Ultrafast Laser Interaction Processes for LIBS and Other Sensing Technologies

Abstract : The overall objective of this MURI program is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the interaction of ultrafast femtosecond laser pulses with matter, with specific reference to the detection of trace elements of materials by techniques such as LIBS and Raman spectroscopy. The UCF team forms the core effort for this MURI, and is concentrating on femtosecond (and nanosecond) LIBS interaction science, self-channeling of femtosecond laser radiation and standoff detection techniques, trace explosives detection, chemometrics and plasma modeling. The other members of the MURI bring key areas of expertise to the program. University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL-Dennis Alexander) in femtosecond LIBS, nanoparticles and fundamental interactions, University of California, Berkeley (UCB-Samuel Mao) in theory and experiments in the early stages of femtosecond laser materials interaction, Johns Hopkins University (JHU-Paul Dagdigian) in kinetics theory and LIBS spectroscopy, and Florida A&M University (FAMU-Lewis Johnson) in femtosecond and ns LIBS.