Ultrafast Laser Physics
Definition: the area of laser physics dealing with ultrashort processes
More general term: laser physics
Categories: lasers, light pulses
How to cite the article; suggest additional literature
Author: Dr. RĂ¼diger Paschotta
Ultrafast laser physics is the area of laser physics which is dealing with “ultrafast” processes in lasers, i.e. processes occurring on a time scale of picoseconds, femtoseconds, or faster. Of particular importance are processes concerning the generation of ultrashort pulses of light. Examples of such phenomena are:
- ultrafast nonlinearities in the context of light propagation, such as the Kerr effect, Raman scattering and four-wave mixing
- ultrafast excitation, saturation and relaxation phenomena in semiconductors, such as semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors or laser diodes
- fast processes in laser gain media, e.g. thermalization of the Stark levels within a Stark level manifold of a rare-earth-doped laser crystal
- effects of such phenomena on the pulse formation in lasers (→ mode locking)
It can also be of interest how other phenomena, e.g. chromatic dispersion, influence ultrafast processes.
There is a wider area called ultrafast optics which also covers phenomena outside lasers.
Questions and Comments from Users
Here you can submit questions and comments. As far as they get accepted by the author, they will appear above this paragraph together with the author’s answer. The author will decide on acceptance based on certain criteria. Essentially, the issue must be of sufficiently broad interest.
Please do not enter personal data here; we would otherwise delete it soon. (See also our privacy declaration.) If you wish to receive personal feedback or consultancy from the author, please contact him e.g. via e-mail.
By submitting the information, you give your consent to the potential publication of your inputs on our website according to our rules. (If you later retract your consent, we will delete those inputs.) As your inputs are first reviewed by the author, they may be published with some delay.
See also: ultrafast optics, mode locking, laser physics, pulse propagation modeling, ultrafast lasers, ultrafast amplifiers
and other articles in the categories lasers, light pulses
If you like this page, please share the link with your friends and colleagues, e.g. via social media:
These sharing buttons are implemented in a privacy-friendly way!