Abstract

The CPA concept has been demonstrated with Nd:glass and alexandrite media. Pulses as powerful as TW have been produced with compact laser systems. In the near future PW pulses will be generated. As the laser power increases to these extreme levels, the temporal quality, i.e. pulse contrast and control of ASE, will have to improve accordingly, propagation in air kept to a minimum. We disucss the fundamental considerations to achieve ultrahigh intensities with the highest spatial and temporal quality necessary to perform experiments in the 10²⁰–10²³ W/cm² regime.

© 1989 Optical Society of America