Erich Ippen - Femtosecond Optics: More Than Just Really Fast

Prof Erich Ippen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Abstract:

Advances in femtosecond lasers that are making it possible to generate pulses with durations on the order of one optical cycle are also providing the capabilities for better clocks, coherent broadband frequency combs, attosecond timing synchronization and precision sampling for improved analog-to digital signal conversion. By spatially separating and rapidly modulating many individual comb frequencies, truly arbitrary optical-frequency electric-field waveforms can be generated.  This talk will describe recent progress toward these goals based on Ti:sapphire and fiber laser technologies to cover the wavelength range of 500nm - 2µm.

About DLS:

The Distinguished Lecturer Series (DLS) follows a colloquium format for a broad audience and will be followed by a reception to provide an opportunity for meeting the speaker.