Laser Physics and Optics

One of the gems in LTH’s research crown is the high-power laser centre, where a laser system with a power of 30 TW is being constructed. The system is part of the Lund Laser Centre (LLC) which has enjoyed the status of a European Large-Scale Infrastructure since 1995. Research in laser physics and optics at LTH is at the forefront internationally, and covers a broad spectrum, examples of which are given below.

Basic research in optics – attopulse generation (1 attosecond = 10-18 s), X-ray physics and plasma physics. This field has close ties to Synchrotron Radiation Research (SLF) and MAX-lab, as well as Astrophysics.

Medical engineering – with emphasis on light-based medical diagnostics and treatment, fluorescence diagnostics of malignant tumours, photodynamic tumour therapy, optical mammography, optical diagnostics in pharmaceutical production and food engineering.

Molecular spectroscopy – using optical methods, laser-radar, laser-induced fluorescence and gas correlation for environmentally related studies and the remote measurement of flows, gas concentrations, surface deposits, etc. LTH has a mobile laser-radar system that is unique in Europe.

The generation of extremely short optical pulses, with lengths equivalent to 1/10 of the width of a single hair, allow time-resolved studies in the fields of materials technology, data storage and biochemistry. The interaction between laser pulses and matter at extremely high intensities is closely associated with accelerator physics and medicine. Studies on the optics of tissue, which involves the propagation of light in highly-scattering media, has attracted interest from both the pharmaceutical and the food industry. One promising area of development is concerned with quantum optics, which has potential for future applications in information technology.

 

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