Phase and Amplitude single-shot measurement by using heterodyne time-lens and ultrafast digital time-holography

TL;DR

This paper introduces a heterodyne time-lens system capable of single-shot measurement of both amplitude and phase of ultrafast optical signals, enhancing temporal resolution and enabling digital holography of complex optical phenomena.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel heterodyne time-lens setup that records amplitude and phase simultaneously, surpassing previous limitations in temporal imaging systems.

Findings

Successfully recorded turbulent-like optical fields and rogue waves.

Achieved digital temporal holography with 80 fs resolution.

Maintained classical time-lens performance with 200 fs resolution.

Abstract

Temporal imaging systems are outstanding tools for single-shot observation of optical signals that have irregular and ultrafast dynamics. They allow long time windows to be recorded with femtosecond resolution, and do not rely on complex algorithms. However, simultaneous recording of amplitude and phase remains an open challenge for these systems. Here we present a new heterodyne time-lens arrangement that efficiently records both the amplitude and phase of complex signals, while keeping the performances of classical time-lens systems ($\sim 200$~fs) and field of view (tens of ps). Phase and time are encoded onto the two spatial dimensions of a camera. We demonstrate direct application of our heterodyne time lens to turbulent-like optical fields and optical rogue waves generated from nonlinear propagation of partially coherent waves inside optical fibres. We also show how this phase-sensitive time-lens system enables digital temporal holography to be performed with even higher temporal resolution (80 fs).