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Ultrashort pulse characterization

Nature Photonics volume 3, pages 230–232 (2009)Cite this article

Pulse measurement equipment is now easier to use than ever before, with many devices offering easy-to-align solutions and plug-and-play computer operation, reports Neil Savage.

Ultrafast lasers, which produce pulses of light as short as a few femtoseconds, are of widespread interest in applications that require high peak power but need to have the power turned off before its effects, such as heat, can spread to surrounding materials. They are now a popular tool in applications ranging from materials processing and laser surgery to scientific research. For instance, chemists looking for new ways to synthesize pharmaceuticals with minimal waste are using them to study the chemical bonds of molecules. If they can shape an ultrafast pulse so that it matches the vibrational frequency of the molecule, they can cause the bonds to break in ways that would not naturally occur, giving the researchers greater understanding of and control over the reactions.

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  1. Neil Savage is a freelance science and technology journalist based in, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

    Neil Savage

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Savage, N. Ultrashort pulse characterization. Nature Photon 3, 230–232 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.43

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.43

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