We developed a new numerical simulation method to calculate the amplification of arbitrary laser pulses in double-pass amplifiers in which two polarization-orthogonal pulses inside the gain medium overlap. The proposed method agrees very well with the experimental results given in this work for the pulse energy and temporal shape.

The mathematical modeling of an anisotropic Ti:sapphire crystal with a significant thermal load is performed. The model is expressed by the differential Jones matrix. A thermally induced distortion in the chirped-pulse amplification process is shown by the solution of the differential Jones matrix. Using this model, the thermally distorted spatio-temporal laser beam shape is calculated for a high-power and high-repetition-rate Ti:sapphire amplifier.

We mathematically model the thermal lens effect of Ti:sapphire for use in a high-power laser pulse amplifier. The model enables more accurate prediction with new interpretations and offers simplified equations for the optical path difference and thermally induced focal length. Our model is validated through comparisons with measurements of existing high-power laser facilities. Further, we apply the model to a 2 PW, 10 Hz Ti:sapphire laser amplifier design.

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