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• M.Sc. // Optimum optical gain medium for ultrafast chromium lasers

  Laser oscillators and amplifiers based on Cr-doped gain crystals have emerged as new sources for extremely short pulses that can be efficiently converted into the mid-infrared spectral range.

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  The goal of this master thesis is to study the influence of the gain medium characteristics on the laser performance. This involves the characterization of laser crystals with different optical and spectroscopic methods, followed by the development of an ultrafast laser test setup based on the gain media. With this demonstration laser, the performance for generating intense pulses with femtosecond duration, high beam quality and stability will be evaluated.

  Contact:

  Dr. Alexander Weigel
  alexander.weigel@mpq.mpg.de

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• M.Sc. // Far-infrared and terahertz laser spectroscopy of biomolecules

  Our team (www.attoworld.de/fris) uses ultrashort infrared pulses in combination with a detection technique that is sensitive to the electric field of the mid-infrared light to measure the response of biomolecules to infrared excitation with unprecedented sensitivity.

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  The goal of this master thesis is to study the response of biomolecules like proteins or carbohydrates to longer-wave radiation in the terahertz and far-infrared spectral range. This includes the development of a setup for the generation and measurement of terahertz pulses based on our ultrashort lasers, comparison measurements with commercial infrared spectrometers, and the development of a clear understanding of the observed response signals.

  Contact:

  Dr. Alexander Weigel
  alexander.weigel@mpq.mpg.de

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• Post-Doc // Ultrafast field-resolved infrared spectroscopy for biosensing (m/f/d)

  In a joint effort, the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich and the Max-Planck Institute for Quantum Optics and the Center for Molecular Fingerprinting Research (CMF), combine cutting-edge femtosecond laser technologies [1-3] with novel molecular fingerprinting techniques [4-6] to advance a new type of mid-infrared spectroscopy on the electric-field level. The novel systems are developed and utilized by a highly interdisciplinary team of physicists, data scientists, biologists and clinical personal to identify, via minuscule variations in the infrared response of human blood samples, medical conditions such as cancer.

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  The successful candidate will join the field-resolved infrared spectroscopy team at the attoworld in Garching, Germany (www.attoworld.de/fris), to develop next-generation instruments based on bright, coherent, broadband mid-infrared sources and field-resolved detection. The goal for this position is to optimize the sensitivity, with which the electric-field response of a biological can be detected and separated from the excitation pulse. The duration of the position is initially 2 years, with the possibility of extension.

  Qualifications and Skills:

  1. Excellent PhD in physics or a related discipline.;
  2. Experience with ultrafast lasers and nonlinear optics;
  3. Ideally, experience with infrared and/or nonlinear spectroscopies;
  4. Strong self-motivation and the ability to solve problems independently;
  5. Interest in interdisciplinary work with interface to biomedical applications;
  6. Good command of the English language.

  We offer:

  1. Become part of the attoworld - a team of outstanding experts in ultrafast laser development, attosecond physics, ultrasensitive metrology and advanced multilayer coatings;
  2. Access to the latest technologies, state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment;
  3. Excellent research and working conditions;
  4. Supportive, highly motivated, and multi-disciplinary team;
  5. Pleasant working atmosphere with many learning opportunities;
  6. Open-minded, inspiring, dynamic and international atmosphere;
  7. Personal and professional training opportunities.

  References:

  [1] N. Nagl et al., Opt. Lett. 44, 2390 (2019).
  [2] P. Steinleitner, N. Nagl, M. Kowalczyk et al., Nat. Photon., 16, 512 (2022).
  [3] M. Kowalczyk, N. Nagl, P. Steinleitner et al., Optica, doi 10.1364/OPTICA.481673
  [4] I. Pupeza et al., Nature Photon. 9, 721 (2015).
  [5] I. Pupeza et al., Nature 577, 52 (2020).
  [6] A. Weigel et al., Opt. Expr. 29, 20747 (2021).

  Please send a brief cover letter explaining your interest in the position, your CV and the contact information of two references to Dr. Alexander Weigel.

  Contact:

  Dr. Alexander Weigel
  Email: alexander.weigel@mpq.mpg.de

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