Ultrafast chirped optical waveform recorder using referenced heterodyning and a time microscope

A time microscope, comprising:

• a signal acquisition or generating unit for providing a waveform to be recorded;
• an optical source for providing a first signal;
• a filter configured for filtering said first signal to produce a filtered signal;
• means for heterodyning said waveform with said filtered signal to produce a heterodyned signal;
• first means for dispersing said heterodyned signal to produce a dispersed signal;
• second means for dispersing a second signal from said optical source to produce a second dispersed signal;
• means for mixing said dispersed signal with said second dispersed signal in a nonlinear material to produce a combined signal;
• means for dispersing said combined signal to produce a dispersed combined signal;
• and
• a detector for detecting said dispersed combined signal.

A method, comprising:

• providing a waveform to be recorded;
• dispersing said waveform to produce a dispersed waveform;
• providing a first signal from an optical source;
• filtering said first signal to produce a filtered signal;
• heterodyning said dispersed waveform with said filtered signal to produce a heterodyned signal;
• dispersing a second signal from said optical source to produce a dispersed second signal;
• mixing, in a first nonlinear crystal, said heterodyned signal with said dispersed second signal to produce a first combined signal;
• mixing, in a second nonlinear crystal, said dispersed waveform and said dispersed second signal to produce a second combined signal;
• combining said first combined signal and said second combined signal to produce a third combined signal;
• dispersing said third combined signal to produce a dispersed combined signal;
• and
• detecting said dispersed combined signal.