Coherence and bandwidth measurements of harmonics generated from solid surfaces irradiated by intense picosecond laser pulses

We present measurements of the transverse and longitudinal coherence lengths of the fourth harmonic of a 1053-nm, 2.5-ps laser generated during high-intensity (up to 1019 W cm-2) interactions with a solid target. Coherence lengths were measured by use of a Young's double-slit interferometer. The effective source size, as defined by the Van Cittert-Zernicke theorem, was found to be 10-12 μm, and the coherence time was observed to be in the range 0.02-0.4 ps

Spatial and temporal coherence measurements of harmonics of a 1053 nm, 2.5 ps laser interacting with solid surfaces

We present measurements of the spatial and temporal coherence lengths of the 4th harmonic of a 1053 nm, 2.5 ps laser generated during high intensity (up to 10(19) wcm(-2)) interactions with a solid target. Coherence lengths were measured by use of a Young's double slit interferometer. The effective source size, as defined by the Van Cittert-Zernicke theorem, was found to be 10 similar to 12 mu m, and the coherence time was observed to be in the range 0.02 similar to 0.4 ps