Analysis and optimization of chirp-compensation OPCPA scheme

We present general guidelines for the chirp-compensation optical parametric chirped pulse amplification scheme, where maximization of both conversion efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio and simultaneous overcoming of the gain-narrowing effect are required. Using numerical simulation, we find that the crystal length, the ratio of signal and pump durations, and the pump chirp are the critical parameters for the chirp-compensation scheme. We compare the chirp-compensation scheme with the usual collinear or noncollinear schemes, and find that the chirp-compensation scheme can obtain both higher conversion efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio, and overcome the gain-narrowing effect simultaneously. We also compare the linear-chirp-compensation scheme with the nonlinear-chirp-compensation scheme and find that the linear-chirp-compensation scheme is a good approximation for the nonlinear-chirp-compensation scheme when the signal bandwidth is not very broad.