We present a set of experiments that introduce students to ultrafast s
cience. We discuss the relationship between the description of an ultr
ashort laser pulse in the frequency domain and the time domain. Using
experimental results we demonstrate that this relationship is constrai
ned by the lower limit of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Studen
ts carrying out the experiments will become familiar with ultrafast te
chniques, such as autocorrelation and laser cavity design, as well as
various other concepts such as dispersion, Fourier transformation, int
erference, and nonlinear optics. (C) 1998 American Association of Phys
ics Teachers.