Spatial Chirped Cavity for Temporally Stretching/Compressing Optical Pulses

Abstract

Systems and methods for optical pulse stretching or compression in time are provided. An apparatus of the subject invention can operate as an optical dispersive element for optical pulse stretching or compression in time, as well as laser scanning in space. An apparatus can include a spatial disperser arranged to divide a collimated optical pulsed beam into an array of collimated beams with equally spaced angles, a beam shaper configured to control the spreading angle of the beam array, and a cavity to sequentially reflect the individual beams within the beam array. The cavity can include two non-parallel surfaces, such as two non-parallel mirrors.