Abstract

Pulse-shaping technology has been acknowledged as a convenient framework for synthesizing user-defined temporal waveforms. In this context, compact, dynamic, user-friendly and fast-operation devices demanded in photonics, quantum dynamics, or ultrafast telecommunications have inspired researchers to look for simple pulse-shaper designs. In this contribution, we experimentally demonstrate pulse shaping of femtosecond pulses by using a single diffractive element encoded into a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) [1]. In this proposal the entire size of the pulse shaper is very small, there is almost no need for optical alignment, and obviously no extra refractive focusing element is required. This type of diffractive pulse shaper can generate bursts of flattop pulses [2] with potential application, i.e., as optical packet headers in packet-switched networks, and for the photonically assisted generation of microwave or adaptive quantum control experiments. Today, similar implementations of this device have been successfully used as a versatile, and real-time tunable optical filter [3], to generate arbitrary waveforms [4] or to synthesize sequences of fractal light pulses in the femtosecond regime [5].

© 2013 IEEE