Ultrafast Phenomena: A Laboratory Experiment for Undergraduates

Authors

Thomas D. Donnelly, Harvey Mudd CollegeFollow
Carl Grossman, Swarthmore College

Document Type

Article

Department

Physics (HMC)

Publication Date

8-1998

Abstract

We present a set of experiments that introduce students to ultrafast science. We discuss the relationship between the description of an ultrashort laser pulse in the frequency domain and the time domain. Using experimental results we demonstrate that this relationship is constrained by the lower limit of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Students carrying out the experiments will become familiar with ultrafast techniques, such as autocorrelation and laser cavity design, as well as various other concepts such as dispersion, Fourier transformation, interference, and nonlinear optics.

Comments

This article is also available from the American Association of Physics Teachers at http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.18932.

Rights Information

© 1998 American Association of Physics Teachers

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

DOI

10.1119/1.18932

Recommended Citation

T.D. Donnelly and C. Grossman, "Ultrafast Phenomena: A Laboratory Experiment for Undergraduates," Am. J. Phys. 66, 677 (1998).