MRI: Acquisition of an ultrafast amplified laser system for nonlinear optics and time-resolved spectroscopic studies of condensed matter systems

这一重大研究仪器奖支持收购超快放大激光系统，使其能够在物理、材料科学和工程、化学、化学工程、生物和生物工程的凝聚态系统的交叉点进行研究。用超快短激光脉冲探测物质捕捉到了发生在极短时间尺度上的一些最基本的物理过程。这些过程提供了对太阳能电池中光激发的电荷转移和演化，有机电子学、量子材料和(生物)有机材料中的非线性光学现象，以及介孔材料中的瞬时光学过程的见解。超快激光设备不仅增强了凝聚态系统的非线性光学和时间分辨光谱研究领域，而且补充了密苏里大学(MU)现有的纳米医学、纳米技术和纳米科学研究中心。该项目旨在为密歇根大学和密苏里州的大量用户提供超快激光技术。该仪器的多功能性和可用专业知识的跨学科广度在该地区是无与伦比的，使STEM学生能够通过实践经验获得竞争优势，并为他们在纳米技术、生物技术、材料科学和工程以及基于半导体的学术研究或行业中就业做好准备。研究和教育活动得到了来自林肯大学、密苏里州一所历史悠久的黑人学院和密苏里州其他机构的学生和研究人员的参与，同时推进了高中辅导和中学推广计划的持续努力。超短光脉冲为探索材料和电子设备中的非线性光学过程开辟了新的领域。该系统是一种多功能的飞秒激光系统，具有宽带波长可调谐和多维光谱的能力。它由三部分组成：(A)飞秒振荡器(锁模钛蓝宝石激光器)；(B)飞秒放大器；(C)非共线光学参量放大器。该项目的重点是研究电子材料和有机半导体晶体管中的载流子动力学和光学非线性，以改进基于有机电子的技术。对二维材料，特别是单层过渡金属二卤化物的研究，将有助于深入了解这些材料中的激子过程。在分子有机晶体领域，通过二次谐波测量、合成和计算模拟的共同努力，将通过合理的设计建立大规模的极性秩序。超快激光系统将被用于开发生物纳米结构的非线性光学特性，以获得在纳米光子学中具有潜在应用的多波长相干源。该项目将通过探测瞬时光学过程，并按集成到光电子器件所需的顺序制造微米和纳米结构，进一步促进二氧化硅材料的发展。通过建立一个由实验者和理论家组成的非线性光学中心，拟议中的激光实验设施将得到支持，以促进凝聚态系统中新出现的超快和非线性光学现象的研究和教育活动。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation award supports the acquisition of an ultrafast amplified laser system enabling studies at the intersections of condensed matter systems in physics, materials science and engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, biology, and bioengineering. Probing materials with ultrafast short laser pulses captures some of the most fundamental physical processes that occur at extremely short timescales. These processes, which the project addresses, provide insights into charge transfer and evolution of optical excitations in solar cells, nonlinear optical phenomena in organic electronics, quantum materials, and (bio)organic materials, and transient optical processes in mesoporous materials. The ultrafast laser facility, while enhancing areas of nonlinear optics and time-resolved spectroscopic studies of condensed matter systems, complements existing research centers involved with nanomedicine, nanotechnology, and nanoscience at the University of Missouri (MU). The project seeks to make ultrafast laser technology available to a large user base at MU and in the state of Missouri. The versatility of the instrument and the transdisciplinary breadth of available expertise are unmatched in the region, empowering STEM students to obtain a competitive edge by hands-on experiences, and preparing them for employment in nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science and engineering, and semiconductor-based academic research or industry. The research and educational activities are strengthened by the participation of students and researchers from Lincoln University, a Historically Black College & University in Missouri, and other institutions in the state along with advancing ongoing efforts in high school mentorship and middle school outreach programs.Ultrashort light pulses open up new realms for probing nonlinear optical processes in materials and electronic devices. The proposed system is a versatile femtosecond laser system with broadband wavelength tunability and capabilities for multi-dimensional spectroscopy. It consists of three parts: (a) a femtosecond oscillator (mode-locked Ti-Sapphire laser); (b) a femtosecond amplifier; (c) a non-collinear optical parametric amplifier. The project focuses on investigating carrier dynamics and optical nonlinearities in electronic materials and organic semiconductor transistors to improve technology based on organic electronics. The research of two-dimensional (2D) materials, in particular the monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, will benefit by obtaining in-depth understanding of the excitonic processes in these materials. In the area of molecular organic crystals, combined efforts in the second harmonic generation measurements, synthesis, and computational simulations will establish large scale polar order by rational design. The ultrafast laser system will be used to exploit the nonlinear optical properties of biological nanostructures in order to obtain multi-wavelength coherent sources with potential applications in nanophotonics. The project will further enable the development of silica-based materials by probing transient optical processes and fabricating micro- and nano-structures on the order necessary for their integration into optoelectronic devices. The proposed experimental laser facility will be bolstered by establishing a center for nonlinear optics, comprising both experimentalists and theorists, to promote research and educational activities in emerging ultrafast and nonlinear optical phenomena in condensed matter systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.