| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R65725/01 |
| Title: |
Designer Femtosecond Pulses using Adaptive Optics |
| Principal Investigator: |
Reid, Professor D |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Engineering and Physical Science |
| Organisation: |
Heriot-Watt University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 June 2002 |
Ends: |
31 May 2003 |
Value (£): |
63,187
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Communications |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Femtosecond pulse shaping has been studied for a number of years, but only recently have diagnostic tools and phase-modulating components become available which enable truly programmable pulse control. Shaping is commonly achieved by placing a phase-modulator such as an LCD array at the Fourier plane of a dispersionless pulse compressor, but existing methods are limited by two main problems. Firstly, the LCD modulators in common use are pixelated devices and so introduce step-wise changes in spectral phase, leading to temporal sidebands (pre- l post-pulses) and reduced pulse contrast. Furthermore, wavelengths impinging on the dead-space between pixels remain unmodulated, causing a pulse pedestal. The second issue concerns how to rapidly monitor the pulses from the shaper so as to calculate the appropriate drive signal for the phase modulator. Existing implementations using genetic algorithms and FROG require a minimum of 5 minutes, reducing the attractiveness of the technique as a practical laboratory tool.The aim of this project is to undertake a feasibility study leading to a demonstrator system for femtosecond pulse shaping at fast update rates based on adaptive-optics. There is considerable interest at a UK level (see Letters of Support) and we believe we can quickly establish a UK presence in this field by capitalising on existing & complementary expertise, and so contribute significantly to a variety of national efforts (see Section 3) resulting in internationally leading work.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.hw.ac.uk |