Pulse Measurement from a Polluted Frequency Resolved Optical Gating Trace Based on Half-Trace Retrieval Algorithm

A half-trace retrieval algorithm based on an extended-ptychographical iterative engine algorithm is proposed to reconstruct the temporal structure of pulse from a polluted and recorded frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) trace that was modulated by poor spatial profile of output pulses, stray light, or misalignment of the measurement setup. In the proposed algorithm, the probe pulse and the gated pulse were retrieved simultaneously from a recorded FROG trace with a half-delay range, and the measured pulse was obtained by combining the different edges of the probe pulse and the gated pulse. Numerical simulations were carried out to verify the feasibility of the proposed algorithm. A single-shot picoseconds (ps)-THG-FROG setup with a 100-mu J ps laser system and an online ps-SHG-FROG setup in PW laser system were built to test the proposed algorithm experimentally. The results show that the temporal structure of pulses retrieved by the half-trace retrieval algorithm is closer to the real temporal structure than that retrieved by the conventional ptychographical algorithm when the recorded FROG trace is badly polluted.

Automated summary

A half-trace retrieval algorithm is proposed to reconstruct the temporal structure of pulse from a polluted FROG trace. The algorithm retrieves the probe pulse and the gated pulse simultaneously from the recorded FROG trace and combines them to obtain the measured pulse. Numerical simulations and experimental tests demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in retrieving the temporal structure of pulses from badly polluted FROG traces.