The search for a molecule to measure an autocorrelation trace of the second/third harmonic emission of a Ti:sapphire laser based on two-photon resonant excitation and subsequent one-photon ionization

Abstract

The temporal profile of the second and third harmonic emissions of a Ti:sapphire laser was measured using an autocorrelator consisting of a mass spectrometer as a two-photon-response detector. A number of organic compounds that are potentially applicable for two-photon excitation and subsequent one-photon ionization were investigated using density functional theory calculations. N,N′-dimethylaniline and acetonitrile were used for the measurement of the pulse width for the second and third harmonic emissions of the Ti:sapphire laser. This approach has the potential for use in measuring pulse widths as short as 1–3 fs in the ultraviolet region.