Second-order interferometric autocorrelation for measuring group velocity dispersion and pulse broadening of femtosecond pulses.

Femtosecond pulse broadening and group velocity dispersion (GVD) were measured using a second-order interferometric autocorrelation technique. Two reference laser pulses of 36 fs and 55 fs were generated first in a Ti:sapphire oscillator and then passed through the optical elements of Ti:sapphire crystal and BK7 and fused silica glasses. For rectangular Ti:sapphire crystal and BK7 and fused silica slabs, material dispersion, and for fused silica prisms, material as well as angular dispersions were systematically measured.