Ultrashort Laser Pulse Phenomena, 2nd Edition

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Femtosecond Optics

2.1. INTRODUCTION

Whether short pulses or continuous radiation, light should follow the rules of

“classical optics.” There are, however, some properties related to the bending,

propagation, and focalization of light that are specific to fs pulses. Ultrashort

pulses are more “unforgiving” of some “defects” of optical systems, as compared

to ordinary light of large spectral bandwidth, i.e., white light.

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Studying optical

systems with fs pulses helps in turn to improve the understanding and perfor-

mances of these systems in white light. We will study properties of basic elements

(coatings, lenses, prisms, gratings) and some simple combinations ...