The heart of this proposed research program uses ultrashort mode-locked fiber lasers to study nonlinear optics and ultrafast physics, and uses fiber lasers as the core for new technological developments. This research area has the potential for many new and exciting advances in the field of ultrafast optics, fiber optics, and quantum optics. For instance, mode-locked fiber lasers offer many advantages over solid-state lasers. Fiber lasers can be more compact, more power efficient, more robust, and less expensive than solid-state lasers. Plus, recent advances in photonic bandgap fibers and in high power laser diodes has shown that fiber lasers are producing the pulse energies once only achieved by solid-state lasers. Given the great potential for the use of fiber lasers in ultrafast optics, I wish to develop a program to better understand the basic physics of mode-locking using a fiber cavity, and to use this knowledge to design better lasers for many applications. While these lasers are important technological tools, there are many interesting fundamental questions that need to be answered. The topics covered here span a range of areas from chaotic communications to phase-stabilized ultrashort infrared pulses to light detection and ranging applications. One possible (although, very challenging) application for a fiber laser is to be used as a source for higher harmonic generation and attosecond pulse generation in the infrared. Each topic holds a wealth of unexplored areas and exciting avenues of academic research.

Please visit the Current Research and Past Research links for more details on my research.