Director’s Special Colloquium: ‘From Nonlinear Optics to High-Intensity Laser Physics’, Donna Strickland, professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Waterloo, and Nobel laureate, Physics 2018, Oct 25, 10:30am, Bldg 402
Abstract
The laser increased by orders of magnitude the intensity of light that can be generated and thus brought about nonlinear optical interactions with matter. Chirped pulse amplification, also known as CPA, changed the intensity level by a few more orders of magnitude and helped usher in a new type of laser-matter interaction that is referred to as high-intensity laser physics. In this talk, I will discuss the differences between nonlinear optics and high-intensity laser physics. The development of CPA and why short, intense laser pulses can cut transparent material will also be included. I will also discuss future applications.