Thesis topics
Table of contents
We encourage motivated bachelor and masters’ students to join our lab and perform exciting research with us. General description of our research can be found elsewhere. Below you can find specific tasks suitable for bachelor’s and masters’ theses:
Characterization of time-frequency profile of ultrashort pulses in the near-infrared
Major: Physics/technical physics (experiment)
Degree: Bachelor’s/Masters’ (depending on scope of work)
The student will built a second-harmonic frequency-resolved optical gating (SH-FROG) setup capable of characterizing time-frequency profile of ultrashort pulses in the 1000-1700 nm spectral range. The system will then be used to measure dispersion of master oscillator-power amplifier (MOPA) setup based on a Yb:fiber femtosecond oscillator operating at 1030 nm central wavelength. The results will be used to optimize the operation of an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) emitting light in the 2.8-4.8 μm range.
Polarization control of gas-phase 2DIR spectra with elliptically polarized beams
Major: Physics/technical physics (theory)
Degree: Masters’
The goal of this project is to explore polarization dependence of third-order nonlinear response of gas-phase molecules with respect to elliptically polarized light beams. Prior investigation of dependence on linearly polarized beams has resulted in discovery of new polarization conditions unique to gas-phase 2DIR spectroscopy, which completely suppressed parts of the molecular response. It is expected that exploiting circular polarization will provide additional useful ways to control and simplify experimental 2D spectra.
Development of rotationally-resolved 2DIR simulation software
Major: Physics/technical physics/applied computer science (computation and theory)
Degree: Bachelor’s/Masters’ (depending on scope of work)
rotsim2d enables simulation of 2DIR gas-phase spectra, symbolic manipulation of pathway amplitudes including their polarization dependence and provides framework for simulation of other nonlinear spectroscopies within the limits of density-matrix perturbation theory formalism. It is missing some facilities which would make it more useful for experimental research:
- GUI for spectrum simulation and fitting
- easy simulation of pump-probe signals corresponding to a 2DIR spectrum
- effects of finite-time duration (spectral bandwidth and shape) and chirp of the pulses
- instrumental line shape function of probe spectrographs
- more comprehensive documentation
The student would work on a selection of these topics as agreed with the supervisor.