Theory 018/Optics & Photonics
Compression Hits a Gain Limit
The claim
The shortest pulse achievable in a chirped-pulse amplifier is set by gain narrowing rather than by the seed bandwidth.
01The mechanism
Amplification narrows the spectrum toward the gain peak, so the output bandwidth is set by the amplifier even when the seed is broader.
02Predictions
- P1Pulse duration should plateau with seed bandwidth.
- P2Flattening the gain should shorten pulses.
03Refutation
Pulses continuing to shorten with seed bandwidth would remove gain narrowing.