Single-shot sonogram generation for femtosecond laser pulse diagnostics by use of two-photon absorption in a silicon CCD camera.

We present an experimental technique capable of single-shot recording of an ultrashort laser pulse sonogram by use of two-photon absorption in a conventional silicon CCD camera. The quadratic spectral phase, introduced into a 100-fs pulse by a grating stretcher, was measured and found to be in good agreement with the analytically calculated value. The nonlinear response of silicon allows sonogram characterization in a wavelength range from 1 to 2 mum .