University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics

I recently participated in the Highschool Summer Internship Program at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics. While working at the lab I participated in real research and had the opportunity to gain experience working in scientific environments. My project was titled Statistical Analysis of Laser Induced Damage Growth in Mirrors and I worked under the supervision of my advisor Dr. Marek Stehlik. My research focused on determining how testing parameters, specifically damage-initiation procedures and parameters, affect the measured laser induced damage-growth threshold (LDGT) values. I used MATLAB to perform statistical analysis on the results of LDGT testing on a set of twelve multilayer dielectric mirrors differing in coating materials, fabrication methods, and designs. The analysis I performed provided useful insights on how to optimize LDGT testing procedures which could be useful in the qualification of optics for large-beam inertial confinement energy, which is a kind of renewable fusion energy, laser drivers. My research involves currently unpublished data Dr. Stehlik and collogues are incorporating into upcoming papers and presentations.

Summer High School Research Program - Laboratory for Laser Energetics