A signal to noise ratio measurement for single shot laser pulses by use of an optical Kerr gate

A new design of signal to noise ratio (SNR) measurement for single shot laser pulses, based on a stepped grating and an optical Kerr gate (OKG), is presented. A single shot laser pulse was simultaneously divided into multi-pulses in both time and space. Intensity-space distribution of laser multi-pulses, which was recorded with a CCD detector, was transformed into intensity-time distribution. Time resolution of 1.95 ps and detection time range of 42.9 ps were obtained, respectively. Moreover, optical spatial localization attenuators were introduced into optical path to acquire wide dynamic range in the SNR measurement and, as a result, the dynamic range has been extended remarkably.