Spatially resolved amplitude and phase characterization of ultrashort optical pulses using SPIDER

Summary form only given.So far, ultrashort pulse characterization techniques have measured the spatially averaged amplitude and phase of the input beam. For beams exhibiting a significant spatial structure, however, it is desirable to completely spatially resolve the pulses to be characterized. Complex spatial structure can be found, for example, in broadband Kerr-lens modelocked lasers as a consequence of the frequency-dependent mode-size. In this contribution we demonstrate a technique based on spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction (SPIDER) that allows for measurement of the amplitude and phase of an ultrashort pulse at an arbitrary lateral position of the input beam. Only a single measurement is required for the acquisition of the spatially resolved data along one beam axis.