Description:

Abstract:

The first detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO collaboration in 2015 ushered in new era of experimental gravitational wave astronomy that was recognized with a Nobel prize in Physics.  The thermodynamic fluctuation-dissipation theorem currently limits the sensitivity of LIGO’s mirrors at characteristic frequencies ranging up to 100s of Hz.  Photothermal heating also is a significant constraint in the search for high-frequency gravity-wave waves based on optically-levitated quantum electronic sensors.  Recently, significant progress has been made in the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials that can overcome the challenge of photothermal heating based on anti-Stokes solid-state laser refrigeration.  This talk will feature recent advances in mitigating detrimental laser-heating effects in wide bandgap materials including ternary fluoride ceramics [1-3] and diamond [4].  Potential future applications of these materials will also be presented including the generation of squeezed light, the detection of airborne viruses via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and the propulsion of STARSHOT satellites through radiation pressure.

[1] George Winstone, et.al., Physical Review Letters, vol. 129, 053604, 2022

[2] Felsted, R Greg et.al  Chemically Tunable Aspect Ratio Control and Laser Refrigeration of Hexagonal Sodium Yttrium Fluoride Upconverting Materials, Crystal Growth & Design, vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 3605–3612, 2022

[3] Luntz-Martin, Danika R et.al.  Laser refrigeration of optically levitated sodium yttrium fluoride nanocrystals, Optics Letters, vol. 46, no. 15, pp. 3797–3800, 2021.

[4] Pant, A., et.al, , Reduced photothermal heating in diamonds enriched with H3 point defects. Journal of Applied Physics, 131 (23), 234401, 2022.

Speaker: Peter Pauzauskie, University of Washington

Host: Andrew Geraci

Keywords: CFP, physics