October 9, 2006, Crane, IN--A new $1 million laser laboratory at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will enable faculty and students to use the latest in ultrashort pulse laser technology for applications that include improving military defense systems, detecting biological and chemical agents, and commercial uses in the biomedical and communications fields.
The Ultrashort Pulse Laser Laboratory, which is the result of one of many collaborative programs involving Rose-Hulman and the Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center was officially dedicated October 9. Funding for the laboratory came through the Navy Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Program.
"This lab is different from the small number of ultrashort pulse laser (USPL) labs operating at other campuses for two important reasons," said Galen Duree, associate professor of physics and optical engineering at Rose-Hulman, who will direct the projects in the laboratory. "First, our work will concentrate on developing applications for the use of ultrashort pulse lasers rather than focusing our efforts solely on theory. Second, undergraduate students will play a major role in our projects The students are gaining experience with state-of-the-art nonlinear laser technology," Duree said.
The partnership with Crane is focused on two issues, according to Duree. One is to assist Crane in developing USPL applications of military value. The second is to find ways of delivering the resulting technology to the soldiers in the field as quickly as possible.
Duree said work is under way to use the technology to support the missle countermeasure efforts at Crane. The USPL technology is also being applied to create systems to improve the detection and neutralization of improvised explosive devices such as roadside bombs, and to develop new methods to detect biological and chemical agents.
"These same detection schemes can also be adapted to look for other items of interest to law enforcement officials such as by-products from methamphetamine production or concealed firearms," said Duree.