Rapid measurement of ultrashort-pulse amplitude and phase from a two-photon absorption sonogram trace

By measuring the sonogram of an ultrashort pulse with a two-photon detector we have demonstrated a robust and sensitive complete characterization method for 80fs; pulses derived from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. Acquisition and retrieval rates as high as 0.5 Hz are demonstrated, and the design of a rapid-acquisition configuration is described, where we discuss the use of white-light interferometry to achieve a nearly dispersionless bandpass filter. Excellent agreement is obtained between retrieved pulse data and independent experimental pulse measurements. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.