Time-dependent light-matter interaction

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 533304087

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing and Photonics are the two central research areas at Aalen University of Applied Sciences (HSAA), one of the leading research universities for applied sciences in Germany. Central pillars of the photonics focus are the Center for Optical Technologies (ZOT) and the Laser Application Center (LAZ). The requested investment intends to jointly develop a fundamental understanding of time-resolved light-material interactions and to strategically expand and sustainably strengthen the Photonics research through knowledge-oriented research activities. The photonics focus addresses the generation and characterization as well as the manipulation and application of light. The overall goal is the development of new optical technologies. Concerning the further development of the photonics focus area, it is essential to extend the existing activities to enable time-resolved investigations. The possibility of selecting or adjusting light properties such as wavelength or pulse duration allows to address new scientific questions with regard to both the processing and observation of various processes. The necessary infrastructure for this is currently not available at the HSAA. In the project TIME, a multi-color ultrashort pulse laser system should be established at the HSAA, which, based on a powerful pump laser, will provide various optically synchronous pulses. Thus, it allows pump and probe experiments to study fast processes in the sub-picosecond range. The ability to access a wide range of spectrally different laser pulses is particularly advantageous because various fundamental processes have specific wavelength dependencies. The system can thus be used for a variety of application fields at HSAA. Using the system applied for here, fundamental questions will be specifically investigated, such as the wavelength-dependent multi-photon absorption of ultrashort laser pulses in glasses; the time-resolved and non-destructive analysis of micro-crack formations on surfaces of optical components due to stresses; and the time-resolved wavelength- and pulse duration-dependent curing of acrylates during two-photon polymerization. In addition, the investment will enable preliminary work for several new projects on fundamental topics, such as volume laser modification in semiconductor materials or time-resolved studies of ultrasonic fields in metafluids.

• DFG Programme: Major Instrumentation Initiatives
• Major Instrumentation: Multiwellenlängen UKP Lasersystem
• Instrumentation Group: 5700 Festkörper-Laser
• Applicant Institution: Hochschule Aalen - Technik und Wirtschaft
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Anne Harth