Ultrafast lasers, also interchangeably called ultrashort lasers, are defined as pulsed lasers with a pulse width of picoseconds or less than 1 picosecond (1 ps = 1 × 10^-12 s). They have been applied and are showing promise in areas such as laser drilling/cutting and micromachining. In this blog, we break down the five critical parameters you should evaluate before purchasing ultrafast optics, such as mirrors, lenses, windows, or dispersion compensation elements. We give you guidance on the following specifications: 1. The Wavelength Range, 2.Dispersion, 3. Dispersion Compensation, 4. Average Power, Fluence, Peak Power, 5. Laser Induced Damage Threshold, 6.Angle of Incidence, 7. Polarization, 8. Surface Specification.