Measurement of ultrashort laser radiation pulses with a three-channel correlator

A bulk three-channel interferometer system is considered for the formation of a third-order correlation function used in an analysis of the structure of a single ultrashort laser pulse. Two of the interferometer channels generate optical signals which are used to control electrooptic cells operating as fast switches. The signal in the third interferometer channel passes consecutively through the controlled cells. The two-coordinate output intensity distribution corresponds to a third-order correlation function. This intensity distribution is recorded. An analysis of the structure of the triple correlation function can give information on the time dependence of the intensity of the investigated signal.