Yoshiaki Yasuno

The concept and applications of spatio-temporal optical computing are proposed. This concept introduces ordinary spatial optical computing techniques using Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction into time domain. The concept is classified in three phases. The first phase employs spatiotemporal duality of light. In this thesis a new algorithm to analyze low coherence interferograms is proposed in this phase. The second phase employs spatio-temporal conversion. In this phase we construct a femtosecond pulse separation measurement system which determines the pulse separation in the accuracy of 12.4 fs. Furthermore, by employing the conversion technique, a less scanning dimension and all optical spectral interferometric optical coherence system is constructed. This system determines the surface profiles of specular and rough surface samples. The third phase employs spatio-temporal coupling effects. We numerically investigate on the spatio-temporal coupling behavior of light in a pulse shaper, spatio-temporal coupled pulse shaper and time-domain microscope by employing the spatio-temporal Wigner distribution function. Some conditions which induces the coupling are shown.