Means and method for characterizing high power, ultra short laser pulses in a real time, on line manner

Patent · 08 March 1994

OSTI ID:5031398

Veligdan, J T

An ultra short (<10 ps), high power laser pulse is temporally characterized by a system that uses a physical measurement of a wavefront that has been altered in a known manner. The system includes a first reflection switch to remove a portion of a pulse from a beam of pulses, then includes a second reflection switch, operating in a mode that is opposite to the first reflection switch, to slice off a portion of that removed portion. The sliced portion is then directed to a measuring device for physical measurement. The two reflection switches are arranged with respect to each other and with respect to the beam of ultra short pulses such that physical measurement of the sliced portion is related to the temporal measurement of the ultra short pulse by a geometric or trigonometric relationship. The reflection switches are operated by a control pulse that is directed to impinge on each of the reflection switches at a 90[degree] angle of incidence. 8 figures.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5293397; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-980710
• OSTI ID: 5031398
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers &amp; Masers-- (1990-)
CONTROL
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
LASER RADIATION
POSITIONING
PULSES
RADIATIONS