By name: ultrafast-optics
description: "Ultrafast optics skill — distills femtosecond/attosecond pulse generation, propagation, characterization, shaping, amplification, frequency combs, and ultrafast spectroscopy from 10 specialized textbooks. Extends optics with deep mode-locking theory, FROG/SPIDER/d-scan pulse measurement, CPA/OPCPA amplification, carrier-envelope phase control, optical frequency combs, attosecond pulse generation (HHG), and ultrafast spectroscopy methods."
unit_system: SI
unit_note: >
All formulas in SI units. Consistent with optics, electrodynamics, and plasma skills.
No edges into landau-graph (Gaussian units skill).
conventions: >
See physics-conventions for all sign / normalization / naming defaults.
Time convention: e^{-iωt}. Metric: (−+++).
Pulse intensity: I(t) = |E(t)|². Chirp: positive = red leads blue (dω/dt > 0).
GDD = d²φ/dω². β₂ = −GDD (waveguide convention). τ_p = FWHM intensity.
Transform limit: Gaussian τ_p Δν = 0.44, sech² τ_p Δν = 0.315.
Ultrafast Optics Skill Graph
Extends the physics foundations (optics, electrodynamics, plasma) with deep ultrafast optics: how to GENERATE few-cycle pulses via mode-locking, CHARACTERIZE them via FROG/SPIDER/d-scan, SHAPE them via Fourier synthesis, AMPLIFY them via CPA/OPCPA, STABILIZE their carrier-envelope phase, and use them as frequency combs and attosecond probes.
Source Texts
- Weiner, Ultrafast Optics (2009) — primary textbook
- Diels & Rudolph, Ultrashort Laser Pulse Phenomena (2006, 2nd ed)
- Trebino, Frequency-Resolved Optical Gating (2000)
- Dantus, Femtosecond Laser Shaping (2017)
- Ye & Cundiff, Femtosecond Optical Frequency Comb (2005)
- Mukamel, Principles of Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy (1995) — response functions, Liouville space, cumulant, Brownian oscillator
- Siegman, Lasers (1986) — mode-locking sections (§26-27)
- Svelto, Principles of Lasers (2010, 5th ed) — test set
- PUILS XIII, Progress in Ultrafast Intense Laser Science (2017) — test set
- Herrmann & Wilhelmi, Laser für ultrakurze Lichtimpulse (1986) — test set
- Akhmanov et al., Оптика фемтосекундных лазерных импульсов (1988) — test set
Relation to optics skill
This skill REPLACES the following optics nodes with deeper treatments:
reasoning.optics.ultrashort_pulse_generation→ uo: mode_locking_active + mode_locking_passive + cpa + cepreasoning.optics.pulse_characterization→ uo: pulse_characterization_frog + pulse_characterization_spider_dscanreasoning.optics.dispersion_management_gdd→ uo: dispersion_compensationknowledge.optics.pulse_measurement_data→ uo: pulse_measurement_techniques
The following optics nodes remain as general foundations:
reasoning.optics.pulse_propagation_nlse(general NLSE)reasoning.optics.laser_rate_equations(general laser physics)
Edge protocol: ultrafast-optics ↔ all non-landau-graph skills (bidirectional).
Distillation Plan
See /home/zhiping/task/ultrafast-optics/distillation-plan.md