Our group investigates how ultrashort pulse lasers behave in nonlinear environments. For that purpose, we have several high peak power lasers ranging from near-IR to mid-IR and expanding to the far-IR. In particular, our group has two high peak power laser systems: a 10 TW 50 fs Ti:Sapphire laser source and a 45 TW 35 fs Ti:Sapphire laser. Additionally, our laboratory is working on developing sources in the mid-infrared (3-5 μm) and is acquiring a laser system at 10μm. We have several laboratories that allow us to do small scale experiments within the laboratory, experiments in a vacuum environment and we have long distance propagation capability to do experiments in turbulent conditions in controlled conditions. Additionally, our group has several modeling capabilities including a GPU cluster, high end computer, and access to supercomputing facilities.

Our research focuses on validation theoretical models by experimental studies of how these high peak power ultrashort laser pulses propagate through transparent media and interact with materials, solid and gaseous, in a variety of atmospheric conditions. Additionally, we are interested in the generation of plasmas, charged particle beams, Laser Wake Field acceleration and other EM radiation generation with these Terra-Watt class lasers. We are seeking interested candidates to expand the theoretical models of strong field short laser pulse matter interaction and to experimentally validate these predictions of physics necessary to describe the process of laser induced plasma formation in the atmosphere by developing specialized diagnostics.

 

References

Schmitt-Sody A, et al: Picosecond filamentation in air. New Journal of Physics 18: 2016

Wolter B, et al: Strong field Physics with Mid-IR fields. Physical Review X 5: 2015

Chin SL: Femtosecond laser filamentation. Springer Series on Atomic, Optical and Plasma Physics 55: 2010

 

Keywords:

Strong field short pulsed laser matter interaction; Non-linear optics; Laser plasma interaction; Non-linear propagation in atmosphere; High peak power femtosecond lasers; Laser Wake Field acceleration

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants