Simple and sensitive method for visual detection of temporal asymmetry of ultrashort laser pulses

A simple method is presented for visual detection of pulse asymmetry in ultrashort laser pulses, based on an unbalanced modified spectrum auto-interferometric correlation. It may be experimentally realized using a second order interferometric autocorrelator coupled with a fast data analysis computer program or electronic hardware. This method should permit real time visual detection of a very small amount of pulse asymmetry without any "direction of time" ambiguity, with a much higher sensitivity compared to unbalanced third order correlation.