Abstract

Optical parametric amplification (OPA) with multiple pumps is a promising technique for beam combining [1, 2] and amplification of an ultra-broadband femtosecond signal [3]. In this context, the non-collinearity between the pumps and signal beams is required in order to transfer the phase incoherence between the different pumps to the corresponding idlers. Angular tolerances of phase-matching in this configuration are critical parameters with regards to the efficiency and stability of the amplified signal, which requires judicious choices for the beams shaping. We propose here an original approach enabling to calculate tolerances with respect to wave-front distortions, beam divergence and pointing instability. We developed and validated a general numerical code taking into account any non-collinear phase-matching directions in or out of the principal planes of uniaxial and biaxial crystals.

© 2011 IEEE