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Optica Incubator on Spatiotemporal Structuring of Light

13 - 15 November 2024
Optica Global Headquarters, Washington, DC, USA

Hosts:

  • Abbie Watnik, US Naval Research Laboratory, United States
  • Ayman Abouraddy, CREOL, University of Central Florida, United States
  • Ivan Divliansky, CREOL, University of Central Florida, United States
  • John Palastro, University of Rochester, United States

Program Overview

Optical fields are described in terms of their spatial, temporal, and polarization degrees of freedom (DoFs), which are usually modulated independently of each other. This is the foundation of the separate fields of optical beams, ultrafast pulses, and vector fields. 

The past five years have witnessed a paradigm shift, whereby the insights developed in these fields are merging to lay the foundation for spatiotemporally structured light, in which the spatial, temporal, and polarization DoFs are modulated jointly. New optical field structures have rapidly emerged, unexpected propagation behaviors have been observed, and novel interactions of such optical fields with photonic devices have been investigated. A plethora of applications are anticipated as these concepts are further explored and their foundations established.

Scope and Goals

Through invited talks, panels, moderated discussion periods, and informal networking, the program for this incubator will explore topics including:

  • Spatiotemporal synthesis and characterization techniques,
  • Interaction of spatiotemporally structured light with optical devices and systems, including optical fibers and waveguides,
  • Bridging the gap between ultrafast optics and resonant photonics,
  • Impact of spatiotemporally structured light on nonlinear and quantum optics, including filamentation, harmonic generation, pulsed fiber-laser mode-locking, and supercontinuum generation,
  • Spatiotemporally structured light in plasma physics and future laser accelerators,
  • Spatiotemporally structured light in turbulence, scattering, and turbid media and applications in free-space optical communication,
  • Space-time optical fields and relativity.

This incubator will provide a forum for community building in this emerging topic area. Goals include standardizing the nomenclature and classification of spatiotemporally structured optical fields, encouraging the exchange and cross-fertilization of ideas between experts in this area, and promoting new opportunities and applications made possible with the spatiotemporal structuring of light to the broader optics and photonics community. The meeting will bring together 30 - 40 experts from the scientific community, industry, and government. Program managers from the US Department of Defense, the US National Science Foundation, and other agencies have been invited to participate. 

Meeting Schedule

The program, including breakfasts and lunches, will be held at Optica Global Headquarters, 2010 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Dinners, which are also included in the registration fee, will be held at local restaurants. All times approximate, check back for a detailed agenda.

DAY 1 - 13 November 2024​

  • Welcome dinner, location to be announced, at 18:00 EST

DAY 2 - 14 November 2024

  • Breakfast begins at 08:00 EST at Optica Global Headquarters
  • Program begins at 08:30 EST, lunch is included onsite​
  • Networking dinner, location to be announced, begins at 18:00 EST

DAY 3 - 15 November 2024

  • Breakfast begins at 08:00 EST at Optica Global Headquarters
  • Program begins at 08:30 EST, lunch is included onsite​
  • Adjourn at 14:00 EST

Are you interested in attending?

A limited number of spots have been set aside at this invitation-only meeting for interested individuals to apply for. Please send a brief letter of interest along with a CV to the hosts at incubators@optica.org

Additional Information

This page will provide you with information on receiving a letter of invitation if required for your visa, as well as additional logistical and area information.

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