The College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida (UCF). UCF is undergoing rapid growth in the size of external research funding, academic stature, and student and faculty diversity. UCF supports and benefits from economic growth in Central Florida, which is emerging as a major hub for technology development. The University is located in the metropolitan Orlando area, which offers a vibrant lifestyle and a variety of cultural and recreational activities.
CREOL is one of the world’s foremost institutions for research and education in optical and photonic science and engineering. The College offers MS and PhD degrees in optics and photonics, and a BS degree in photonic science and engineering. The faculty engages in fundamental and applied research and education in lasers, optical fibers, semiconductor and integrated photonic devices, nonlinear and quantum optics, and imaging, sensing, and displays. The college is home to the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL), Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE), Townes Laser Institute (TLI), and the Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology (iFAST). In addition, the College of Medicine, which includes the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, provides rich opportunities for collaboration. For more information see www.creol.ucf.edu.
Space–time wave packets (STWP) are pulsed beams that propagate diffraction free and dispersion free by virtue of tight correlations introduced between their spatial and temporal spectral degrees of freedom. Our group has experimentally synthesized optical STWPs and demonstrated remarkable STWP properties including propagation invariance over long distances. However, experimental demonstrations have been done at low pulse energies and low average powers. We are using nonlinear difference frequency generation to achieve strong amplification of a STWP without losing its spatial and temporal correlations. We are studying the effects of spectral bandwidth, phase mismatch, walkoff, dispersion effects and conversion efficiency. Additionally, we are studying the effects of turbulence on STWP propagation as well as generating STWPs at a variety of wavelengths.
A prospective candidate will play an important role in experiments and theoretical development conducted by our group and will design, build, and perform new experiments aimed to investigate and optimize nonlinear frequency conversion of space-time wave packets.
Position Requirements:
- PhD in the fields of Optics and/or related fields (Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics).
- Proven experimental experience working with lasers and optical systems. Experience with nonlinear frequency conversion would be desirable though we will provide appropriate guidance as needed.
- United States citizen or permanent resident.
Start date of position is flexible. Salaries are negotiable.
For interested applicants, please e-mail your CV to Kenneth L Schepler (schepler@creol.ucf.edu).