Open AccessDispersion-compensated beam-splitting of femtosecond light pulses: Wave optics analysis
Author(s) -
Gladys Mı́nguez-Vega,
Enrique Tajahuerce,
Mercedes FernándezAlonso,
Vicent Climent,
Jesús Láncis,
José Caraquitena,
Pedro Andrés
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.000278
Subject(s) - optics , femtosecond , diffraction , dispersion (optics) , femtosecond pulse shaping , physics , pulse (music) , laser , pulse shaping , plane wave , lens (geology) , detector
Recently, using parageometrical optics concepts, a hybrid, diffractive-refractive, lens triplet has been suggested to significantly improve the spatiotemporal resolution of light spots in multifocal processing with femtosecond laser pulses. Here, we carry out a rigorous wave-optics analysis, including the spatiotemporal nature of the wave equation, to elucidate both the spatial extent of the diffractive spots and the temporal duration of the pulse at the output plane. Specifically, we show nearly transform-limited behavior of diffraction maxima. Moreover, the temporal broadening of the pulse is related to the group velocity dispersion, which can be pre-compensated for in practical applications. Finally, some numerical simulations of the spatiotemporal wave field at the output plane in a realistic case are provided.