An SHG autocorrelator for use in measuring the duration of an ultrashort pulse of light includes in one embodiment a thin pellicle beamsplitter for splitting the pulse of light into first and second beams, a stationary optical delay disposed along the path of the first beam, a movable optical delay disposed along the path of the second beam, a thin SHG crystal, a concave mirror for bringing the first and second beams to focus into the SHG crystal, a photodetector for detecting light emitted from the SHG crystal, and a narrow bandpass filter in front of the photodetector for filtering out non second harmonic light. The device reduces time broadening and delay of ultrashort pulses in the femtosecond time domain.