Extending lock-in methods: term isolation detection of nonlinear signals.

Abstract

We show that components of a nonlinear signal can be measured using phase-sensitive detection at unconventional demodulation frequencies, allowing us to isolate individual terms from the signal. To demonstrate this technique, autocorrelation measurements of an ultrafast pulsed laser were performed using two-photon absorption. In this example, the isolation of individual autocorrelation terms may provide internal consistency checks to improve the precision and accuracy of pulse characterization. More generally, this scheme can be extended to a range of nonlinear measurements. As a demonstration, we analyze a three-photon autocorrelation model, showing that many nonlinear signals can be studied with this method. We anticipate that term isolation detection will find application in a broad range of experiments, such as multidimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy or coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy.