PHYSICS PHD DISSERTATION DEFENSE: Haoyuan Li
Ph.D. Candidate: Haoyuan Li
Research Advisor: Mike Dunne
Date: Monday, September 20, 2021
Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm PDT
Zoom Link: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/94501640959
Zoom Password: email mariaf67 [at] stanford.edu (mariaf67[at]stanford[dot]edu)
Title: Coherent Control of Angstrom Laser Pulse for Ultrafast Physics
Abstract:
In 2009, the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) generated Angstrom wavelength x-ray pulses with femtosecond pulse duration. This marked the advent of the first angstrom wavelength x-ray laser in history. The ultrafast, ultrabright and highly coherent X-ray pulses opened up new opportunities to catch a glimpse of the bizarre and fascinating world of atom dynamics. To explore these dynamics at the natural spatial and temporal scale of atoms and molecules, new x-ray optics systems are required to precisely manipulate the x-ray laser pulse. This is the focus of my research.
In this talk, I will discuss my results on implementing an efficient numerical simulation platform for the time-dependent behavior of Bragg crystal optics, and the design and experimental demonstration of a dispersion-free ultra-stable optical system to split, delay and recombine hard x-rays in a manner that will enable a new generation of high sensitivity ultrafast measurements. I will also present a future-oriented conceptual study that applies these techniques to the well-known chirped pulse amplification (CPA) process that has revolutionized high power optical lasers, and show how this could be achieved at Angstrom wavelengths to deliver over a terawatt of X-ray power.