Ultrafast nonlinear optics

This lecture covers second-order processes like second harmonic generation and optical parametric amplification, as well as third-order processes such as self-phase modulation and self-focusing. It also discusses ultrashort pulse characterization techniques like autocorrelation, FROG, and SPIDER. The slides delve into the propagation in a nonlinear medium, the nonlinear polarization in second-order parametric interaction, and the nonlinear coupled propagation equations. The lecture further explores topics like optical parametric amplification, parametric gain, phase matching, and the generation of optical harmonics. It concludes with discussions on the role of the idler beam, phase matching conditions, and the importance of carrier-envelope phase stabilization in ultrafast optics.