Acquisition of an Optical Parametric Amplifier for High Magnetic Field Ultrafast Exciton Spectroscopy and Education

根据IMR项目的合同，莱斯大学将获得一个超快激光系统，该系统由一个啁啾脉冲放大器（CPA）和一个光参量放大器（OPA）组成。该系统将产生波长从1.15毫米到18毫米连续可调的强相干电磁辐射，并显著推进我们在国家高磁场实验室（NHMFL）正在进行的研究。目前，主要研究人员正在NHMFL的内部研究计划下开发一个超快光学设备，用于研究半导体量子结构，特别是研究高磁场下激子的动力学。特别强调的是如何在同时受到强激光场和强磁场的激子中产生和控制量子相干性。这样的系统提供了一个理想的环境，其中以良好的控制方式解决了非线性和量子光学在固体中的基本和未解决的问题。激光场操纵激子的离散内部状态，而磁场冻结激子的质心运动并调节内部能级。与原子相比，激子的大空间范围导致了强烈的光-物质耦合，并期望出现戏剧性的非微扰现象。这样的研究为光与物质相互作用的基础物理学提供了重要的见解，并可以回答固体中的光激发是否真的是量子的，就像原子的量子光学一样。本科生和研究生研究人员，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生将参与其中，并将获得超快光学尖端技术的专业知识。威廉马什大学将获得一种最先进的激光系统，该系统将产生波长在很宽范围内连续可调的超短电磁辐射脉冲，并显著推进我们在国家高磁场实验室（NHMFL）正在进行的研究。研究人员目前正在NHMFL的内部研究计划下开发一个超快光学设备，用于研究半导体量子结构，特别是用于研究高磁场下激子的动力学。这样的项目提供了一个理想的环境，以良好的控制方式解决非线性和量子光学在固体中的基本和未解决的问题。这项研究将涉及一个由本科生和研究生组成的研究团队，其中包括来自代表性不足的少数群体的学生。他们将获得超快光学尖端技术的专业知识。

With this award from the IMR program William Marsh Rice University will acquire an ultrafast laser system, consisting of a chirped pulse amplifier (CPA) and an optical parametric amplifier (OPA). This system will produce intense and coherent electromagnetic radiation with wavelength continuously tunable from 1.15 mm to 18 mm and significantly advance our on-going research at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL). The principal investigators are currently developing an ultrafast optics facility at the NHMFL under the In-House Research Program, for the study of semiconductor quantum structures, especially for investigating the dynamics of excitons in high magnetic fields. Particular emphasis is placed on how to create and control quantum coherence in excitons that are simultaneously subjected to an intense laser field and an intense magnetic field. Such a system provides an ideal environment in which to address fundamental and unresolved issues in nonlinear and quantum optics in solids in a well-controlled manner. The laser field manipulates discrete internal states of excitons whereas the magnetic field freezes the center-of-mass motion of excitons and tunes the internal energy levels. The large spatial extent of excitons, compared to atoms, leads to strong light-matter coupling, and dramatic non-perturbative phenomena are expected. Such research provides significant insight into the fundamental physics of light-matter interaction and can answer whether light excitation in solids is really quantum, as in quantum optics of atoms. Undergraduate and graduate researchers, including students from underrepresented groups will be involved and will acquire expertise in cutting-edge techniques in ultrafast optics. %%%With this award from the Instrumentation for Materials Research program William Marsh University will acquire a state-of-the-art laser system, which will produce ultrashort pulses of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength continuously tunable in a very wide range and significantly advance our on-going research at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL). The investigators are currently developing an ultrafast optics facility at the NHMFL under the In-House Research Program, for the study of semiconductor quantum structures, especially for investigating the dynamics of excitons in high magnetic fields. Such a project provides an ideal environment in which to address fundamental and unresolved issues in nonlinear and quantum optics in solidsin a well-controlled manner. The research will involve a team of undergraduate and graduate researchers, including students from underrepresented minority groups. They will acquire expertise in cutting-edge techniques in ultrafast optics.