Inline Fourier transform imaging spectrometer for mid-infrared ultrashort laser pulses

An inline-delay Fourier transform imaging spectrometer (iFTIS) is used to measure spatiospectral coupling in a mid-infrared (mid-IR) optical parametric amplifier (OPA). The method employs a compact inline delay line using a birefringent wedge pair and a microbolometer array as an imaging sensor, providing continuous spectral coverage from ∼0.4 to 4.5 µm in a single device. We find a spatial chirp that depends systematically on the OPA wavelength setting in the 3-4 µm range and also identify spatiospectral couplings beyond spatial chirp, highlighting the importance of advanced metrological techniques for this spectral region. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of depletion on the 2 µm pump beam and observe a complex spatiospectral reshaping. Our work opens the door to new applications of iFTIS to mid-IR laser science.