pulse temporal parameters are measured with a Grenouille from Swamp Optics. Pulse spatial profile is measured using a Spiricon 980 camera and associated hardware/software.
2um Laser Propagation Facility
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-7-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-8-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-9-300x200.png)
One of the most attractive properties of thulium as a fiber laser dopant, relative to more established ytterbium and erbium hosts, is the extremely wide wavelength range of laser output from ~1.8 ? 2.1 ?m. This ?eye safe? wavelength range is interesting for a variety of reasons and potential applications.
For example:
- There are several regions of very low atmospheric absorption within the wavelength range of Tm:fiber, well-suited for long-range propagation for applications such as LIDAR or directed energy.
- Vibrationally resonant absorptions from trace water vapor and CO2 occur within the emission band of Tm:fiber, making this a useful band for trace gas analysis.
- The wide laser tunability range is sufficient to enable the amplification of 100 fs pulses to high peak powers using all-fiber architecture.
For all of these cases, it is necessary to characterize the propagation of Tm:fiber emission. Towards this goal, we have conducted 1 km laser range experiments using a tunable Tm:fiber MOPA system producing >200 W output power with narrow linewidth (<200 pm) from ~1.94 ? 2.1 ?m at the Innovative Science & Technology Facility (ISTEF) in Merritt Island Florida. By tuning the laser wavelength, we measured the relative transmission over the 1-km range and compared it with MODTRAN simulation. These measurements confirm that there atmospheric transmission windows from 2.03 ? 2.05 ?m and for wavelengths >2.07 ?m.
We have also conducted short range transmission measurements using broadband Tm:fiber sources for illumination and our Yokogawa AQ6375 Optical Spectrum Analyizer for data collection. This provides us with a diagnostic with <50 pm spectral resolution and high dynamic range. This diagnostic is capable of detecting CO2 absorption features after ~2 m propagation in air, despite the low ~0.04% percentage of atmospheric CO2.
IMRA Partnership (Laser-Schedule)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-10-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-11-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-12-300x200.png)
The High Intensity Femtosecond Laser (HIFL) is a commercial Chirped-Pulse Amplifier (CPA) system with flexible output in repetition rate (10 Hz or 1 kHz) with energy up to respectively 20 mJ and 2 mJ. The Ti:Sapphire oscillator (OSC: Tsunami – Spectra Physics) is pumped by a Nd:YLF doubled CW laser (PUMP1: Millenia – Spectra Physics) generates sub-35 femtosecond pulses with a spectrum centered at 800 nm. It is capable of generating an 80 MHz pulse train of transform limited pulses, ~5 nJ in energy and <35 fs in duration.
The output is directed through an Acousto-Optic Programmable Dispersive Filter pulse shaper (DAZ: Dazzler – Faslite) which is typically used to correct for pulse narrowing in the last pass of the laser amplifier, but may be used for arbitrary pulse shape and temporal profile generation. This shaped pulse is then expanded in grating stretcher (STR) about 10,000 times its initial pulse duration for safe and efficient amplification in a regenerative amplifier.
This stretched beam is then directed into a regenerative amplifier (REG) pumped by a diode-pumped, kHz repetition rate, Q-switched, intra-cavity doubled, Nd:YLF laser (PUMP3: Evolution 30 – Spectra-Physics), where it is amplified in ~12 passes to an energy of ~3 mJ. This amplified pulse can then be directed into a grating compressor (COMP) for an output of ~2.4 mJ and 30 fs at 1 kHz or may be directed into a 2-pass power amplifier (DP) pump by a 600 mJ Nd:YAG laser (PUMP2: Quanta-Ray Pro 290 – Spectra-Physics) for further amplification to >30 mJ prior to pulse compression. The 10 Hz output is typically 30 mJ and 30 fs. Pulse temporal parameters are measured with a Grenouille from Swamp Optics. Pulse spatial profile is measured using a Spiricon 980 camera and associated hardware/software.
Khz Femtosecond Laser Materials Processing Facility
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-7-1-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-8-1-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-9-1-300x200.png)
One of the most attractive properties of thulium as a fiber laser dopant, relative to more established ytterbium and erbium hosts, is the extremely wide wavelength range of laser output from ~1.8 ? 2.1 ?m. This ?eye safe? wavelength range is interesting for a variety of reasons and potential applications.
