Prácticas en laboratorio virtual de electricidad y magnetismo

Memoria ID-0268. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2015-2016

Implementación en Studium Plus de un curso con materiales y herramientas para la asignatura de Física

Memoria ID-0230. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015

Robustness and capabilities of ultrashort laser pulses characterization with amplitude swing

[EN]In this work we firstly study the influence of different parameters in the temporal characterization of ultrashort laser pulses with the recently developedamplitude swing technique. In this technique, the relative amplitude of two delayed replicas is varied while measuring their second-harmonic spectra. Herewe study the retrieval of noisy traces and the implications of having different delays or phase retardations (relative phases)between the two replicas. Then, we study the capability of the technique to characterize the pulses when the second-harmonic signal is spectrally uncalibrated or incomplete, presenting the analytical calculation of the marginal, which is used to calibrate the traces and to perform the pulse retrievals. We experimentally show the retrieval of different pulses using diverse delays and phase retardationsto perform the amplitude swing trace and demonstrate that, from an uncalibrated trace, both the pulse informationandthe response of the nonlinear process can be simultaneously retrieved.In sum, the amplitude swing technique is shown to be very robust against experimental constraints and limitations, showing a high degree of soundness.Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (FIS2017-87970-R, EQC2018-004117-P), Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León (SA287P18) and FEDER Funds, Fundación General de la Universidad de Salamanca (PC_TCUE18-20_020)

Space–time characterization of ultrashort laser pulses: A perspective

[EN]The characterization of ultrashort laser pulses has significantly advanced beyond the standard spatial and temporal diagnostics to now include sophisticated spatio-temporal measurement techniques. In this perspective, we provide an overview of the current state of space–time characterization, discussing the theoretical foundations of ultrashort laser pulses, the various measurement techniques and their design trade-offs, and the challenges and opportunities for future development. We explore the extension of these techniques to different wavelength regimes and delve into the unique challenges posed by the characterization of polarization-structured beams. The potential for data-driven analysis to enhance the information extracted from the measurements is highlighted, along with the need for direct measurement of previously inaccessible field components, such as the longitudinal electric field in tightly focused beams. As these diagnostic tools continue to evolve, we anticipate a future where the intricate space–time structure of light can be analyzed on a routine basis, opening up new frontiers in ultrafast science and technology

Characterization of ultrashort vector pulses from a single amplitude swing measurement.

[EN]Ultrashort vector pulses exhibit time- and frequency-dependent polarization, sparking significant interest across various fields. Simple, robust, and versatile characterization techniques are crucial to meet this rising demand. Our study showcases how complete polarization dynamics are encoded within a single amplitude swing trace, demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. We have developed a reconstruction strategy to effectively extract all this information. The amplitude swing technique's sensitivity to vector pulses offers a robust, compact in-line setup adaptable across diverse pulse bandwidths, durations, and spectral ranges. This self-referenced method offers effective measurement of ultrashort vector pulses, addressing the growing interest in these complex pulses

Generalizing amplitude swing modulation for versatile ultrashort pulse measurement.

[EN]In this work we broaden the amplitude modulation concept applied to the temporal characterization of ultrashort laser pulses with the amplitude swing technique. We theoretically study the effect of diverse types of relative amplitude and phase modulations. This variation of the replicas can be implemented by means of rotating zero-order waveplates to manipulate the delayed pulse replicas produced in a following multi-order waveplate, which can be more practical under certain conditions. We numerically simulate and study different scenarios under different modulations and for different noise levels and pulses. The proposed schemes are validated and compared through the experimental application to compressed and chirped pulses, confirming the applicability of the work. The simplicity, robustness and versatility of this ultrashort pulse measurement benefits the applications of ultrafast optics

Amplitude swing ultrashort pulse characterization across visible to near-infrared.

[EN]There is a growing interest in obtaining robust ultrashort temporal characterization techniques able to operate in different spectral ranges with different pulse bandwidths. Here we demonstrate that the recently introduced amplitude swing technique can measure ultrashort laser pulses in different spectral regions over more than one octave from the visible to near infrared spectral ranges, without significant modification in the technique. Moreover, we implement a new strategy for the amplitude swing retrievals using a differential evolution algorithm

Compact in-line temporal measurement of laser pulses with amplitude swing

[EN]A method of ultrashort laser pulse reconstruction is presented, consisting on the analysis of the nonlinear signal obtained from the interference of the pulse with a replica of itself at a given time delay while varying the relative amplitude between the pulses. The resulting spectral traces are analyzed both analytically and numerically, showing the encoding of the input pulse spectral phase. A reconstruction algorithm is discussed and applied to extract the spectral phase and, jointly to the measured spectral amplitude, reconstructing the pulse. In order to validate the technique, an experimental in-line implementation of the characterization concept is compared to the results from a stablished technique, obtaining a good agreement at different input pulse cases. In sum, a new technique is presented, showing the capability to reconstruct a broad range of temporal pulse durations while its implementation is robust and straightforward, able to be easily adapted to diverse pulse duration and central wavelength ranges.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (EQC2018-004117-P, FIS2017-87970-R); Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León (SA287P18) and FEDER Funds; European Regional Development Fund; Fundación General de la Universidad de Salamanca (PC_TCUE18-20_020)

Bulk lateral shearing interferometry for spatiotemporal study of time-varying ultrashort optical vortices

[EN]The spatiotemporal measurement of ultrashort laser beams usually involves techniques with complex set-ups or limited by instabilities that are unable to accurately retrieve the frequency-resolved wavefront. Here, we solve these drawbacks by implementing a simple, compact, and ultra-stable spatiotemporal characterization technique based on bulk lateral shearing spectral interferometry using a birefringent uniaxial crystal. We apply it to retrieve complex spatiotemporal structures by characterizing ultrafast optical vortices with constant and time-varying orbital angular momentum. This technique can operate in all the transparency range of the anisotropic elements, enabling the characterization in different spectral ranges like infrared, visible, or ultraviolet

Spatiotemporal characterization of few-cycle laser pulses: erratum.

[EN]We provide the retrieved pulse for optimum wedge insertion (maximum compression) conditions and correct its time evolution due to the spectral phase having been wrongly assigned the opposite sign in our previous paper [Opt. Express 20, 17880 (2012)]. These changes do not affect the conclusions of the paper