Table of Contents

1 Introduction 2 Ultra-fast engineering working tools 3 Fundamentals of laser interaction 4 Fundamentals of pump and probe 5 Examples for ultra-fast detection methods 6 Applications of pump and probe metrology 7 Perspectives for the future 8 Summary Appendices

About the Author

Alexander Horn has been Senior Scientist at the chair for Laser Technology (LLT) of the RWTH Aachen since 2003, and Group Leader of the Ultrafast-Technology group since 2004. He studied Physics in Siegen, Germany, and graduated in 2003 to Dr. rer. nat. with "suma cum laude". In March 2008 he starts a new position as a representative professor at the Institute for Physics of the University of Kassel (Germany). His main field of research is the ultra-fast detection of laser-induced processes, especially the development & usage of novel pump & probe techniques. He has authored over 40 scientific publications.