Hybrid optics for focusing ultrashort laser pulses

Abstract

We present a specially designed hybrid optics comprising refraction and diffraction effects for tight spatial and temporal focusing of ultrashort laser pulses. Both aims can be put into practice by having a high numerical aperture $(\mathrm{NA}=0.45)$ and low internal dispersion at the same time. We are presenting what we believe is the first experimental realization of such a hybrid short plus focusing optics. The focusing properties are compared with a commonly used microscope objective $(20\times ,\mathrm{NA}=0.45)$ in theory and experimentally.

© 2006 Optical Society of America