Interferometric shaping of femtosecond laser pulses

A Michelson interferometer is described which can modify the shape of femtosecond laser pulses. Of particular interest is its ability to vary the laser pulse rise time in a very precise way by using constructive and destructive interference. Autocorrelation, spectrometric and cross-correlation techn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics communications 1995-08, Vol.118 (5), p.537-541
Main Authors: Giles, A.J, Posthumus, J.H, Thompson, M.R, Frasinski, L.J, Codling, K, Langley, A.J, Shaikh, W, Taday, P.F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic and molecular physics
Autoionization, photoionization, and photodetachment
Exact sciences and technology
Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy
Interferometers
Molecular properties and interactions with photons
Optical instruments, equipment and techniques
Photon interactions with molecules
Physics
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Summary:A Michelson interferometer is described which can modify the shape of femtosecond laser pulses. Of particular interest is its ability to vary the laser pulse rise time in a very precise way by using constructive and destructive interference. Autocorrelation, spectrometric and cross-correlation techniques show that this real-time manipulation of the laser pulse rise time and shape are in good agreement with theory. This ability to generate and characterise laser pulses with specific properties will be employed to test two competing theories of multielectron dissociative ionization of simple molecules.
ISSN:0030-4018
1873-0310
DOI:10.1016/0030-4018(95)00290-O