title: Spatial-domain interferometer for measuring plasma mirror expansion.
abstract: We present a practical spatial-domain interferometer for characterizing the electronic density gradient of laser-induced plasma mirrors with sub-30-femtosecond temporal resolution. Time-resolved spatial imaging of an intensity-shaped pulse reflecting off an expanding plasma mirror induced by a time-delayed pre-pulse allows us to measure characteristic plasma gradients of 10-100 nm with an expansion velocity of 10.8 nm/ps. Spatial-domain interferometry (SDI) can be generalized to the ultrafast imaging of nm to μm size laser-induced phenomena at surfaces.
authors.forename: Maïmouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bocoum
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Böhle
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vernier
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jullien
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez-Martens