Research Interests

RESEARCH EXPERTISE:
- Laser physics (theory and computation)
- Ultrafast nonlinear optics
- Computational physics
- Laser-induced damage

RESEARCH SUMMARY:
My research is in theoretical and computational laser physics, laser-material interactions, and laser-induced damage to solids. We use computers to solve the many complex physical equations governing behavior of powerful laser fields as they propagate through matter. Specifically, my research focuses on processes and light pulses on the order of femtoseconds (a millionth of a billionth of a second) or less. These are the times scales of events found within the atom.

ULTRASHORT LASER-PULSE PROPAGATION THROUGH DIELECTRICS AND SEMICONDUCTORS:
We simulate high-power laser-pulse propagation and nonlinear optical effects. For example, intense laser fields can change transparent materials into an effective lens (self-focusing) or change the color of light as it propagates (supercontinuum generation). When this happens, laser light can undergo a catastrophic beam collapse leading to permanent damage in solid matter. Laser propagation is further complicated by diffraction, dispersion, ionization, and laser-plasma interactions. To predict this behavior, we simultaneously model both the light propagation as well as the quantum material dynamics on the femtosecond time scale. In my research, we also develop new models of ultrashort pulse propagation and ultrafast laser-material interaction and compare simulations using these models with experimental data.

ULTRASHORT LASER-PLASMA INTERACTIONS:
The sensitivity of laser-plasma interactions on the optical frequency (color) is important for applications such as micromachining and nanoscale optoelectronics. Commercial laser systems can produce laser pulses with temporal widths approaching a single optical cycle, and the broad spectrum of these pulses violates the monochromatic approximation assumed in many models of laser-induced plasma generation and electron-hole plasma behavior in solids. In my research, we develop new models to reconcile the equations for field-propagation with the quantum equations for bulk ionized solids and electron-hole plasmas in nanoscale semiconductors, accounting for the multi-chromatic nature of ultrashort laser pulses.

RESEARCH FUNDING:
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
National Science Foundation
Air Force Research Laboratory

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:

• Jeremy R. Gulley, Rachel Cooper, and Ethan Winchester, "Mobility and conductivity of laser-generated e-h plasmas in direct-gap nanowires," Photonics Nanostructures: Fundam. Appl. 59, 101259 (2024).
• Yen-Yu Chang, Jeremy R. Gulley, Zhengyan Li, James Welch, Rafal Zgadzaj, Aaron Bernstein, and Michael C. Downer, "Single-shot observation of nonlinear pulse splitting in Kerr medium," Opt. Lett., 49(1), 73 (2024).
• Jeremy R. Gulley and Danhong Huang, "Ultrafast transverse and longitudinal response of laser-excited quantum wires," Opt. Express 30(6), 9348-9359 (2022).
• Xuejun Lu, Danhong Huang, and Jeremy R. Gulley, "Laser-controlled ultrafast nonlinear optical response of interacting e-h pairs in electromagnetically-coupled GaAs quantum dots," J. Appl. Phys. 131(7), 073101 (2022).
• Jeremy R. Gulley and Danhong Huang, "Self-consistent quantum-kinetic theory for interplay between pulsed-laser excitation and nonlinear carrier transport in quantum-wire array," Opt. Express 27, 17154-17185 (2019).
• Klaus Huthmacher, Andreas K. Molberg, Bärbel Rethfeld, Jeremy R. Gulley, "A split-step method to include electron-electron collisions via Monte Carlo in multiple rate equation simulations," J. Comput. Phys. 322, 535-546 (2016).
• Thomas E. Lanier and Jeremy R. Gulley, "Nonlinear space-time focusing and filamentation of annular femtosecond pulses in dielectrics," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 33, 292-301 (2016).
• Jeremy R. Gulley and Thomas E. Lanier, "Model for ultrashort laser-pulse induced ionization dynamics in transparent solids," Phys. Rev. B. 90, 155119 (2014).
• Jiexi Liao and Jeremy R. Gulley, "Time-frequency control of ultrafast plasma generation in dielectrics," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 31, 2973-2980 (2014).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, "Ultrafast laser-induced damage and the influence of spectral effects," Opt. Eng.51, 121805 (2012).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, Sebastian W. Winkler, William M. Dennis , Carl L. Liebig, Razvan Stoian, "Interaction of ultrashort-laser pulses with induced undercritical plasmas in fused silica," Phys. Rev. A 85, 013808 (2012).
• Jeremy R. Gulley and William M. Dennis, "Ultrashort-pulse propagation through free-carrier plasmas," Phys. Rev. A. 81, 033818 (2010).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, Sebastian W. Winkler, and William M. Dennis, "Simulation and analysis of ultrafast laser pulse induced plasma generation in fused silica," Opt. Eng. 47, 054302 (2008).

Conference Proceedings:

• Jeremy R. Gulley, Ethan Winchester, and Danhong Huang, "Ultrashort-laser pulse induced plasma dynamics in semiconductor nanowires," Proc. SPIE 12884, Ultrafast Phenomena and Nanophotonics XXVIII, 128840G (2024).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, Rachel Cooper, Ethan Winchester, Christopher Woolford, Pablo Limon, and Danhong Huang, "Photon-drag effect and plasma oscillations in 1D semiconductors." Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science 2022 (FIO, LS), Technical Digest Series (Optica Publishing Group, 2022), paper JW5A.34 (2022).
• Jeremy R. Gulley and Danhong Huang, "Modeling of ultrafast propagation and quantum kinetics of laser-generated electron-hole plasmas in nanowires." 22nd International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena, OSA Technical Digest, M41A.10 (2020).
• Jeremy R. Gulley and Danhong Huang, "Strong-Coupling Model for Pulsed Light Propagation and Quantum Kinetics of Electron-Hole Plasmas in Quantum Wire Arrays", Frontiers in Optics / Laser Science, OSA Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, 2018), JW4A.73 (2018).
• Jeremy R. Gulley and Thomas E. Lanier, "Self-consistent modeling of photoionization and the Kerr effect in bulk solids," Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2015, Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 7632, 96320X (2015).
• Thomas E. Lanier and Jeremy R. Gulley, "Calculation of nonlinear optical damage from space-time-tailored pulses in dielectrics," Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2015, Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 9632, 96320Z (2015).
• Thomas E. Lanier and Jeremy R. Gulley, "Annular space-time focusing in fused silica", Frontiers in Optics / Laser Science, OSA Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, 2015), FTu5E.6 (2015).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, Jiexi Liao, and Thomas E. Lanier, "Plasma generation by ultrashort multi-chromatic pulses during nonlinear propagation," Proc. SPIE 8972, Frontiers in Ultrafast Optics: Biomedical, Scientific, and Industrial Application XIV, 89720T (2014).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, "Modeling free-carrier absorption and avalanching by ultrashort laser pulses," Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2011, Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 8910, 819022 (2011).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, "Frequency dependence in the initiation of ultrafast laser-induced damage," Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2010, Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 7842, 7842-36 (2010).
• Jeremy R. Gulley, Sebastian W. Winkler, and William M. Dennis, "Simulation and analysis of ultrafast laser pulse induced plasma generation in dielectric materials," Enabling Photonic Technologies for Defense, Security, and Aerospace Applications III, Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng.6572, 65720R (2007).

Additional Professional Activity

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
American Physical Society
Optica
S.P.I.E.

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