Coherent control for applied ultrafast diagnostics

The proposed research program will take logical steps towards adaptation of coherent control to practical applications.

Coherent control is an advanced basic-research concept that normally is studied under carefully controlled laboratory conditions, while important practical applications can present at much harsher conditions (e.g. high pressures and temperatures, scattering from condensed phases, etc.).

In this project, pulse lasers will be exploited to develop coherent control based on a novel gas-phase diagnostic technique; fs/ns rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering.

In addition to improved thermometry and concentration measurements with higher sensitivity in challenging practical applications, such as turbulent reactive flows, the concept may also be useful in medical diagnostics based on detection of exhaled biomarkers.

Furthermore, the ability to selectively annihilate or amplify particular rotational transitions, could potentially be an important asset in quantum information research.

Building on very promising preliminary results, demonstrating species-selective spectral annihilation in binary gas mixtures, and a theoretical model developed by the applicant, the research program contains three work packages, targeting signal amplification for high-temperature diagnostics and selective signal annihilation for improved species sensitivity.

Implementation and finalizing the project takes 24 months with 90% of the work carried out at University of Edinburgh.