Quantitative phase characterization and compensation by multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (MIIPS)

Abstract

Accurate and reproducible research in the field of femtochemistry requires both the measurement and then subsequent correction of phase distortions inherent in femtosecond laser pulses. Spectral phase distortions, which are introduced by the transmission of an ultrashort laser pulse through a lens, optical fiber, or microscope objective, or by interaction with an optical surface such as a dielectric mirror, have a negative effect both on the ability to carry out and the ability to reproduce experiments in which pulse duration is of importance, or nonlinear optical processes are utilized. This chapter presents a quantitative study on the ability of multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (MIIPS) to both characterize phase distortions with better precision and reproducibility than other established methods, and to correct them to obtain transform-limited pulses. The MIIPS method provides accurate phase retrieval and phase correction at the sample. These are important functions for reproducible femtosecond laser pulse experiments, especially those involving nonlinear optics. The MIIPS setup can also be used to deliver accurate synthetic wavefunctions at the sample as would be required for laser control experiments.