Ultrafast intense laser science: filamentation and application

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The applicant proposes to push forward a frontier in ultrafast intense laser science which he has contributed significantly in its development in the past few years, namely, filamentation nonlinear optics and remote sensing. He will develop a new femtosecond (one millionth of a trillionth of a second) laser technology to detect atmospheric pollutants related to environment and security. It is based upon the phenomenon of self-focusing and filamentation. He will use the LIDAR (laser radar) technique to remotely detect the fluorescence of pollutant molecules fragmented inside the so-called filament of intense femtosecond laser pulses. The uniqueness of this technique as compared to using other long laser pulses is that one can project the femtosecond laser pulse to remote distances up to a few km at high intensity which will induce finger print fluorescence from pollutant molecules. Using only one laser one would be able to identify the existence of most chemical and biological agents. The applicant will also study an emerging field of laser science which he helps develop; he calls this 'filamentation nonlinear optics'. He proposes to study the science and technology for the generation of high quality, very short (a few cycle of oscillation of the electromagnetic field) pulses through the so-called 'four-wave-mixing' inside the filament. The nonlinear physical processes of inducing the fluorescence from the fragmented pollutant molecules inside the filament will also be studied. The proposed project would generate new knowledge in the science and technology of the field of ultrafast intense laser science and contribute to the training of a good number of highly qualified personnel. It is expected that the technology of remotely sensing chem.-bio pollutants will be developed within less than five years if the necessary funding is secured.