Open AccessControlling the velocity of a femtosecond laser pulse using refractive lenses
Author(s) -
Spencer W. Jolly,
O. Gobert,
Antoine Jeandet,
F. Quéré
Publication year - 2020
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.384512
Subject(s) - optics , femtosecond , laser , lens (geology) , femtosecond pulse shaping , chirp , ultrashort pulse , chromatic aberration , materials science , focal length , physics , chromatic scale
The combination of temporal chirp with a simple chromatic aberration known as longitudinal chromatism leads to extensive control over the velocity of laser intensity in the focal region of an ultrashort laser beam. We present the first implementation of this effect on a femtosecond laser. We demonstrate that by using a specially designed and characterized lens doublet to induce longitudinal chromatism, this velocity control can be implemented independent of the parameters of the focusing optic, thus allowing for great flexibility in experimental applications. Finally, we explain and demonstrate how this spatiotemporal phenomenon evolves when imaging the ultrashort pulse focus with a magnification different from unity.