High-intensity laser physics group
The group of high intensity laser physics focuses on the development of ultra-short high energy laser systems for high harmonic generation via nonlinear optical methods, phenomena of laser-induced damage and time resolved ultrafast laser spectroscopy. The current laser system-based research consists of developing and investigating new, robust and efficient ways to generate high energy few optical-cycle pulses in the near and middle infrared spectral ranges, while building a high harmonic generation set-up in parallel. We also cooperate with industrial partners that seek to develop optics for such high energy systems: exploring nonlinear absorption in optical coatings, laser fatigue and laser damage phenomena in such optical elements. We also conduct pump-probe time-resolved fluorescence and digital holography measurements of fast nonlinear optical processes in order to unravel its effects on both media longevity and nonlinear propagation of light. A key area of ultrafast laser spectroscopy is a detailed investigation of the ultrafast events taking place in different materials - molecules in solutions, pigment-protein complexes, semiconductors and nanostructures. Our main tool is time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy. We also utilize three-pulse transient absorption spectroscopy where the additional laser pulse is used to perturbed or maintain the photoreaction such as proton transfer.
- Generation of terawatt-power sub-10 fs pulses by optical chirped-pulse amplification
- Coherent XUV and soft X-ray pulse generation using a high-order harmonic generation technique
- Single attosecond pulses generation and their application in the study of ultrafast processes
- Study of high-intensity few-optical cycle pulses interaction with matter
- Ultrafast laser spectroscopy and imaging
- Laser damage metrology, optics characterization
- Investigation of nonlinear absorptance in optical coatings and laser induced fatigue
