Work

Ultra-short flying focus

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Achromatic flying-focus enables programmable control of intensity peak velocity, with applications in ultrafast optics. However, spatiotemporal coupling inherently elongates ultrashort pulses by introducing frequency-dependent focusing and arrival-time dispersion. We present a theoretical model identifying this pulse-lengthening effect and propose a radially-dependent spectral chirp to compensate for chromatic timing mismatches. Numerical simulations confirm that this approach preserves both pulse duration and programmed flying-focus velocity over extended focal regions. Additionally, dispersive media such as plasmas can partially mitigate elongation. These results extend achromatic flying-focus techniques to ultrashort pulses, enabling new opportunities in laser-plasma interactions and high-field nonlinear optics.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.599646

Authors: Jérôme Touguet, Igor A. Andriyash, Lucas Rovige, Cédric Thaury

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

OpenAlex ID: W7202071347

FWCI:

Cites: 23

Cited by:

Related to: 10