Measurement of ultrashort vector pulses from polarization gates by in-line, single-channel spectral interferometry

Abstract

The growing use of ultrashort laser pulses exhibiting time-varying polarization (vector pulses) demands simple and robust characterization techniques capable to perform measurements in a broad range of experimental and environmental conditions. Here we present in-line, single-channel setup based on spectral interferometry to characterize ultrashort vector pulses. The use of a bulk interferometer based on birefringence is key for the stability and sensitivity of the technique, thus being simple and highly robust. The technique is used to measure vector pulses corresponding to polarization gates, which are used in many applications. Those results are validated by simulations. The technique here presented has a number of potential applications in nonlinear effects (e.g. transient birefringence and nonlinear phenomena with vector pulses).