Two-dimensional single-shot measurement of angular dispersion for compressor alignment.

Misalignment of the stretcher-compressor stages of chirped pulse amplification (CPA) lasers can aggravate the spatiotemporal shape of ultrashort pulses. We demonstrate a simple technique for angular dispersion measurement, which offers real-time single-shot two-dimensional characterization across the entire beam profile. The accuracy of our pilot experiment approaches its current theoretical limit of 0.1 μrad/nm. Unlike the current one-dimensional techniques working in the near field, the method works in the far field; hence, it is especially appropriate for assisting the most accurate alignment of a CPA laser compressor ensuring the maximum intensity on the target.