Next generation free electron lasers aim to generate x-ray pulses with pulse durations down to 30 fs, and possibly even sub-fs. Synchronization of various stages of the accelerator and the probe laser system to the x-ray pulses with stability on the order of the pulse width is necessary to make maximal use of this capability. We are developing an optical timing synchronization system in order t...

For efficient induction-driven heavy-ion fusion, the current profile along a pulse must be modified in a non-selfsimilar manner between the accelerator and the target. In the accelerator, the pulse should have a duration of at leaat !io ns in order to make efficient use of the induction cores, and the current should by nearly uniform along the pulse to minimize the aperture. In contrsst, the op...

An overview on femtosecond laser pulse shaping techniques applied to control of the initial photo-physical steps involved in materials processing is presented. First, pulse shaping methodology in frequency domain is introduced and examples of shaped pulses relevant to laser microfabrication are discussed. Then, the use of tailored femtosecond pulses to control the initial steps of laser process...

This paper presents recent results in the development of novel ultrafast technologies based on the generation and application of extremely chirped optical pulses. Linearly frequency-swept modelocked optical pulses of ns durations are generated, at the infrared telecommunications wavelength of 1.55 mm, by using chirped fiber Bragg gratings. The swept pulses appear as continuous wave signals, whi...

i Certificate ii Acknowledgement iii Content iv List of acronyms vii List of symbols ix List of tables x List of figures xi

Pulse shaping technology is present to mitigate pulse narrowing and SBS effects in high energy/power ns fiber lasers and to balance SPM and gain narrowing in high energy/power fs fiber lasers. © 2010 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 140,3510; 140,3500; 140,4050.