Full parametric pulse shaping in phase, amplitude, and polarization using an effective four-array modulator

Abstract

We present an analytical method for generating ultra-fast pulse sequences. In this approach, the physically intuitive parameters of the sub-pulses—energy, position in time, relative phase, chirp, and the polarization state—can be controlled individually. The pulses are experimentally generated by a pulse shaper which has been recently introduced. It uses three commercial double liquid crystal array modulators to mimic the optimal setup which utilizes four liquid crystal arrays for modulation. A series of double pulses systematically demonstrates the separate and independent control of the sub-pulse parameters. Furthermore, complex multi-pulse sequences are shown.