Understanding the interaction of intense ultrafast radiation with matter

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Dr. Ramunno's laboratory is a high-performance computer with which she uses to accurately simulate the effect of very powerful laser pulses on materials. These pulses are ten millionth of a billionth of a second long, and their interaction with materials is opening new frontiers in science and technology, from the fabrication of extremely small optical devices, to microscopic surgery for groundbreaking experiments on cellular and sub-cellular function to the discovery of new and unexplored processes at the forefront of science. One goal of Dr. Ramunno's research is to understand how powerful lasers can be used to make delicate and precise "cuts" and other restructuring in materials in order to make microscopic devices that will lead to advances in areas such as information and communications technology and medicine. The interaction itself is highly complex, and can result in unexpected restructuring that is currently not well understood. New coherent radiation sources are being developed at ever smaller wavelengths from the ultraviolet to Xrays and at intensities a billion times more brilliant than state-of-the-art synchrotrons. These are being used to probe laser-matter interactions in totally unexplored regimes. One way to test this interaction is via the irradiatiom clusters, which are small chunks of solid materials on the order of 1 to 100 nanometres in size. Dr. Ramunno's other research goal is to investigate the complex interaction of these radiation sources with clusters on a microscopic level via large-scale numerical simulations. An integral part of her research program is the training of three graduate students. Two will work on aspects of intense radiation interaction with clusters, and a third on material restructuring of transparent materials by intense laser pulses.