PULSE-LENGTH-LIMITED ULTRAFAST PUMP-PROBE SPECTROSCOPY IN A SINGLE LASER SHOT

We demonstrate a scheme for taking single-shot pump-probe data with fe mtosecond time resolution. Data recorded from a 100-mum-thick dye solu tion show that pulse-length-limited resolution can be achieved readily with 70-fs laser pulses. This technique opens the door for the study of irreversible ultrafast processes in a wide variety of solids. Also, unlike with conventional techniques, in this method multiple-shot dat a are not affected by shot-to-shot laser intensity fluctuations.