Abstract: A method and a system for measuring carrier-to-envelope phase fluctuations (CEP) fluctuations of a laser field, the method comprising focusing laser pulses in a solid-state material for high harmonic generation, collecting a resulting high harmonic spectrum, and inferring a relative phase of the driving field from the high harmonic spectrum. The system comprises a source of CEP stable mid-infrared laser pulses; a CEP variation unit; a solid state medium; a detector; and first focusing optics focusing pulses generated by the source into the solid state medium and second focusing optics collecting resulting harmonics generated in the solid state medium into the detector.

Abstract: A method comprising forming a linear temporal non-stationary amplitude filter by interacting a high intensity ultrashort laser pump pulse with a photo-excitable material, focusing an ultrashort broadband laser probe pulse over the photo-excited material, acquiring a two-dimensional spectrogram and retrieving amplitudes and phases of both temporal probe pulse and linear non-stationary amplitude filter from the two-dimensional spectrogram.

Abstract: A method comprising forming a linear temporal non-stationary amplitude filter by interacting a high intensity ultrashort laser pump pulse with a photo-excitable material, focusing an ultrashort broadband laser probe pulse over the photo-excited material, acquiring a two-dimensional spectrogram and retrieving amplitudes and phases of both temporal probe pulse and linear non-stationary amplitude filter from the two-dimensional spectrogram.

Abstract: A system comprising a laser emitting an ultrashort pulse beam; and a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates, and a method for compressing high energy femtosecond laser pulses, comprising propagating the laser beam inside a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on the beam intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates; and compressing a resulting broadened spectrum.

Abstract: A method comprising using a pulse shaper in the spectral domain to generate multiple-color pulses directly at the output of the laser amplifier. The delay can thus be controlled directly in the spectral domain and there is no need for an optical delay line. The method allows reducing the number of optical components and insures insensitivity to alignment, vibrations and turbulence on long distance propagation and filamentation, particularly in air. The method allows programmable and tunable interaction, since the pulse shaper is able to control the laser spectral amplitude and phase.

Abstract: A system comprising a laser emitting an ultrashort pulse beam; and a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates, and a method for compressing high energy femtosecond laser pulses, comprising propagating the laser beam inside a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on the beam intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates; and compressing a resulting broadened spectrum.

Abstract: A method comprising using a pulse shaper in the spectral domain to generate multiple-color pulses directly at the output of the laser amplifier. The delay can thus be controlled directly in the spectral domain and there is no need for an optical delay line. The method allows reducing the number of optical components and insures insensitivity to alignment, vibrations and turbulence on long distance propagation and filamentation, particularly in air. The method allows programmable and tunable interaction, since the pulse shaper is able to control the laser spectral amplitude and phase.

Abstract: A snow tiller (10) suitable for grooming ski hills, trails, or other areas, provides an adjustable profile tiller assembly. The snow tiller (10) is preferably pulled by a tracked vehicle (12) and has a tiller assembly formed of a plurality of tiller subassemblies (56,58). By varying the respective orientation of the tiller subassemblies (56,58), the snow tiller (10) can selectively provide coactive, level, convex, or more complex snow profiles depending upon the tiller configuration, snow conditions, and the intended uses. The snow tiller (10) also provides a control system to substantially maintain a selected snow profile while selectively permitting individual tiller subassemblies to float, thereby reducing the possibility of damage. The assembly can simultaneously provide an automatic release mode to protect the equipment from damage.

Abstract: A snow tiller (10) suitable for grooming ski hills, trails, or other areas, provides an adjustable snow housing assembly. A snow chamber (70) is formed between a ground shaping element (48) that has a rotatable drum (50) and a trailing finishing element (62) that is supported by a trailing bar bracket (84, 110, 130). The shape and/or volume of the snow chamber (70) can be adjusted by activating a finisher positioning mechanism (72), such as a hydraulic cylinder, to pivot the trailing bar bracket (84, 110, 130). A pair of connecting bars (98 and 100) from a pivot point about which the trailing bar bracket (84, 110, 130) pivots in an arc with respect to the snow surface, thus providing for precise positional control of the snow chamber (70).

Abstract: A snow tiller (10) suitable for grooming ski hills, trails, or other areas, provides an adjustable profile tiller assembly. The snow tiller (10) is preferably pulled by a tracked vehicle (12) and has a tiller assembly formed of a plurality of tiller subassemblies (56, 58). By varying the respective orientation of the tiller subassemblies (56, 58), the snow tiller (10) can selectively provide concave, level, convex, or more complex snow profiles depending upon the tiller configuration, snow conditions, and the intended uses. The snow tiller (10) also provides a control system to substantially maintain a selected snow profile while selectively permitting individual tiller subassemblies to float, thereby reducing the possibility of damage. The assembly can simultaneously provide an automatic release mode to protect the equipment from damage.