Ultrafast Optics

Ultrafast optics is the part of optics dealing with ultrafast phenomena, i.e. phenomena which occur on a time scale of picoseconds or less. Typically, ultrafast optics experiments involve ultrashort pulses as generated with mode-locked lasers (→ ultrafast laser physics).

As ultrafast phenomena are too fast to be directly monitored with electronics, optical techniques, such as pump–probe measurements, are required. With such techniques, phenomena occurring on time scales of picoseconds or femtoseconds can be monitored. Examples of such phenomena are femtosecond dynamics of electrons (particularly in solids, e.g. in semiconductor devices such as SESAMs), light-induced phase changes (e.g. melting or vaporization of metals), chemical reactions, and processes in plasmas.

Currently, ultrafast optics is being extended into the sub-femtosecond region, where attosecond pulses (or pulse trains) are obtained, e.g. via high harmonic generation with intense ultrashort pulses.

Ultrafast optics can also denote optical elements which are specifically made or optimized for use in the field of ultrafast optics. Usually, optical elements are optimized such that one can send ultrashort pulses through them while avoiding excessive detrimental effects e.g. of chromatic dispersion and/or optical nonlinearities, or providing a suitable amount e.g. of chromatic dispersion for manipulation of the pulses.

Some examples for ultrafast optics are discussed in the following:

• There are low-dispersion mirrors, where substantial temporal pulse broadening is avoided. On the other hand, there are special dispersive mirrors for applying some significant amount of chromatic dispersion, e.g. for the purpose of dispersion compensation in the laser resonator of a mode-locked laser.
• There are also optical component and arrangements for substantially larger amounts of chromatic dispersion, as used e.g. for pulse compression, possibly also for pulse stretching e.g. in the context of chirped-pulse amplification. Examples for such components are chirped volume Bragg gratings, optical setups involving one or more diffraction gratings (possibly combined with mirrors or prisms), and special optical fibers.
• Saturable absorbers, particularly often in the form of semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) are often used for initiating and stabilizing passive mode locking of lasers.
• Some types of optical modulators, e.g. electro-optic modulators, can be used as pulse pickers.
• There are special optical fibers – frequently photonic crystal fibers – which are optimized for delivering ultrashort light pulses. For example, one can use hollow-core fibers to minimize nonlinear effects.

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.