Research Associate opening in ultrafast and nonlinear nano-imaging and spectroscopy in the Center for Ultrafast Nano-Optics (CU-NanO).
Combination of ultrafast and shaped laser pulses with scanning probe microscopy allows for scattering scanning near-field microscopy with simultaneous femtosecond temporal and nanometer spatial resolution. Depending on your interest and research background you seek to apply this technique for the investigation of nano-scale phenomena in strongly correlated electron materials such as domain order and magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroics, metal-insulator transitions, etc., or new optical physics in the near-field (strong coupling, quantum coherent control, optical and Casimir forces).
We have the capability for femtosecond Raman or Infrared vibrational nano-spectrsocopy, nondegenerate pump-probe spectroscopy over the UV to THz spectral range, with pulse durations in the 10-50 fs range with different amplified, high-rep rate Ti:S and fiber laser sources and parametrics, with different scanning probe microscopes, for investigation also under vacuum and variable, and cryogenic temperature conditions. Many investigations include the combination with different plasmonic and optical antenna based nanofocusing concepts developed in the group. We provide opportunities to participate in ongoing industry collaborations and with DoE facilities including the IR-beamline at ALS, nano-device fabrication at Molecular Foundry at LBL, and our partner laboratory at EMSL/PNNL.
For further information please contact Markus Raschke at markus.raschke@colorado.edu and see our website: http://nano-optics.colorado.edu.
To apply
PhD in physics, applied physics, or materials science required.
Please apply at http://www.jobsatcu.com/postings/57441.
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Employer
New and distinct physical and chemical properties of matter emerge on the nanoscale when the structure size of the material becomes comparable to the mean-free path of the electrons or the scattering length-scale of phonons (finite-size effects). This can even occur in nominally homogeneous bulk materials in correlated materials (domain formation). The research in our group is centered around the development and unique applications of nano-optical spectroscopies that enable both nanometer spatial and femosecond temporal resolution.
Light scattering and scanning of a sharp metal tip illuminated by a focused laser source: Sample contrast and resolution are obtained by means of the locally enhanced tip-sample interaction spatially confined by the tip apex radius. This allows for spatially resolved probing of the linear (ω, e.g., IR-vib), inelastic (ω − Δ, e.g., Raman), or nonlinear (nω, e.g., SHG) optical response of the sample with nanometer spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution.
The optical antenna properties of metallic nanostructures allow one to concentrate and locally enhance optical fields to nanometer dimensions. This can be explored and applied for scanning probe optical near-fieldmicroscopy with nanometer spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution and sensitivity down to the single molecule level. Being compatible with a broad range of optical spectroscopies including time-resolved andnonlinear methods, we are making use of the technique for a broad range of applications. These inlcude:
Study of the competing phases and nano-domain formation in transition metal oxides (multi-ferroic order, metal-insulator transition) and other quantum many body systems addressing the fundmental physics behind the rich behavior of these correlated electron systems.
Ultrafast electron dynamics in metals and the control of coupling and nano-focusing of light using plasmonic and optical antenna structures.
In situ investigations of supramolecular, biomolecular, and copolymer nanostructures, the nanomanipulation of optical molecular switches, and tuning the local optical coupling in molecular plasmonics.
