New Paradigms in Laser-based Remote Sensing

Martin Richardson
University of Central Florida, USA

Andrew Main Lecture

3:30pm - October 27, 2016
ETLC 1-001

Faculty Host: Dr. Qi Liu

Abstract:

Remote detection of trace samples of atomic and molecular compounds is of interest to many new applications in broad range of industries. The challenge of detecting trace energetic materials at distances beyond explosion zones is central to defence and security needs. Th e detection of biospores, chemical or radio-active agents at stand-off distances are also pressing program objectives. Several laser-based spectroscopic are now being developed for these purposes. Other applications will benefit from these initiatives too. Environmental monitoring gas constituents of the upper atmosphere is now a crucial need. Smokestack monitoring, the analysis of the air above agricultural land, mines and regions exploiting natural resources will all increasingly need to rely on remote stand-alone monitoring systems to ensure safe and environmentally benign operating conditions. In this lecture, we will review some of these pressing needs and the scientific approaches being pursued to building reliable remote sensing technologies.

Biography:

Dr. Martin C. Richardson graduated from Imperial College, London, in Physics (1964) and gained his Ph.D in Photon Physics from London University in 1967. For his thesis he studied the spectral characteristics of laser modes, investigated non-linear optical processes in dense plasmas and developed a new high power dual frequency laser. Richardson joined one of the first laser groups investigating laser and plasmas in the Division of Gerhardt Herzberg at the National Research Council Laboratories in Ottawa. He stayed at NRC until 1979, making contributions to the development of new lasers. His work on laser-produced plasmas lead to the creation of the first Canadian team focused on laser fusion. Collaborations with the Lebedev Institute resulted in the development of the picosecond streak camera. In 1980 he joined the University of Rochester where he worked for nine years as group leader for laser fusion experiments and in 1990 he and William Silfvast established the Laser Plasma Laboratory at CREOL, the Center of Research in Electro- Optics & Lasers at UCF. Professor Richardson held visiting scientific positions at the Max Born Institute in Berlin, the Institute for Laser Engineering Osaka University, the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics in Garching, and other institutions in Australia, Canada, France, Qatar and the former Soviet Union. He has published over 400 scientific articles in professional scientific journals, and has presented numerous invited and plenary talks. He holds ~ 20 patents, with several pending and has chaired many international conferences including IQEC, ICHSP, and several SPIE meetings. He is a former Associate Editor of JQE, a recipient of the Schardin Medal, and a Fellow of OSA.