Scientific outreach

Triggering ultrafast magnetic dynamics using structured light

In the last decades, a growing interest has been developed around the possibility of manipulating the magnetic properties of matter at the nanoscale, with the paramount objective of obtaining high-density, ultrafast, and low-power memories. Since the ’90s, the control, and namely the demagnetization of magnetic samples using femtosecond laser pulses has been widely studied. However,

Creation of the Unit of Excellence LUMES

Last June, the Unit of Excellence in Structured Light and Matter (LUMES) was created. The creation of the Unit of Excellence in Structured Light and Matter represents a step forward in the consolidation of the University of Salamanca as an international reference in the understanding and application of the interactions between light and matter on

New research project: SpecX

The new research project, SpecX (Schemes for the generation of attosecond x-ray special beams using high-order harmonic generation from macroscopic targets), has started, with Julio San Román and Carlos Hernández Garcia as the principal investigators. In the SpecX project, they aim to advance in the macroscopic management of ultrarapid light beams, from the femtosecond/infrared to

Generation of cracks in materials with ultrashort pulses: standard for fracture resistance testing

This work addresses the crack growth resistance of 3 mol% Yttria-doped Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystalline (3YTZP) spark-plasma sintered (SPS) composites containing two types of graphene-based nanomaterials (GBN): exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (e-GNP) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The crack growth resistance of the composites is assessed by means of their R-Curve behavior determined by three-point bending tests

Controlling light with intelligence

Thanks to a process called “high-order harmonic generation” significant progress has been made in generating ultrashort X-ray pulses over the past few years, with a duration of a few attoseconds (equivalent to dividing a second into 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 parts). This extremely short duration is comparable to the time it takes for electrons to transfer between atoms,

Fantastic Spectra and where to find them

The generation of ultra-short light pulses with a good spatial structure is the philosopher’s stone of ultrafast pulse physics. These pulses make it possible to study and modify the properties of matter at time scales unreachable by other procedures. In recent decades, great strides have been made in the generation of high-quality ultrashort pulses among

Micro-spectrometer

Recently, researchers belonging to ALF, have been working in the development of a miniaturized spectrometer in collaboration with the European Space Agency, the Department of Physics and Swiss Nanoscience Institute (University of Basel), the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (ETH Zurich), the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the Optics

Launch of the FASLIGHT Network

The Laser Applications and Photonics Research Group will coordinate the Research Network “Fundamentals and Applications of Structured Light” FASLIGTH. This network has emerged within the framework of the «Redes de Investigación» call within the framework of the Programa Estatal para Impulsar la Investigación Científico-Técnica y su Transferencia, del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica, Técnica y

Announcement of defense of doctoral thesis – Javier Prada-Rodrigo

On June 8th, Javier Prada Rodrigo will present his doctoral thesis entitled “Formation and characterization of surface micro- and nanostructures in polymers and polymeric nanocomposites prepared by irradiation with pulsed nano- and femtosecond lasers” and directed by the doctors D. Pablo Moreno Pedraz and Dª. Esther Rebollar González.   The defense act will take place at

Announcement of defense of doctoral thesis – Miguel López Ripa

On May 26, Miguel López Ripa will present his doctoral thesis entitled “Development of ultra-stable characterization techniques for ultrashort laser beams” and directed by doctors D. Íñigo Juan Sola Larrañaga and Mr. Benjamin Alonso Fernandez. The defense act will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Francisco de Vitoria classroom of the Escuelas Mayores Building.