Transverse single-shot cross-correlation scheme for laser pulse temporal measurement via planar second harmonic generation

Abstract

We present a novel single-shot cross-correlation technique based on the analysis of the transversally emitted second harmonic generation in crystals with random distribution and size of anti-parallel nonlinear domains. We implement it to the measurement of ultrashort laser pulses with unknown temporal duration and shape. We optimize the error of the pulse measurement by controlling the incident angle and beam width. As novelty and unlike the other well-known cross correlation schemes, this technique can be implemented for the temporal characterization of pulses over a very wide dynamic range (30 fs–1ps) and wavelengths (800–2200 nm), using the same crystal and without critical angular or temperature alignment.