Abstract

We have developed a simple, high-speed, nearly vibration-free, mechanically scanned, optical delay line suitable for femtosecond time-resolved signal-averaging measurements. We demonstrate a 2-ps time window autocorrelator with a display updated at 400 Hz. The delay line uses a dithering planar mirror as a time-varying linear phase ramp in the spectral plane of a modified grating–lens femtosecond pulse shaper. The time delay is linearly proportional to the angular deviation of the mirror. The high speed and low vibration are a result of the extremely small angular changes required to generate a large time delay.

© 1993 Optical Society of America

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