Propagation of Intense Ultrashort Pulses: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics at Femtosecond Time Scales

本研究项目主要研究高功率飞秒激光脉冲在光学透明介质中的非线性传输，在这种情况下，脉冲经历波崩塌，使得时间自由度和空间自由度发生强耦合。将探索的现象包括10个以下飞秒脉冲的自聚焦和在反常色散区的传输，在该色散区可能产生三维光孤子。这项拟议的研究将对非线性动力学领域产生影响，并将对超快科学的各个领域产生影响，包括飞秒激光损伤、脉冲在空气中的传播以及超短脉冲气体中的参数和谐波产生。除了对研究生和本科生的教育外，该计划的更广泛影响将包括通过NSF资助的纳米系统中心的物理教师研究所(CIPT)开展的外联活动，以及向高中教师和学生提供与光学相关的研讨会。

This research project focuses on the study of the nonlinear propagation of high-power femtosecond laser pulses in optically transparent media under conditions in which the pulse undergoes wave collapse such that strong coupling of the temporal and spatial degrees of freedom occurs. The phenomena that will be explored include self-focusing of sub-10 femtosecond pulses and propagation in the anomalous dispersion regime where generation of three-dimensional optical solitons may be possible. The proposed research will have an impact on the field of nonlinear dynamics and will have implications for various areas of ultrafast science, including femtosecond laser damage, pulse propagation in air, and parametric and harmonic generation in gases with ultrashort pulses. In addition to the education of graduate and undergraduate students, the broader impact of the program will involve outreach activities via the NSF-funded Center for Nanoscale Systems' Institute for Physics Teachers (CIPT) as well as the delivery of optics relatedseminars to high-school teachers and students.