CORRELATION EFFECTS IN THE DISPLAY OF PICOSECOND PULSES BY TWO‐PHOTON TECHNIQUES

The two‐photon fluorescence (TPF) technique for the display of picosecond pulses is analyzed. It is shown that TPF displays resembling those of picosecond pulses from mode‐locked lasers, but having reduced contrast, are produced by lasers in which mode locking is incomplete or absent. We report here new TPF experiments which provide further evidence for picosecond pulse output of dye Q‐switched Nd:glass lasers. In addition, TPF observations with a single‐mode ruby laser are found to give contrast ratios in agreement with the general theory.