Abstract

We present the first technique for directly measuring (without assumptions) the spatio-temporal intensity and phase of a train of ultrashort pulses at and near a focus. Our method uses an experimentally simple and high-spectral resolution variant of spectral interferometry (SEA TADPOLE). To illustrate our technique, we measured the spatio-temporal electric field in and around the foci of several different types of lenses. To confirm our results, we also simulated these measurements by numerically propagating a pulse through each of the lenses used. From one set of measurements, we made a movie showing a focusing pulse with severe chromatic aberration.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

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History
Original Manuscript: June 14, 2007
Revised Manuscript: July 19, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: July 21, 2007
Published: July 27, 2007

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Author Affiliations

Pamela Bowlan

Georgia Institute of Technology

Pablo Gabolde, Rick Trebino

Georgia Tech School of Physics

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