Method and apparatus for optical pulse characterization using simplified chronocyclic tomography

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for modulating the phase of light from an optical source using alternating positive and negative quadratic temporal phase modulation at a desired alternating frequency Ω;
• means for generating an electric signal proportional to the optical power of the modulated light after propagation through an optical frequency resolving device, for a desired optical frequency ω;
• means for determining a time-invariant component of the electric signal and a time-varying component of the electric signal having the desired alternating frequency Ω;
• and
• means for determining the spectral phase and spectral intensity of the light from the optical source using time-invariant components and time-varying components of electric signals from the means for generating an electric signal, determined for a plurality of optical frequencies.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an optical phase modulator for modulating the phase of light from an optical source
• a device for effectively alternating the phase modulation of the optical phase modulator between positive and negative quadratic temporal phase modulation at a desired alternating frequency;
• a frequency-resolving device for generating an electric signal proportional to the optical power of the modulated light from the optical phase modulator for a desired optical frequency;
• a characterization unit for determining a time-invariant component and a time-varying component having the desired alternating frequency of the electric signal from the frequency-resolving device, and for determining the spectral phase and spectral intensity of the light from the optical source using time-invariant components and time-varying components of electric signals from the frequency-resolving device, determined for a plurality of optical frequencies.