Amy L. Lytle
Education
B.A., Physics, The College of Wooster, Wooster Ohio
Ph.D., Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder Colorado
Research Interests
Ultrafast and Nonlinear Optics
My research background is in developing new, broadband laser sources in the near-infrared and soft x-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. For my graduate work, I developed a new technique for boosting the efficiency of a nonlinear optical process called high-order harmonic generation (HHG). In HHG, high power, ultrafast laser pulses are upconverted in frequency from the near-IR (800nm) to the soft x-ray region (~10-50 nm). The efficiency boosting technique involves using counterpropagating light pulses to interfere with the conversion process.
The power of this counterpropagating technique is in its flexibility. It can be used in cases where other efficiency promoting techniques are impossible. Currently, I am exploring the application of this technique to parametric harmonic generation, a process similar to, but more widely used than, HHG.
Grants & Awards
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship: 2003-2006
2008 New Focus/ Bookham Student Award
Publications
Selected recent publications:
P. Arpin, T. Popmintchev, N. Wagner, A. L. Lytle, O. Cohen, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, “Enhanced high harmonic generation from multiply ionized argon above 500 eV through laser pulse self-compression,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 143901 (2009).
(Invited) A. L. Lytle, X. Zhang, R. L. Sandberg, O. Cohen, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, “Quasi-phase matching and characterization of high-order harmonic generation in hollow waveguides using counterpropagating light,” Opt. Express 16, 6544, (2008).
A. L. Lytle, X. Zhang, P. Arpin, O. Cohen, H. C. Kapteyn, and M. M. Murnane, “Quasi- phase matching of high-order harmonic generation at high photon energies using counterpropagating pulses,” Opt. Lett. 33, 174 (2008).
X. Zhang, A. L. Lytle, T. Popmintchev, X. Zhou, M. M. Murnane, H. C. Kapteyn, and O. Cohen, “Quasi-phase matching and quantum path control of high harmonic generation using coun- terpropagating light,” Nature Phys. 3, 270-275 (2007).
A. L. Lytle, X. Zhang, J. Peatross, M. M. Murnane, H. C. Kapteyn, and O. Cohen, “Probe of high- order harmonic generation using counterpropagating light in a hollow waveguide,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 123904 (2007).
Student Collaborations
Shawn Culbreth '11: Independent Study Spring 2011: Characterization of an Ultrafast Laser
Allison Penfield '13: Hackman Scholar 2011
Course Information
Fall 2012: PHY 111 A Fundamental Physics I MWF 9:00 - 9:50 HAC 218
PHY 333 Electric&Magentic Fields MWF 10:00 - 10:50 HAC 220
Spring 2012: PHY 111C Fundamental Physics Lab W 1:30 - 4:20 HAC 229
PHY 273 Optics T, TR 12:45 - 2:05 HAC 220
PHY 273 Optics Lab, T, TR 12:15 - 3:35 HAC 220
Fall 2011: Phy 111B Fundamental Physics Lab T 1:30 - 4:20 HAC 229
Phy 111C Fundamental Physics Lab W 1:30 - 4:20 HAC 229
Phy 111D Fundamental Physics Lab R 1:30 - 4:20 HAC 229
Spring 2011: Phy 111A Fundamental Physics MWF 9:00 - 9:50 HAC218
Fall 2010: Phy 111C Fundamental Physics MWF 11:00 - 11:50 HAC218
