New method to measure the rise time of a fast pulse slicer for laser ion acceleration research

Abstract

A dependence of cutoff proton kinetic energy on laser prepulse duration has been observed. Amplified spontaneous emission pedestal duration is controlled by a fast electrooptic pulse slicer where the rise time is estimated to be 130 ps. We demonstrate a new correlated spectral technique for determining this rise time using a stretched frequency-chirped pulse.