Generalized interferometric technique for ultrashort pulse characterization

A direct Young interferometric technique as a tool to determine ultrashort chirped Gaussian pulses characteristics is described: the intensity as a function of the order of the minima of the interference pattern depends on a function of the pulse characteristics. Effects related to modification of the functional forms of the shape and phase are computed, and the modulation in the intensity due to the finite size of the slits is deduced. A generalization of this technique, through measuring the minima intensity for an appropriately generated second harmonic pulse, permits the individual determination of the pulse width and chirp rate.