INTERFEROMETRIC SHAPING OF FEMTOSECOND LASER-PULSES

A Michelson interferometer is described which can modify the shape of femtosecond laser pulses. Of particular interest is its ability to var y the laser pulse rise time in a very precise way by using constructiv e and destructive interference. Autocorrelation, spectrometric and cro ss-correlation techniques show that this real-time manipulation of the laser pulse rise time and shape are in good agreement with theory. Th is ability to generate and characterise laser pulses with specific pro perties will be employed to test two competing theories of multielectr on dissociative ionization of simple molecules.