Femtosecond Laser Pulses

This lecture covers the generation of femtosecond laser pulses using systems such as copper vapor lasers and excimer lasers, as well as techniques like autocorrelation and amplification. It also delves into concepts like phase self-modulation, optical Kerr effect, and the generation of infrared and blue/green pulses. The instructor discusses the principles of nonlinear optics, pulse compression, continuum generation, and the manipulation and characterization of pulses. Various laser systems, including Ti:Sapphire and solid-state lasers, are explored for their role in generating short pulses without mode-locking. The lecture also touches on topics like chirped pulse amplification, pulse stretching and compression, and the Nobel Prize-winning work in ultrafast laser technology.