Nanoscale solids in strong ultrashort optical pulse

本研究的目的是提供一个全面的分析，强超短激光脉冲与纳米固体，如辩证法和金属纳米薄膜的相互作用。本研究的方法是基于相干描述的电子动力学在超短（小于10 fs）激光脉冲的持续时间。这样的电子动力学将由非线性微分方程组来描述，该方程组将被数值求解。 该研究将为超短激光脉冲与纳米级固体提供全面的理论描述，并将确定电介质和金属纳米膜的光学和输运性质可以由超快光脉冲控制，以及在何种程度上，电介质和金属的动力学可以通过光脉冲探测，以及在何种条件下电介质或金属表现出可逆行为。 拟议的研究将解决基础（理解超短激光脉冲与固体的相互作用）和应用（具有高petahertz频率的纳米级器件的电特性的光学控制，可用于纳米级器件）问题。拟议的研究活动的广泛性将鼓励研究生探索物理学的不同领域，包括基础和应用。现代纳米物理学的介绍性和说明性系列讲座将提供给佐治亚州亚特兰大地区的初中和高中学生。研究所将开发关于光学和纳米系统传输的本科课程。PI还将在两所格鲁吉亚学校组织科学奥林匹克队和数学俱乐部队。

The objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of interaction of strong ultrashort laser pulses with nanoscale solids, such as dialectic and metal nanofilms. The approach of this research is based on coherent description of electron dynamics within duration of ultrashort (less than 10 fs) laser pulse. Such electron dynamics will be described by systems of nonlinear differential equations, which will be solved numerically. The proposed research will provide comprehensive theoretical description of ultrashort laser pulse with nanoscale solids and will determine what kind of optical and transport properties of dielectric and metal nanofilm can be controlled by ultrafast optical pulse and within what extent, how the dynamics of dielectric and metal can be probed by the optical pulse, and under what condition the dielectric or metal show reversible behavior. The proposed research will address both fundamental (understanding the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with solids) and applied (optical control of electric properties of nanoscale devices with high petahertz frequency, which can be used in nanoscale devices) problems. The broad nature of proposed research activity will encourage graduate students to explore different fields of physics, both fundamental and applied. Introductory and illustrative lecture series on modern nanoscale physics will be given to middle and high school students within the Atlanta, GA area. The PIs will develop undergraduate course on optics and transport of nanoscale systems. The PIs will also organize the Science Olympiad team and Math Club team at two Georgia schools.