Gold-SPIDER: spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction utilizing sum-frequency generation from a gold surface

We report on a version of spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction (SPIDER) that uses no nonlinear crystals, instead relying on the harmonic signal from a gold mirror. Surface harmonic generation holds the promise of being able to upconvert extremely broad bandwidths over a large tuning range, thus providing access to both extremely short pulses and wavelengths outside of traditional methods. In this proof of principle demonstration, SPIDER traces for chirped and transform-limited 55 fs pulses are presented.