Abstract: Method and device for optical inspection of a sample using spectral interferometry, wherein a beam (2?) emitted by a radiation source (1) is directed onto the sample (5) and a reference beam (2?) is directed onto a reference sample (4), and the spectral interference of both beams after being reflected on the samples or after passing the samples is recorded by means of a spectrograph (6); the interferogram I(?) thus obtained is numerically derived with respect to the angular frequency ?. For the function I?(?) thus obtained the zeros ?i are calculated numerically as solutions to the equation I?(?)=0 and the frequency-dependent group delay ?(?) is then calculated from the zeros ?i according to the equation ?(?n)=?/(?i+1??i), wherein i=1, 2 . . . and ?n=(?i+1+?i)2.

Abstract: A device for increasing the spectral bandwidth of optical pulses, comprises a hollow fiber waveguide, optical components for focusing the beam into the hollow fiber waveguide and for re-collimating the beam at the exit of the hollow fiber waveguide, the hollow fiber waveguide being contained in an air-tight chamber filled with a gas at a given pressure; the length of the hollow fiber is such that, for a given input pulse energy and gas pressure, the energy contained in a fundamental propagation mode of the optical pulses that has minimum propagation losses exhibits substantially periodic oscillations over the full length of the hollow fiber waveguide and reaches a local maximum at the output end of the said hollow fiber waveguide.

Abstract: A device for increasing the spectral bandwidth of optical pulses, comprises a hollow fiber waveguide, optical components for focusing the beam into the hollow fiber waveguide and for re-collimating the beam at the exit of the hollow fiber waveguide, the hollow fiber waveguide being contained in an air-tight chamber filled with a gas at a given pressure; the length of the hollow fiber is such that, for a given input pulse energy and gas pressure, the energy contained in a fundamental propagation mode of the optical pulses that has minimum propagation losses exhibits substantially periodic oscillations over the full length of the hollow fiber waveguide and reaches a local maximum at the output end of the said hollow fiber waveguide.

Abstract: A dispersive multilayer mirror (1) comprising several individual layers (2, 3) applied to a carrier substrate (4) and adjoining each other via parallel, plane surfaces having different optical constants and different thicknesses, wherein a wedge-shaped glass platelet (5) is fastened to the outermost individual layer (2) facing away from the carrier substrate (4) by optical contact.

Abstract: A multilayer mirror (1), in particular a multilayer dispersive mirror, comprising several individual layers (2, 3) of different properities applied to a substrate (4; 14) and following each other via parallel, plane interfaces (6), and a plane front face (5; 5?) on the side of beam impact which is inclined relative to the interfaces (6) between the individual layers (2, 3).

Abstract: A dispersive multilayer mirror (1) comprising several individual layers (2, 3) applied to a carrier substrate (4) and adjoining each other via parallel, plane surfaces having different optical constants and different thicknesses, wherein a wedge-shaped glass platelet (5) is fastened to the outermost individual layer (2) facing away from the carrier substrate (4) by optical contact.