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Discrete dispersion scanning as a simple method for broadband femtosecond pulse characterization
Optics Express
|August 10, 2016
Summary
A new method characterizes femtosecond laser pulses by adding known dispersion and observing second harmonic peaks. This technique simplifies spectral phase retrieval, especially for broadband pulses.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Ultrafast Laser Science
Background:
- Femtosecond pulse characterization is crucial for understanding and controlling ultrafast optical phenomena.
- Existing methods can be complex or limited in bandwidth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a simple, easy-to-implement technique for femtosecond pulse characterization.
- To enable accurate spectral phase retrieval, particularly for broadband pulses.
Main Methods:
- Introducing a controlled amount of dispersion by varying passes through a material.
- Recording the spectral positions of second harmonic (SH) peaks generated in a nonlinear crystal.
- Utilizing the dependence of SH peak positions on spectral phase for direct retrieval.
Main Results:
- Experimental verification of the proposed femtosecond pulse characterization technique.
- Demonstrated ability to directly retrieve the pulse spectral phase.
- Successful characterization of broadband pulses where SH spectrum exceeds spectrometer bandwidth.
Conclusions:
- The proposed method offers a straightforward approach to femtosecond pulse characterization.
- It is particularly advantageous for broadband pulses and complex spectral phase measurements.
- This technique simplifies ultrafast laser diagnostics.
