Polarization Gating Autocorrelator

M. S. Gutierrez

November 18, 2009

1 Abstract
We have developed a portable, motorized, multi-shot, third-order autocorrelator capable of
measuring the time width of a large bandwidth pulse with femtosecond acuracy. Here we give
a detailed description of the device and report measurements made in the Pegasus laboratory
on a Coherent Legend Elite laser system, generating a short pulse, (IR) λ = 800nm E < 3mJ,
and a frequency tripled pulse, (UV) λ = 266nm E < 300µJ. Pulse lengths were determined
to be 35fs and 90fs for the IR and UV pulses respectively. For a calibration we measured the
index of refraction for a 14 in fused silica window, these results where in good agreement to
Sellmeier equation with coefficients obtained from ’CVI Melles Griot’ website. Furthermore,
we measured the dispersion of the IR and UV pulses through the fused silica to justify the
assumption of a gaussian pulse with a trivial phase factor.

2 Introduction
Since the birth of chirped pulse amplification (CPA), there has been a great challenge of
characterizing an ultra-short laser pulse. In order for these pulses to become useful tools, we
must be able to accurately determine its parameters; energy, spectral and temporal shape.
Although, energy is simple enough to measure, obtaining spectral and temporal information
is dependent on having a device capable of measuring on a femtosecond time scale. This
introduces the need for a switch and trigger operating on a femtosecond time scale. With no
mechanical or circuit based shutters operating on this time scale, we are forced to use more
exotic methods. To measure in this regime we use autocorrelation methods. Here we present
a third-order autocorrelation utilizing a non-linear optical effect, the Kerr effect. In our
device,which is depicted in figure 1, we are measuring the time-width of a pulse. However,
substituting a spectrometer for the photodiode and using a Frequency Resolved Optical
Gating (FROG) algorithm we could completely characterize the pulse with this device.

1
 Figure 1: experimental configuration

3 Setup
The Experiment is not sensitive to most of the distances, only equidistant paths and the
angle ∠Mb2 Mb3 N LM is critical for functionality. The experimental set up is shown in figure
1, dimensions and distances are as listed in table 1. Components were arranged such to
optimize signal. The waveplate (WP) is placed at 45o to the polarizer (P1 ) allowing for
maximum rotation due to the induced birefringence. An Iris is placed along the gating beam
(red) path to remove any inhomogeneities in order maximize focusing limit. Lastly, a pinhole
(PH) is placed along the probe beam (blue) path in order to optimize the geometry of the
interaction. A part list is given in table 2, for UV setup. Only one alignment-sensitive optic
(S1) and one alignment-insensitive optic (WP) need be replaced for IR measurements. With
this setup and the motor and delay stage listed in table 2, we are able to perform scanning
measurements with ∼ 9.5fs between data points.

Gate Path Distance Probe Path distance

S1 - Mb1 7.25” S1-Ma1 7.75”
Mb1 − Mb2 2.25” Ma1 − Ma2 7.125”
Mb2 − Mb3 7.75” Ma2 − Ma3 6.125”
Mb3 - NLM 11.25” Ma3 - NLM 8.25”
NLM - PD 8.0” NLM - PD 7.0”
∠Mb2 Mb3 N LM 9o

Table 1: Setup dimensions

2
 Part (quantity) description CVI part number
Mirrors (Ma1 ...Mb3 ) (5): 1.0” Protected aluminum UV grade Mirror PAUV-PM-1037-C
Beamsplitter (S1) (1): 1.0” High energy ultra-thin beamsplitter UT-266-50-45-S
Waveplate (WP) (1): 1.0” Multiple order UV waveplate QWPM-266-10-2
Polarizer (P1 , P2 ) (2): 0.5” M gF2 ROCHON polarizers RCHP-5.0-MF
NonLinearMedium (NLM) (1): UV grade fused silica PW1-1025-C
PhotoDiode (PD) n/a n/a
Pin hole (PH) (1): 300µm diameter 42-300
Lens (L) Laser Quality Fused Silica Bi-Convex BICX-50.8-514.6-UV
Delay State (1): 4” x 2” stage with 1” travel n/a
Motor SuperElectric SLO-SYN stepper motor n/a

Table 2: Part list.

