Spatiotemporal measurements based on spatial spectral interferometry for ultrashort optical pulses shaped by a Fourier pulse shaper

We measured the space-time profile of ultrashort optical pulses shaped with a Fourier pulse shaper. Spatial chirp, which originated in the space-time coupling at the pulse shaper, was observed directly with two-dimensional spatial spectral interferometry. By analyzing the two-dimensional fringe pattern, we successfully obtained a spatial and a temporal distribution in both amplitude and phase for shaped pulses. Numerically predicted spatiotemporal patterns were compared with experimental results. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.