MRI: Acquisition of an Ultrafast Laser System for the Center for Research and Education in Optical Sciences and Applications

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This award provides funds for equipment to enhance the capabilities of the NSF-CREST Center: Center for Research and Education in Optical Sciences and Applications (CREOSA). This center was established in September 2006 at Delaware State University. The equipment will be used in a project which aims at studying complex samples characterized by the large number of physical effects that take place as a result of laser excitation: absorption, scattering, heating, photochemical effects, nonlinear optical effects and others. Three types of experiments will be done: femtosecond (fs) laser breakdown spectroscopy (fs-LIBS), the development of a novel multi-photon photothermal lens (PTL) microscope, and fs-coherent photon echo spectroscopy. Independent projects for teaching ultrafast laser technology and its applications in nonlinear optics and spectroscopy are also planned.The project involves a close integration of research, education and training in nonlinear laser spectroscopy of undergraduate and graduate students with special emphasis in broadening and promoting the participation of underrepresented groups. Courses on Lasers, Laser Spectroscopy, Non-linear Optics and Modern Optics are currently being taught as core courses of the MS and PhD programs of CREOSA. The teaching of these courses will be enriched by the training and the use of state of the art high power fs-laser high resolution spectroscopic system in education as mentioned in this proposal.