TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Spatially Homogeneous Nonlinear Spectral Broadening

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its Spatially Homogeneous Nonlinear Spectral Broadening technology.

Background:

Scaling state-of-the-art laser systems towards higher peak powers is a costly, time-intensive, and difficult endeavor. Traditionally, only increases in the laser pulse energy, following an aperture expansion of the final amplifier and compressor, are possible, as the pulse duration has already been optimized near the shortest possible value set by the design of the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) system. There is a need for an inexpensive, efficient method to shorten the pulse duration, scale the peak power, and enable advanced experimental capabilities (e.g., laser-driven wake-field acceleration) for current and next-generation laser systems worldwide that can be installed within any high peak power laser system without modifying the existing CPA chain.

Description:

This invention proposes the use of a nonlinear spectral broadening subsystem as a post-CPA pulse compression add-on for high energy laser systems. The proposed solution utilizes the beam profile of a high peak power laser as a reference to shape a highly transmissive nonlinear plastic (e.g., CR39) itself to ensure a spatially homogeneous nonlinear spectral broadening. An optical path difference (OPD) compensator is then installed to eliminate spatio-temporal effects arising from the shaped plastic, and the materials are edge-bonded to a face-cooled mirror to mitigate thermal effects and enable high repetition rate operation. By exploiting a well-known nonlinear broadening mechanism in an innovative manner, this scalable post-CPA pulse compression technique would allow for substantial peak power enhancements and could be readily applied to real, high energy laser systems at high repetition rates.

Advantages/Benefits: 

• Enables inexpensive, efficient scaling of state-of-the-art laser systems towards higher peak powers.
• Directly increases laser peak power, while maintaining overall system efficiency and repetition rate.
• Enables advanced experimental capabilities e.g., laser-driven wake-field acceleration.
• Strong spectral broadening induced by this invention allows the end-user to bypass gain-narrowing limitations.
• Can be installed within any high peak power laser system without modifying the existing CPA chain.

Potential Applications: 

An enabling component of high-power and ultrafast laser systems

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 2-3

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/072670 Spatially Homogeneous Nonlinear Spectral Broadening published 6/8/2023

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Spatially Homogeneous Nonlinear Spectral Broadening technology should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Spatially Homogeneous Nonlinear Spectral Broadening technology.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:   IL-13679