Single-shot ultrafast imaging via spatiotemporal division of femtosecond laser pulses

We have developed a single-shot imaging technique that can capture ultrafast\nevents occurring on femtosecond to picosecond time scales. The technique is\nbased on an optical pump-probe method, in which multiple time-delayed\nfemtosecond pulses simultaneously probe a pump-excited sample. Here we use two\nsets of 2-by-2 mirror arrays for spatial/temporal division and routing of\nmultiple probe pulses. This single-shot scheme is successfully applied to\ncapture femtosecond ionization fronts propagating at the speed of light in air,\nas well as laser-induced ablation of solid targets.\n