Novel adaptive scheme for acousto-optic gain equalization and ultrabroadband amplification

Summary form only given. Adaptive control is an extremely powerful tool for optical pulse shaping. For amplifier systems, e.g., phase shaping was employed for compression of ultrashort pulses´ and optimized high-harmonic generation. In this paper, we will introduce a method for amplitude shaping that allows for an adaptive spectral redistribution of amplifier gain. Rather than previous attempt, to overcome the detrimental gain narrowing effect (e.g., the use of antiresonant etalons) our method does not introduce a spectrally dependent loss. Our alternative approach uses gain shaping by generation of a suitable spatial pump profile. In contrast to previous demonstrations, our concept can be used adaptively to produce a particular spectral profile of the amplified pulse and is based on acousto-optic imaging of the pump laser.