Abstract

We investigate the adaptive optimization of broadband laser pulses, using a closed-loop learning algorithm in which the merit function is derived from two-photon absorption in semiconductors. Photoluminescence experiments with CdS thin films and photocurrent measurements of a GaAsP photodiode have been performed. The experimental data demonstrate that reliable and accurate pulse compression to the bandwidth limit can be achieved, unperturbed by nontrivial phase effects. Therefore two-photon absorption proves to be an easy-to-implement alternative to second-harmonic generation for the compression of broadband laser pulses.

© 2002 Optical Society of America

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