Resources
Solid State Lasers and Non-Linear Optics
VECSEL: The Other Surface Emitting Semiconductor Laser
A broadly tunable UV source (photo and caption)
Optical Parametric Oscillators (OPOs)
Plasma Sciences & Discharge Physics
About Plasma Science and Technology
Reference Cell Photo and Information
Lasers, Optics, and Remote Sensing
The Lasers, Optics and Remote Sensing Department is actively engaged in a number of broad program areas designed to advance Sandia's scientific knowledge base. Specifically, we emphasize innovative research and development in remote sensing and detection of WMD proliferation activities, laser source development, spectroscopy, non-linear optics, coherent beam control, optical materials, complex and collective systems studies, and low-temperature plasma physics.
Current Research programs that derive from these research themes explore:
- Stand off, remote detection of chemical species using ground and air based systems
- Compact, tunable sources of coherent (laser) light including UV, visible and IR systems
- Applications of nonlinear optics to the high efficiency generation of laser light and optical beam combining
- Modeling of optical systems including nonlinear optics, fiber systems and laser design
- Applications of short and ultra-short laser pulses to imaging and spectroscopy
- THz spectroscopy of materials related to WMD proliferation
- Compact microlaser systems
- Low temperature plasma physics issues with applications to microelectronics processing and arc sources
- Advanced plasma diagnostic tools such as electric field measurements
- Non-contact surface diagnostic tools that utilize laser spectroscopy and sum frequency generation at surfaces
- Techniques for analyzing large data bases
In each of these areas, we work closely with numerous other Sandia organizations as well as with industrial and university partners.