Pulse-length-limited ultrafast pump–probe spectroscopy in a single laser shot

We demonstrate a scheme for taking single-shot pump-probe data with femtosecond time resolution. Data recorded from a 100-microm-thick dye solution show that pulse-length-limited resolution can be achieved readily with 70-fs laser pulses. This technique opens the door for the study of irreversible ultrafast processes in a wide variety of solids. Also, unlike with conventional techniques, in this method multiple-shot data are not affected by shot-to-shot laser intensity fluctuations.