title: Pulse polarization splitting in a transient wave plate.
abstract: We demonstrate propagation of ultrafast laser pulses through a molecular gas acting as a transient wave plate under conditions of strong phase modulation. The resulting decomposition of a linearly polarized laser pulse into two nearly distinct, orthogonally polarized laser pulses is demonstrated with transiently aligned, linear molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical andomputer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. klaus@engr.colostate.edu
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartinger
authors.forename: Randy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bartels