Sharp 014A Laboratory houses four optical tables in a HEPA filtered environment and is home for several laser systems and a growing number of experimental chambers. The experiments can be broken down into two parts: optical technology and the physics of light or photoexcitation dynamics. In this page, recent projects are highlighted.
The optical technology part of the program currently involves the development of compact terawatt amplifier with an industrial partner ALTOS, Inc. The goal of this project is to build a laser system at the level of 1 microcent per watt of peak power. This project is being funded by the Delaware Research Partnership (DRP). The DRP encourages industrial partnerships with the University of Delaware to best meet the needs of both parties and serve the community. The laser (shown at the left) is composed of two 10 Hz repetition rate, unstable oscillator pump lasers that are frequency doubled in KTP and used to pump a 4-pass bowtie Ti:sapphire amplifier. The system currently operates at a conversion efficiency of about 35 % green to red and produces, at maximum power, pulses with 0.28 J of energy. The final goal of this system is to be able to amplify light from the 5 mJ level to 300 mJ level across a bandwidth of about 20 THz.
Experimental studies of ultrahigh intensity light-matter interactions are also underway in the laboratory. Currently, we are interested in measurements of how very intense light interacts with atoms. As atoms are exposed to the laser fields, we observe the products from this excitation process. The chamber used to measure the ions from the interaction is shown to the right. This chamber measures the interaction of light with single atoms in a vacuum less than one-trillionth of an atmosphere (<1E-13). The intensity of the light in the focus of the laser beam is about 10,000 trillion W/cm^2.
The experimental apparatus has resulted from graduate and undergraduate students working to gain insights into the new and exciting physics. The exploratory research experience is a unique educational opportunity relevant to many careers including optical communications technology and fundamental studies in atomic, molecular, optical, or plasma physics. Skills learned in the program range from machining and computer aided drafting and design (CADD) to quantum mechanics and numerical calculations of the Schrodinger equation
The research laboratory is in room 014A in Sharp Laboratory on the academic mall of the University of Delaware. The graduate student offices are in 014B of Sharp Laboratory. This is a picture of the north side of 014A just after it was renovated. My sincere thanks to all who helped in the planning and construction. A very nice job was done!
