Self-calibrating d-scan: measuring ultrashort laser pulses on-target using an arbitrary pulse compressor

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Ultrafast Science

Background:

• Temporal compressors are crucial for ultrashort pulse lasers, requiring precise pulse duration characterization.
• The standard dispersion-scan (d-scan) technique, using glass wedges, is effective for broadband pulses but struggles with longer, narrower bandwidth pulses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a self-calibrating dispersion-scan (d-scan) technique applicable to pulses of arbitrary duration.
• To enable complete pulse measurement without prior knowledge of introduced dispersion.
• To integrate pulse measurement and compression within existing chirped pulse amplification (CPA) systems.

Main Methods:

• Demonstrated the self-calibrating d-scan concept, leveraging existing pulse compressors in CPA systems.
• Utilized nonlinear signal spectral measurements to characterize pulse temporal profiles.
• Validated the technique through simulations and experiments with known conditions.

Main Results:

• The self-calibrating d-scan extends pulse characterization to arbitrary pulse durations, overcoming limitations of traditional methods.
• Chirped pulse amplification (CPA) compressors can simultaneously compress and measure output pulses on-target.
• The method calibrates the differential dispersion of the compressor itself without additional diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• The self-calibrating d-scan offers a simplified, accurate method for ultrashort laser pulse measurement and compression.
• This technique enhances the utility of CPA systems by integrating characterization and compression.
• Successfully applied to measure and compress 27.5 fs pulses from a CPA laser.