The Heisenberg Programme of the German Research Foundation (DFG) is aimed at outstanding researchers and supports their long-term, independent research with the objective of preparing them for a permanent professorship.

Against this background, the research programme “Shaping the ultrashort pulse dynamics in mid-infrared fibre lasers”seeks to develop a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of ultrashort pulses in mid-infrared fibre lasers and to control them in a targeted manner. The focus lies on novel fluoride-based fibre glasses and fully fibre-integrated laser concepts that enable efficient and stable ultrashort pulse generation in the mid-IR spectral range.

The research project is structured around three closely interlinked objectives. First, the material, thermal, chemical and optical properties of unique fluoride-based fibre glasses are systematically investigated. On this basis, new fibre-based architectures and operating modalities are developed. Second, novel fully fibre-integrated laser cavities are subjected to rigorous theoretical and experimental analysis. Particular emphasis is placed on self-organised or instability-driven mode-locking mechanisms, which open up robust yet elegant concepts for ultrashort pulse generation. Third, the temporal and spectral pulse dynamics are characterised in real time in order to optimise ultrashort pulse generation in a targeted manner.

The project exploits nonlinear and dispersive effects in fibre cavities to efficiently generate pulses with durations below 500 femtoseconds and to scale their performance. By combining mid-IR fibre lasers with advanced real-time ultrashort pulse measurement techniques, a wide range of pulse dynamics will be revealed and systematically explored. The aim is to gain new physical insights while at the same time laying the foundation for powerful mid-IR light sources with a high degree of temporal control.