Development of a Multibeam, Parabolic Pulse, Kilohertz Terawatt Laser Facility for Ultrafast Optical Physics

该核磁共振奖为科罗拉多矿业学院建设多波束太瓦千赫兹激光系统提供了资金。来自Ti：蓝宝石振荡器的抛物脉冲将被用作一种独特的多光束太瓦千赫兹激光器的种子。使用自适应光学，该系统可以实现每平方厘米10的20次方瓦特的聚焦强度。广泛的可用频率转换光学阵列使得这种激光源产生从x射线到中红外的辐射成为可能。这台太瓦千赫兹激光设备将构成通用光源的基础，将被科罗拉多矿业学院（CSM）校园的多个部门使用，并将使光学、原子和核物理、化学、冶金和生物学的跨学科项目成为可能。激光设备将具有两条光束线：1mJ， 20fs， 1khz光束线和20mj， 20fs， 1khz光束线。每条线都可以独立操作（波长，脉冲持续时间和强度），从而可以同时在低强度和高强度下驱动大量实验。低能臂的科学应用包括产生用于表面振动和频率光谱（SVSFG）的中红外脉冲。通过SVSFG的特殊灵敏度，我们期望在理解广泛应用的系统方面取得巨大进展，例如：共价分子单层自组装的化学机制，纳米润滑中的能量耗散机制，高分子材料的光化学降解机制，植入物相容性的生物特异性表面附着，界面液晶动力学的基本机制，以及粘附的主要过程。高能臂的科学应用包括高效产生用于医学成像的超快x射线、超快x射线吸收（EXAFS）以及在固态材料和复杂分子中的衍射研究。

This MRI award provides for the construction of a multibeam TeraWatt kilohertz laser system at the Colorado School of Mines. Parabolic pulses from a Ti:sapphire oscillator will be used as the seed for a unique, multibeam TeraWatt kilohertz laser. Using adaptive optics, focused intensities on the order of ten to the power 20 Watts per square centimeter can be achieved with this system. A broad array of available frequency conversion optics makes it possible for this laser source to generate radiation that spans from the x-ray regime to the mid-infrared. This TeraWatt kilohertz laser facility will form the basis of a universal light source that will be used by multiple departments on the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) campus and will enable interdisciplinary programs in optical, atomic and nuclear physics, chemistry, metallurgy, and biology.The laser facility will feature two beamlines: a 1mJ, 20 fs, 1 kHz beamline, and a 20 mJ, 20 fs, 1 kHz beamline. Each line can be manipulated independently (in wavelength, pulse duration, and intensity) making it possible to simultaneously drive a large number of experiments at low and high intensities. Scientific applications for the low energy arm include generating mid-IR pulses to be used for surface vibrational sum-frequency spectroscopy (SVSFG). Through the special sensitivity of SVSFG we expect dramatic progress in the understanding of systems across a broad range of applications such as: chemical mechanisms of self-assembly of covalently attached molecular monolayers, energy dissipation mechanisms in nano-lubrication, photochemical degradation mechanisms of polymeric materials, bio-specific surface attachment for implant compatibility, fundamental mechanisms of liquid crystal dynamics at interfaces, and primary processes in adhesion. Scientific applications for the high energy arm include the efficient generation of ultrafast x-rays for medical imaging, ultrafast x-ray absorption (EXAFS) and diffractive studies in solid-state materials and complex molecules.