This invention relates to a measurement device, for optically measuring a
property of a measurement object, the measurement device comprising a
main resonator having a first and a second reflecting end defining a
cavity having an effective optical cavity length, an optical gain element
for generating light travelling along an optical beam path between the
first and second reflecting ends, and a dispersive focusing resonator
element which is positioned along the optical beam path between the
optical gain element and the second reflecting end, whereby the
measurement object is arranged to be at least partly positioned within
the optical beam path of the main resonator, and whereby the measurement
device further comprises a detection means for detecting a characteristic
of light emitted from the main resonator, the value of the detected
characteristic being a measure of a property of the measurement object.