Ultrafast Laser System for Studies of Controlled Filamentation
Abstract
This proposal constitutes a request for funding to purchase an ultrafast laser system to ensure that the PIs laboratory maintains its status as a premier laboratory for studies of quantum nonlinearoptics. The requested instrumentation is a single unit consisti ng of a highly tunable, ultrafast laser system. Presently, our laboratory houses an ultrafast laser system that is eighteen years old, which significantly exceeds its expected useful lifetime. It is presently in a state of disrepair. The requested instrumentati on is a Spectra-Physics Solstice Ace laser system that will allow us to perform experimental investigations into nonlinear optical interactions over a broad spectral region (650-2500 nm) with pulses of ultrashort (< 120 femtoseconds) temporal duration and cont aining as much as 1.2 mJ of energy This laser will be used in our ONR-funded project on controlling laser beam filamentaion using polarization-structured light (N00014-19-1-2247). The goal of this project is to develop procedures for suppressing the tendency of laser beams to break up as they pass through a nonlinear medium. Our primary procedure will be to make use of polarization-structu red laser beams, which have recently been shown to be able to suppress small-scale filamentation under specific conditions. We wan t to determine how generally this procedure can be used. We also strive to develop a conceptual understanding of the relation among nonlinear caustic formation, rogue wave formation, and small scale filamentation. We will furthermore study nonlinear optical mean s to control the transverse spatial profile of a laser beam, with implications for eye/sensor protection. Our work on preventing s mall-scale filamentation can help to increase the power that can be transmitted through the earths atmosphere (or, alternatively, through optical materials used in laser construction), with dramatic implications for the directed-energy program. The requested laser system will allow testing of the concepts developed in this program over a wide range of peak power conditions and over a wi de wavelength range. This laser system will also be of use in a variety of additional projects of interest toDoD. One such project , currently funded by DARPA and by ONR, is to study the nonlinear optical response of so-called epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials. These ENZ materials have a nearly vanishing dielectric permittivity at a certain wavelength. My group has shown theoretically and experimentally that an extremely strong nonlinear optical response at thisENZ wavelength. Our future research will consist of deta iled studies of the nature of this nonlinear response and of its use in applications such as ultrafast optical switching. Student education will also be enhanced by the availability of this ultrafast laser system. At any given time, I tend to have between six and ten students working in my laboratory, and theywill make use of the laser system as part of their thesis work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 07, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112920
Entities
People
- Robert W. Boyd
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Rochester