Interactions of extreme light (intense femtosecond lasers) with matter are stimulating new discoveries and insights into fundamental phenomena in physics, chemistry, materials, and engineering sciences. These interactions can be utilized for exploring the next frontiers of science and developing pervasive, enabling, and revolutionary military applications. For example, extreme light/matter interactions offer the potential of having non-radioactive, portable, high-brightness, and ultrafast point sources of penetrating radiation (from terahertz to gamma rays) or fundamental particles (electrons, protons, positrons, and deuterons). These sources can be used for chemical analysis, materials research, model evaluation, and inspection of newly fabricated and fielded aerospace system components. Research interest include investigation of extreme light/matter interactions that can result in (1) new methods for producing x rays or particle sources, (2) methods to optimize laser and material characteristics to achieve viable diagnostic sources, (3) an improved understanding of the time and spatial evolution of processes that occur from the time a laser impacts a material until all actions in the material have ceased, and (4) an understanding of processes important for chemical reactions and laser material processing. We are also interested in experimental and/or modeling studies. A well furnished optical laboratory is available for this research with a (1) 12 mJ, 30 femtosecond pulses, 1000 Hz repartition rate laser; (2) 1 mJ, 45 femtosecond pulse, 1000 Hz laser; and (3) 300 mJ, 10 nanosecond pulse, 10 Hz laser.

 

Keywords:

Extreme light; Laser produced plasma; Particle acceleration; Femtosecond lasers; Modeling laser plasma; Radiation sources; Ultra intense lasers; X-ray generation; Particle sources;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants