Controlled shaping of ultrafast electric field transients in the mid-infrared spectral range.
We experimentally demonstrate amplitude and phase shaping of femtosecond mid-infrared pulses in a range centered about 14 mum . Single pulses with a tailored optical phase and phase-locked double pulses are generated by phase-matched difference-frequency mixing in a GaSe crystal of near-infrared pulses shaped with a liquid-crystal modulator. The electric field transients are directly measured by free-space electro-optic sampling, yielding pulse durations of 200-300 fs. Our data are in good agreement with a model that describes phase-matched optical rectification.
Eickemeyer
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F
Kaindl
R A
RA
Woerner
M
M
Elsaesser
T
T
Weiner
A M
AM