Within this new project we currently develop the infrastructure to perform ultrafast microscopy on nanostructures for nanoelectronics and medical applications. Both applications are based on a novel passively carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stable laser system, that is based on optical-parametric-chirped-pulse-amplification (OPCPA) and can operate at high repetition rates. We currently obtain CEP-stable few-cycle pulses close to 2 µm with pulse energies in the hundred µJ range at 0.1 MHz, which are applied in photoemission experiments on nanostructures. We aim to employ our femtosecond OPCPA laser system in non-linear microscopy studies, where the relatively high pulse energy permits pulse shaping with full amplitude and phase control, counteracting dispersion of the microscope objective, and employ rapid pump-probe schemes. We aim to develop and explore ultrafast nanodevices using this platform, and to explore the system in non-linear, multi-modal microscopy on tissue samples. In biological applications, we can also counteract dispersion of organic matter for deep-tissue imaging. Ultrashort pulses are highly beneficial in terms of reduced cell damage and also provide the required increased contrast for label-free imaging. Multi-modal, non-invasive imaging, as explored in this project, aims at cancer cell molecular analysis enabling targeting cancer down to the single cellular level.
Selected recent publications:
M. Neuhaus et al., Opt. Exp. 26, 16074 (2018)
J. Schötz et al., Phys. Rev. A 97, 013413 (2018)
P. Wnuk et al., Opt. Exp. 24, 18551 (2016)
20th August 2011
