Single-Shot 60 dB Dynamic Range Laser Contrast Measurement Using Self-Referencing Spectral Interferometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel spectral interferometry method for single-shot laser contrast measurement achieving 60 dB dynamic range by transforming spectral data into the temporal domain, enabling high-precision pulse analysis.

Contribution

The paper presents a new spectral interferometry technique that allows high dynamic range laser contrast measurement in a single shot, improving upon traditional methods.

Findings

Achieved 60 dB dynamic range in laser contrast measurement.

Validated the method with known pre-pulses and auto-correlator comparisons.

Demonstrated real-time, high-precision laser pulse analysis.

Abstract

High dynamic range contrast measurement of laser pulses is typically obtained by cross-correlating the laser pulse with a self-generated reference laser pulse directly in the temporal domain. Alternatively, it is also possible to measure the spectral interferogram of the laser pulse with the references pulse in the spectral domain, from which the high dynamic range contrast measurement can be extracted using inverse Fourier-transformation. Here, we demonstrate single-shot 60 dB dynamic range laser contrast measurement by inverse Fourier-transforming the measured spectral interferogram into temporal domain. The result directly provides the cross-correlation of the laser pulse with the reference pulse provided there is enough time-delay imposed between the laser and reference pulses. Then method is cross-calibrated by measuring known pre-pulses along with scanning third-order auto-correlator measurements.