Abstract

Shaped femtosecond pulses have been generated by spatial filtering in a zero-dispersion pulse compressor by using fixed pulse-shaping masks¹ and linear liquid-crystal modulator (LCM) arrays^2,3 that allow pulse-shape programmability. In the case of liquid-crystal modulators, the gaps between the modulator pixels limit the ability to control some of the optical frequency components, and for gaps that are too large, this may result in loss of pulse-shaping quality. In this paper we describe a modified pulse-shaper design that incorporates microlens arrays⁴ to avoid inter-pixel gaps, and we present our preliminary experimental results. The modified pulse shaper is potentially applicable not only to linear liquid crystal arrays, but also to 2-D liquid crystal arrays, SEEDs, and other pixellated devices.

© 1995 Optical Society of America