Quick Shot

The femtosecond damage-test system employs a 20- to 30-fs pulse duration laser with a central wavelength tunable between 820 nm and 970 nm. Its damage definition is expanded from the classical definition (observation of a microscopic modification) to include functional modification/failure. The system is also designed to study dynamics with femtosecond resolution, and the first project is to study laser imprint using a 100-ps, 355-nm pump pulse and a femtosecond 410-nm (second harmonic of 920 nm) probe pulse. Shown here is Kyle Kafka, scientist in the Optical Materials group, working in the dynamics chamber. With the lid open, optics showcasing the system are partially visible.