Optical sampling by laser cavity tuning.
Most time-resolved optical experiments rely either on external mechanical delay lines or on two synchronized femtosecond lasers to achieve a defined temporal delay between two optical pulses. Here, we present a new method which does not require any external delay lines and uses only a single femtosecond laser. It is based on the cross-correlation of an optical pulse with a subsequent pulse from the same laser. Temporal delay between these two pulses is achieved by varying the repetition rate of the laser. We validate the new scheme by a comparison with a cross-correlation measurement carried out with a conventional mechanical delay line.
Hochrein
Thomas
T
Sueddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum, Friedrich-Bergius-Ring 22, Wuerzburg, Germany. T.Hochrein@skz.de
Wilk
Rafal
R
Mei
Michael
M
Holzwarth
Ronald
R
Krumbholz
Norman
N
Koch
Martin
M
D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*