Systems and methods for measuring ultra-short light pulses

Abstract

Systems and methods for measuring a pulse length (τ) of an ultra-short light pulse (P) based on processing a number of substantially similar light pulses. The system includes an autocorrelation optical system adapted to receive the light pulses Pand create from each light pulse two beams having an associated optical path length difference ΔOPL. Providing a different ΔOPL for each light pulse creates an autocorrelation interference pattern representative of an autocorrelation of the light pulse P. An LED detector detects the autocorrelation interference pattern and generates therefrom an autocorrelation signal. A signal-processing unit forms from the autocorrelation signal a digital count signal representative of a number of counted peaks in the autocorrelation signal above the full-width half maximum. Control electronics unit causes the varying ΔOPL and provides a difference signal (S) representative of the ΔOPL to the signal-processing unit. The signal processing unit is adapted to calculate the pulse length based on ΔOPL and the number Nof counted peaks. The autocorrelation optical system can either be prism-based or electro-optical-interferometer based. The measurement system can be made very compact and is far less expensive and far easier to use as compared to prior art ultra-short pulse measurement systems.