Propagation of ultrashort laser fields with spatiotemporal couplings using Gabor's Gaussian complex decomposition

Abstract

In ultra-intense chirped pulse amplification laser systems, pulses of ultrashort duration and high energy are generated using large spectral bandwidths and large beam diameters. Hence, the spatiotemporal couplings of the laser field can become significant and affect the field structure. The propagation of such pulses is simulated in this work using a code developed in-house, based on Gabor's decomposition of the initial complex field into Fourier transform limited Gaussian pulse beam terms. Subsequently, the analysis of the temporal, spatial, and angular chirp, as well as pulse front tilt couplings for a super-Gaussian beam of 25 fs duration allows quantification of their signatures in the near field and focus.