Femtosecond Laser Facility

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: Funded in 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 496567232

A multidisciplinary consortium is jointly applying for a laser facility centered around a femtosecond laser system. Three beam lines serve experiments in physics, chemistry, and engineering. The system is selected to be flexible to meet different requirements. In the meantime, laser technology has advanced to the point where there are systems on the market that can be operated reliably even by non-experts. The targeted laser system is variable in pulse repetition rate and pulse energy; it also allows operation in burst mode. The system is to be set up in a hall being prepared especially for these experiments. It is equipped with the laser plus various diagnostic devices for the laser beam. This will be followed by beam stabilization and spatial beam shaping. This will then serve three experiments alternatively: The various research supplements reflect the breadth of current applications for femtosecond technology. Whereas in the past a separate laser system was required for each application, today highly flexible systems are available that can be easily adapted to very different applications. Specifically, the system is intended for the following purposes:* Applied physics and engineering: Multimodal femtosecond micro-material processing: combining subtractive and additive manufacturing as well as surface and ablation techniques and index modifications/waveguide writing. The precision delay station for micro material processing is already available, it will be transferred to one of the beam-lines and supplemented there with additional measurement technology. The goal of this research branch is the demonstration of 3D waveguides in polymers and glass with applications e.g. as quantum optical networks.* Femtochemistry: THz pump-probe spectroscopy on 2D semiconductor nanostructures. For this purpose, an existing THz generation stage will be attached to the system. Among others, novel single photon sources based on nanoplatelets will be investigated.* Fundamental physics: strong field physics, generation of high harmonics and of X-ray radiatio. For this purpose, existing vacuum apparatus and spectrometers will be transferred to the new hall. Plasma dynamics in filaments and the generation of soft X-rays via laser plasmas from nanoparticles will be investigated.The facility is designed to operate for 10 years and is planned to be flexible enough to be easily adapted to current developments and new experimental requirements.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Femtosekundenlaser-Anlage
• Instrumentation Group: 5700 Festkörper-Laser
• Applicant Institution: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
• Leader: Professor Dr. Uwe Morgner