Abstract
A simple method for generating trains of high-contrast femtosecond pulses is proposed and demonstrated: a linearly polarized, frequency-chirped laser pulse is passed through a multiple-order wave plate and a linear polarizer. It is shown theoretically that this arrangement forms a train of laser pulses, and in experiments the production of a train of approximately 100 pulses, each of duration, is demonstrated. In combination with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter this technique could be used to generate and control pulse trains with chirped spacing. Pulse trains of this type have widespread applications in ultrafast optics.
© 2007 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
B. Dromey, M. Zepf, M. Landreman, K. O'Keeffe, T. Robinson, and S. M. Hooker
Appl. Opt. 46(22) 5142-5146 (2007)
Tom Robinson, Kevin O'Keeffe, Matt Zepf, Brendan Dromey, and Simon M. Hooker
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27(4) 763-772 (2010)
Christophe Dorrer and Ian A. Walmsley
Opt. Lett. 27(21) 1947-1949 (2002)