A Compact and Robust Regenerative Amplifier Pump Source for high Repetition Rate Terahertz Parametric Amplifier

In this paper we report a compact and robust regenerative amplifier developed as the pump laser for a high repetition rate terahertz parametric amplifier. With properly chosen pump source and carefully designed cavity, Nd:YVO4 crystal, and laser beam collimator, a maximum output pulse energy of 480 mu J has been achieved at the repetition rate of 10 kHz. The output laser has a nearly Gaussian transverse profile and a narrow bandwidth of 0. 2 nm. Long-term monitoring shows an root mean square power fluctuation of about 1%. These characteristics satisfy all requirements for high repetition rate terahertz parametric amplifier.