Abstract: The present invention provides a reflective telescopic system, to control the generation of filamentation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses that includes: a flat mirror, an adaptive reflective mirror, a dichroic convex mirror, an off-axis parabolic mirror, and a first laser source. The convex mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror are mounted on an independent breadboard and set on a translation stage. The propagation axis of the laser beam reflected by the mirror should correspond to the off-axis of the parabolic mirror. The parabolic mirror reflects the beam at a specific angle. Finally, the propagation axis between the dichroic convex mirror and the off-axis parabolic mirror, the propagation axis between the flat mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror, and the axis of the translation stage should be substantially parallel to each other. The present invention also contemplates the boresighting of a weak laser beam from a second laser source.

Abstract: A method comprising using a pulse shaper in the spectral domain to generate multiple-color pulses directly at the output of the laser amplifier. The delay can thus be controlled directly in the spectral domain and there is no need for an optical delay line. The method allows reducing the number of optical components and insures insensitivity to alignment, vibrations and turbulence on long distance propagation and filamentation, particularly in air. The method allows programmable and tunable interaction, since the pulse shaper is able to control the laser spectral amplitude and phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reflective telescopic system, to control the generation of filamentation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses that includes: a flat mirror, an adaptive reflective mirror, a dichroic convex mirror, an off-axis parabolic mirror, and a first laser source. The convex mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror are mounted on an independent breadboard and set on a translation stage. The propagation axis of the laser beam reflected by the mirror should correspond to the off-axis of the parabolic mirror. The parabolic mirror reflects the beam at a specific angle. Finally, the propagation axis between the dichroic convex mirror and the off-axis parabolic mirror, the propagation axis between the flat mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror, and the axis of the translation stage should be substantially parallel to each other. The present invention also contemplates the boresighting of a weak laser beam from a second laser source.

Abstract: A method comprising using a pulse shaper in the spectral domain to generate multiple-color pulses directly at the output of the laser amplifier. The delay can thus be controlled directly in the spectral domain and there is no need for an optical delay line. The method allows reducing the number of optical components and insures insensitivity to alignment, vibrations and turbulence on long distance propagation and filamentation, particularly in air. The method allows programmable and tunable interaction, since the pulse shaper is able to control the laser spectral amplitude and phase.