Ultra-fast lasers towards TRIR spectroscopy

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy (TRIR) is a powerful technique for studying ultrafast molecular dynamics and material properties. It provides critical insights into chemical processes like DNA structure formation and reactions relevant to drug development. This thesis establishes a time resolved transient absorption spectroscopy setup at the Laboratory of Intense Laser (L2I), under the Group of Lasers and Plasmas (GoLP) at the Instituto de Fusão Nuclear (IPFN). Our lab features a high-energy 3 μm laser system with 6.5 W average power, 40 fs pulse duration, and 100 kHz repetition rate, as well as a 1.030 μm system capable of achieving 100 fs pulses.

By leveraging these ultrafast laser systems, we can monitor sub-picosecond transient states of molecules, advancing our understanding of fast molecular interactions. Initial testing was conducted using rhodamine 6G as a model system, with the 1.030 μm laser as the pump and 515 nm probe. The results demonstrate the potential of our setup for time-resolved studies.

With these unique resources, our laboratory is positioned to make significant contributions to the field of ultrafast TRIR spectroscopy, which has applications ranging from basic scientific research to industrial innovation. This work sets the stage for exploring dynamic processes at the molecular level, providing valuable data for fields such as materials science and biochemistry.