Project description
Measuring the dynamics of ultrashort laser pulses at high frequency rates
The carrier envelope phase (CEP) plays a crucial role in how ultrashort laser pulses interact with matter. However, measuring it at high repetition rates is difficult and many users typically rely on averaged values. Existing methods are based on slow array detectors and time-consuming computations. The ERC-funded SICEP project proposes a new analogue technique to measure the CEP for each laser pulse, even at very high speeds (hundreds of kHz to MHz), using optical Fourier transform. This approach overcomes the speed limitations and opens new avenues, potentially simplifying and replacing costly CEP stabilisation systems. SICEP aims to develop and test two types of detectors – analogue and digital – offering state-of-the-art solutions for a large range of applications.
Objective
The interaction of short laser pulses with matter often depends on the Carrier-Envelope-Phase (CEP), which is the offset between the maximum of the electric field and the envelope of the pulse. For high-repetition-rate laser systems, this phase can usually only be measured as an average quantity. We propose a novel analog method to measure the CEP of ultrashort laser pulses in single-shot and for every laser shot at high repetition rate (hundreds of kHz to MHz). While conventional approaches use slow array detectors and computationally expensive calculations, we perform the measurement via optical Fourier transform, virtually not imposing any speed limitations. The approach also opens up for new avenues for CEP-stabilization, possibly making most of today’s complicated and expensive stabilization equipment obsolete. A patent application, securing our IP has been submitted.
The project will be conducted together with our long-standing commercial partner, Sphere Ultrafast Photonics. Sphere has a strong position on the ultrafast laser market, defining an efficient path for commercialization. We plan to develop two different kinds of CEP detectors, i.e. the analog detector and a simplified digital detector working up to 100 kHz for less demanding applications. The detectors will be extensively tested and benchmarked against each other with a number of ultrafast laser sources in Lund and at Sphere.
The original idea for analog CEP detection was inspired by our research in attosecond science, supported by the ERC advanced grant QPAP “Quantum Physics with attosecond Light Pulses” (884900), which requires CEP control. The lack of existing techniques for the challenging repetition rate of our laser source (200 kHz) stimulated the ideas presented in this proposal, which we now would like to explore as a proof-of-concept.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2023-POC
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22100 Lund
Sweden
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