Development and experimental validation of rapid retrieval algorithm of first-order spatiotemporal distortions for ultrashort laser pulses

As the repetition rates of high-intensity, ultrashort laser systems increase, diagnostics with matching data collection speeds must be developed. We have previously developed a spatiotemporal laser diagnostic, STRIPED FISH, which measures the complete laser electric field on a single shot. To provide rapid feedback, we now introduce a high-repetition-rate compatible adaptation of the STRIPED FISH retrieval algorithm which condenses the key electric field quantities into a handful of scalars for rapid assessment of the pulse’s first-order spatiotemporal distortions, and we validate this novel retrieval method with an experimental data trace.