Acquisition of equipment for the characterization and manipulation of pulsed lasers

• Grant number: 09/53987-1
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• Duration: August 01, 2010 - July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Luis Gustavo Marcassa
• Grantee: Luis Gustavo Marcassa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• EMU web page: Página do Equipamento Multiusuário não informada
• Type of equipment: Tipo de Equipamento Multiusuário não informado
• Manufacturer: Fabricante não informado
• Model: Modelo não informado

Abstract

At the USP São Carlos Institute of Physics, there are various researchers that employ pulsed lasers in order to study and characterize distinct physical systems. Among such systems are those of atomic physics and condensed matter physics. In atomic physics, cold Rydberg atoms and cold heteronuclear molecules are explored with nanosecond and femtosecond pulses of light. In condensed matter physics, picosecond and femtosecond pulses are employed for the characterization of the nonlinear optical properties of organic molecules, as well as in studies of their arrangement on surfaces, in interfaces, and in microfabrication by multiphoton absorption polymerization. In all of these experiments, researchers encounter a common problem: the need to characterize and manipulate the light pulses in order to understand and model the experiments conducted. The characterization/ manipulation of the light beams requires the use of various separate devices, which are never in continuous use by a given researcher or project team. Such devices are quite costly, making it unfeasible to acquire them for a single project. Therefore, the acquisition of such equipment is practical only if a large group of researchers will be able to use them, avoiding redundant acquisition of the same devices within the same institution. Consequently, the objective of this proposal is the acquisition of a set of such devices for the characterization/manipulation of laser pulses, to be employed by a large group of researchers working in various fields of study. (AU)