Forward raman pulse compression experiments by using ASHURA

We have developed a useful method for power multiplication of KrF laser light, called multipass Forward Raman Pulse Compression. In this method, a multipass forward Raman amplifier is used. Adjustment of the incident timing between pump and Stokes light into each path provides efficient conversion from long pump pulse to short Stokes pulse. Even in case of double path configuration, it was demonstrated for the output amplified Stokes to grow upto 1.3 times of pump intensity. By using intersecting multipath of Stokes and Pump beams, spatial nonuniformity ripple in output Stokes beam was reduced to less than 5%. (author)