News & Events

Towards the most intense light fields in the Galaxy: The SCARLET Laser Focus

Dr. Enam Chowdhury, The Ohio State University, Department of Physics

Thursday, April 18, 2013
3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Sloan Auditorium

Abstract:
The OSU SCARLET laser has a peak power exceeding 300 TW and generates intensities over 1021 Wcm-2. It will soon exceed 500 TW and 1022Wcm-2 to become one of the brightest light sources in our galaxy. This system was completed in July, 2012, and it produces 15 J pulses with pulse duration of 50 fs at a 1 shot per minute repetition rate. Dr. Chowdhury will discuss the technological challenges encountered and how they were overcome during the design and construction of this laser. Of particular note is femtosecond laser damage of optical components, which heavily impact laser design in terms of cost, size, and reliability. Over the last few years, they have developed a program to study femtosecond damage mechanisms in various relevant solids, which is helping them in developing not only more robust optical components, but also enhancing their understanding of femtosecond laser matter interaction near damage threshold of solids.  He will discuss some of the key thrusts of this new program at OSU Physics.

Bio:
Dr. Chowdhury is a post doctoral researcher working with both the Rick Freeman Group and the Linn VanWoerkom group. Enam brings expert knowledge in the field of ultra intense field ionization and techniques in laser design. He received his B.A. from Wabash College, Indiana, in 1995; his M.S. from the University of Delaware in 1999 and his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware in 2004.