Spectral shaping in chirped-pulse amplification

The role of spectral shaping in the production of subpicosecond, high-contrast pulses by using chirped-pulse amplification in Nd:glass lasers is described. Spectral shaping has been used to produce 3.2-TW pulses at 750 fsec with an energy contrast of better than 10(3):1. In the absence of shaping, compression of the 1053-nm pulses yielded only 1.5 psec and a contrast ratio of approximately 10:1.