Abstract

We demonstrate that dual-channel spectral interferometry in conjunction with a well-characterized reference pulse can be used to time resolve the polarization state of extremely weak ultrashort coherent signals from linear- and nonlinear-optical experiments by measuring the intensity and the phase of two orthogonal polarization components. In this way the signal is completely characterized.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

Measurement of the ultrafast polarization dynamics of weak four-wave mixing signals by dual-channel femtosecond spectral interferometry

O. Buccafusca, X. Chen, Wojciech J. Walecki, and Arthur L. Smirl
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 15(3) 1218-1223 (1998)

Spectral interferometry as an alternative to time-domain heterodyning

Michel F. Emde, Wim P. de Boeij, Maxim S. Pshenichnikov, and Douwe A. Wiersma
Opt. Lett. 22(17) 1338-1340 (1997)

Ultrafast time-resolved quantum beats in the polarization state of coherent emission from quantum wells

Arthur L. Smirl, X. Chen, and O. Buccafusca
Opt. Lett. 23(14) 1120-1122 (1998)

Amplitude and phase characterization of weak blue ultrashort pulses by downconversion

S. Linden, J. Kuhl, and H. Giessen
Opt. Lett. 24(8) 569-571 (1999)

Determination of weak optical pulses in amplitude and phase by measurement of the transient polarization state

B. Haase
Opt. Lett. 24(8) 543-545 (1999)