The Electro-Optics Seeker Sensor team is investigating several topics in support of compact, low-cost spectropolarimetric LiDAR sensors. LiDAR is a powerful tool to produce 3-D images supporting foliage and netting penetration, navigation, target detection and target identification. We are interested in integrating 3-D imaging and optical materials characterization to enable single pixel materials characterization. This may include spectral reflectivity and polarimetric reflectivity (Mueller matrix) as well as other sensing modalities. The requirement for small, low-cost systems drives the need for fundamentally new technologies such as improved detection techniques, optimized laser sources, and improved understanding of light-material interactions in a remote sensing context.

As laser sources are critical to LiDAR systems, our research program is developing new sources based on nonlinear fiber optics in solid core and hollow core fibers for development of multispectral lasers, wavelength-agile lasers, and multi-polarization lasers. We are studying processes such as Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and optical parametric amplification/oscillation in gas/liquid filled fibers for spectral LiDAR. In addition, we are studying phase modulation in solid core PM fiber to develop multi-polarization lasers supporting polarimetric LiDAR.  Hollow-core fibers are an incredible tool that enables one to select a nonlinear medium (gas or liquid) to achieve a desired nonlinear interaction but do so in fiber geometry which improves efficiency, beam quality, and opto-mechanical stability.  Furthermore, the incredibly low loss achieved by anti-resonant hollow-core fibers enables weak nonlinear interactions to achieve high efficiency through the long interaction length available in the fiber geometry.

Not only are hollow-core fibers a powerful enabling tool for new spectropolarimetric LiDAR sources, they provide an alternative to bulk crystal based sources of quantum light. We are investigating nonlinear fiber optics in gas or liquid filled hollow-core fiber for new sources of entangled and unentangled photon pairs and quantum frequency conversion.

Research is highly collaborative and cuts across multiple disciplines including optical science, lasers and nonlinear optics, chemistry, and materials characterization. 

Laser; Nonlinear optics; Fiber Optics; LiDAR; Spectropolarimetric materials classification; entangled photon pair; quantum frequency conversion;

citizenship

Open to U.S. citizens

level

Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants

Additional Benefits

relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.