Abstract

We demonstrate amplitude, phase and polarization shaping of femtosecond mid-IR pulses using a germanium acousto-optical modulator by independently shaping the frequency-dependent amplitudes and phases of two orthogonally polarized pulses which are then collinearly overlapped using a wire-grid polarizer. We use a feedback loop to set and stabilize the relative phase of the orthogonal pulses. We have also used a wire-grid polarizer to implement polarization-based balanced heterodyne detection for improved signal-to-noise of 2D IR spectra collected in a pump-probe geometry. Applications include coherent control of molecular vibrations and improvements in multidimensional IR spectroscopy.

© 2009 OSA

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History
Original Manuscript: June 15, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: July 17, 2009
Revised Manuscript: July 16, 2009
Published: August 3, 2009

References

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Author Affiliations

Chris T. Middleton, David B. Strasfeld, Martin T. Zanni

Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1396, USA

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