Rapid scanning autocorrelator for measurements of ultrafast laser pulses

A rapid scanning autocorrelation interferometer for measurements of ultrafast laser pulses is described. The optical system is based on a new type of beam splitter allowing one to send all of the input beam power to the SHG crystal making the SHG signal four times greater than in the standard designs. Autocorrelation measurements of transform limited picosecond pulses from a synchronously pumped mode‐locked dye laser are presented.