ultrafast optics

The "Ultrafast Optics" group at the IAP has a strong expertise in scientific and technical aspects associated with ultrashort laser pulses including their generation, amplification, tailoring and application. A main focus is the interaction of intense ultrashort laser pulses with matter. On the one hand, this allows building innovative high power ultrafast THz sources; on the other hand, it opens the possibility for defined material modification. Here, driven by industrial demands, ultrashort pulses are used for material processing, allowing highly precise and practically damage and melting-free structuring.

In addition, transparent media can be structured within the volume without damaging the surface. The "Ultrafast Optics" group was one of the first to demonstrate the true 3D capabilities of this direct writing technique for the fabrication of waveguides within the bulk of glasses. Based on the extension of this work to crystalline media, recently efficient frequency waveguide converters have been realized in LiNbO₃ and also PPLN. In addition, waveguides buried within the bulk of crystalline silicon have been demonstrated for the first time giving rise to new options for connecting optics and electronics on one chip.

Interesting and promising phenomena have been observed when producing 2D coupled waveguide arrays within the bulk of different glasses, which open the potential for new routing and switching applications. These structures are among today's best model systems for investigating linear and nonlinear discrete propagation effects.

By applying the femtosecond direct writing technique to existing waveguides, the "Ultrafast Optics" group was one of the first to demonstrate the realization of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) in non-photosensitive fibers using a point-by-point method. In addition, a phase mask scanning technique was developed to allow for the inscription of long and efficient FBGs in various types of fibers (e.g. non-photosensitive, polarization maintaining, active fibers). Recently, an efficient and stable integrated fiber laser was realized using such FBGs.

The ultrafast materials processing knowledge is also used for medical applications. The current focus is on the use of ultrashort pulses for the treatment of presbyopia. Here, the goal is to regain the elasticity of the human lens by inducing defined cuts with a femtosecond laser.
These research projects are mainly funded by the DFG, the BMBF and the EU and partly conducted together with international research partners including groups from Italy, France, Spain, Australia, the US and Canada. Moreover, several bilateral research projects are directly conducted with industry.

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