4 Kerr Effect
The Kerr effect is a non linear process in which a birefringence is induced into a material
in the presence of a very intense electric field. This induced birefringence is what will allow
for a material to act as a waveplate, with optical axis directed along the gating pulse’s
polarization, only while the gate and probe pulses coincide in the non-linear material. The
induced birefringence can be calculated from looking at the interaction of an electric field
with a material. In such an intense interaction the Polarization (P) will be a function
of electric field due to deforming of the materials electronic distribution. Expanding the
polarization into powers of E
Pi = Pi (0) + Σαij Ej + ΣΣβijk Ej Ek + ΣΣΣγijkl Ej Ek El + O(4)
j j k j k l

The material used, fused silica, is isotropic,α is diagonal with αij = α0 , and possesses no
natural polarization, P (0) = 0, and the contribution due to the second order term, Pockels
effect, is neglible, β ' 0. Furthermore, Choosing a coordinate system around the optical
axis, γ becomes diagonal and only γ1111 = γ0 6= 0 along the optical axis.
P1 = (α0 + γ0 ∗ E1 ∗ E1 ) E1 = 0 χe E1
This form gives the susceptiblity with a linear term and a non-linear, intensity (I) dependent,
term.
χe = α0
0
+ 2 cγ02 ∗ I
from this follows
 
 = 0 (1 + χe ) = 0 1 + α0
0
+ 2 c∗γ00 2 ∗ I
here we can obtain the index of refraction along the optical axis, noting that the magnetic
susceptibility is approximately constant (µ0 ∼ = µ) for the given material.
q q
n = vc = ((∗µ)
0 ∗µ0 )
= 1 + α00 + 2 c∗γ00 2 ∗ I
Since the natural index of refraction of the material would be given by this expression without

3
the intensity term we can write.
q
n = n0 1 + 2 c∗(nγ000 )2 ∗ I ∼
= n0 (1 + γ0
c∗(n0 0 )2
∗ I) = n0 + n2 ∗ I
As depicted in the setup, the signal strength will be directly proportional to the amount
of rotation the pulse undergoes through the NLM. This rotation will depend only on the
intensity of the pulse. Varying the energy of the pulse, we show in figure 2 that the signal
strength does go linearly with intensity.

Figure 2: Left:Autocorrelation of UV at energies: 1, 2, 3, 4. Right: energy vs Peak of pulses

n2,fusedSilica
the ratio of natural and non-linear coefficients is small, n0
∼ 10−20 , limiting this effect
to interactions with intense laser pulses.

5 Autocorrelation
Since a measurement is dependent on the interaction between the intensity of the gate pulse
and the electric field of the probe pulse both pertaining to the same orginal pulse, we have
the following autocorrelation relation.
R
A(3) (τ ) ∝ R Igate (t − τ ) ∗ Eprobe (t)dt
The third-order autocorrelation function (A(3) (τ )) is the measured quantity. However, fur-
ther information is needed to relate measurement to information of the intial pulse, a pulse
profile must be assumed. We have choosen a gaussian profile, the natural output of CPA
laser.
 −(t−τ )2   
R −t2 −τ 2
(3)
A (τ ) ∝ R e σ t
2
∗ e 2∗σ t
2
dt ∝ e 3∗σt 2

However, this expression assumes beams interact parrallel to one another, this is not the
case for our design with an angle of incidence 9o relative to the non-linear medium normal.
This and the finite transverse width of the pulse adds a geometry factor to σt . This is shown
in the figure 3, using an iris in place the (PH) to varying transverse width at the intersection
in the non-linear medium.

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Figure 3: Normalized autocorrelation, varying probe beam spot size with iris: full width,
4mm, 1mm, 0.3mm

Furthermore, a step (τ ) only moves the gate pulse a distance τ Cos(9o ) relative to the probe
pulse. Incorporating this into the autocorrelation we have the following relationship.
 −(t−τ Cos(9o ))2    −(τ Cos(9o ))2
R −t2
(3)
A (τ ) ∝ R e σ t
2
∗ e t dt ∝ e 3∗σt 2
2∗σ 2

Now we have a way of obtaining σt and the time width of our initial pulse. Using these
assumptions we have made the following measurements.

Figure 4: Left: autocorrelation of IR, λ = 800nm, Right: autocorrelation of UV, λ = 266nm

6 Dispersion
The gaussian profile the natural assumption as it is the expected output of a CPA laser. How-
ever, pulse does travel through varies optics before reaching the device allowing a non-trivial
(O(t2 ) dependent) phase factor to be acquired, specifically the UV pulse which undergoes 2
non-linear processes during frequency tripling. Since we measure only magnitude of A(3) (τ )
our measurement is really a lower bound.

5
 R  R
A(3) (τ ) ∼  R Igate (t − τ ) ∗ Eprobe (t)dt 6 R Igate (t − τ ) ∗ |Eprobe (t)|dt
Obtaining equality when the pulse has a trivial phase factor. To test our assumption of a
trivial phase factor, we pass the pulse through a known material, 14 in fused silica window
and compare our measured values with those calculated assuming a trivial initial phase
factor. Calculation gives an increase of σ of 4fs and 6fs for IR and UV respectively. Our
measurement of IR agrees with these calculations within 5% and for UV within 10%.

Figure 5: RIght: UV dispersion through 14 in fused silica. Left: IR dispersion through 14 in

fused silica

7 conclusion
A third-order autocorrelator capable of measuring the time length of an ultra-short laser
pulse in a wide spectral range with little modification, has been built and tested at Pegasus
laboratory.