For example:
- There are several regions of very low atmospheric absorption within the wavelength range of Tm:fiber, well-suited for long-range propagation for applications such as LIDAR or directed energy.
- Vibrationally resonant absorptions from trace water vapor and CO2 occur within the emission band of Tm:fiber, making this a useful band for trace gas analysis.
- The wide laser tunability range is sufficient to enable the amplification of 100 fs pulses to high peak powers using all-fiber architecture.
For all of these cases, it is necessary to characterize the propagation of Tm:fiber emission. Towards this goal, we have conducted 1 km laser range experiments using a tunable Tm:fiber MOPA system producing >200 W output power with narrow linewidth (<200 pm) from ~1.94 ? 2.1 ?m at the Innovative Science & Technology Facility (ISTEF) in Merritt Island Florida. By tuning the laser wavelength, we measured the relative transmission over the 1-km range and compared it with MODTRAN simulation. These measurements confirm that there atmospheric transmission windows from 2.03 ? 2.05 ?m and for wavelengths >2.07 ?m.
We have also conducted short range transmission measurements using broadband Tm:fiber sources for illumination and our Yokogawa AQ6375 Optical Spectrum Analyizer for data collection. This provides us with a diagnostic with <50 pm spectral resolution and high dynamic range. This diagnostic is capable of detecting CO2 absorption features after ~2 m propagation in air, despite the low ~0.04% percentage of atmospheric CO2.
Fiber Processing
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-10-1-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-11-1-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-12-1-300x200.png)
In order to support thulium fiber laser development efforts, the Laser Plasma Laboratory (LPL) utilized a DURIP from ARO to purchase several pieces of equipment critical for processing large diameter fibers for use in laser systems. This includes a cleaver capable of placing an angled facet on fibers from 125 μm to 1.5 mm in diameter (Vytran LDC-200); a glass-processing platform with the ability to splice (including polarization alignment), taper and fuse large diameter fibers (Vytran GPX-3400); and a fiber recoater for splice protection (Vytran PTR-200).
The facility provides us with the ability to fabricate high-power fiber systems and components in house. This allows us to produce integrated systems for applications requiring compactness and a minimum of free-space optical components, and provides us flexibility in fabricating and optimizing fiber laser systems.
Thermal Lensing Characterization Facility
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-7-1-1-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-8-1-1-300x200.png)
![](https://creol.ucf.edu/lpl/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/placeholder-9-1-1-300x200.png)
One of the most attractive properties of thulium as a fiber laser dopant, relative to more established ytterbium and erbium hosts, is the extremely wide wavelength range of laser output from ~1.8 ? 2.1 ?m. This ?eye safe? wavelength range is interesting for a variety of reasons and potential applications.
For example:
- There are several regions of very low atmospheric absorption within the wavelength range of Tm:fiber, well-suited for long-range propagation for applications such as LIDAR or directed energy.
- Vibrationally resonant absorptions from trace water vapor and CO2 occur within the emission band of Tm:fiber, making this a useful band for trace gas analysis.
- The wide laser tunability range is sufficient to enable the amplification of 100 fs pulses to high peak powers using all-fiber architecture.
For all of these cases, it is necessary to characterize the propagation of Tm:fiber emission. Towards this goal, we have conducted 1 km laser range experiments using a tunable Tm:fiber MOPA system producing >200 W output power with narrow linewidth (<200 pm) from ~1.94 ? 2.1 ?m at the Innovative Science & Technology Facility (ISTEF) in Merritt Island Florida. By tuning the laser wavelength, we measured the relative transmission over the 1-km range and compared it with MODTRAN simulation. These measurements confirm that there atmospheric transmission windows from 2.03 ? 2.05 ?m and for wavelengths >2.07 ?m.
We have also conducted short range transmission measurements using broadband Tm:fiber sources for illumination and our Yokogawa AQ6375 Optical Spectrum Analyizer for data collection. This provides us with a diagnostic with <50 pm spectral resolution and high dynamic range. This diagnostic is capable of detecting CO2 absorption features after ~2 m propagation in air, despite the low ~0.04% percentage of atmospheric CO2.