Distortion of ultrashort laser pulses in a spatial filter

By means of Collins diffraction integral, the propagation expression of an ultrashort laser pulse passing through a spatial filter is derived. The effects of the magnification of spatial filter on pulse broadening and distortion of pulse-front for the ultrashort optical pulse are analytically deduced and numerically simulated. It is found that pulse broadening and propagation time difference of a laser pulse getting through spatial filter is proportional to the magnification. As a conclusion, in an ultrashort pulse laser system with a large aperture, the effect of pulse broadening and distortion of pulse-front should be considered.