An Inspiring Visit from Donna Strickland

On Monday, September 9, 2024, Nobel laureate Professor Donna Strickland made a nostalgic return to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester. The visit held special significance as it brought her back to the very place where she and her doctoral advisor, Gérard Mourou, developed the revolutionary technique of chirped pulse amplification (CPA) in 1985. Accompanied by her husband, Douglas Dykaar, Prof. Strickland’s visit preceded her attendance at the inaugural Wyant Colloquium at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics.

During her visit, Prof. Strickland engaged with the NSF OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Line) design team. She also toured the laboratory where Jeremy Pigeon leads research on ultrafast flying-focus techniques and the production of intense middle infrared light using CPA, demonstrating the ongoing innovative work at LLE that builds upon her pioneering contributions.

The visit underscored the enduring impact of Strickland’s work on the field of laser physics. Her Nobel Prize-winning research on CPA has enabled the creation of ultrashort high-intensity laser pulses without damaging the amplifying material, paving the way for numerous applications, including LASIK corrective eye surgeries.

As one of only three women to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics, Strickland’s return to LLE served as an inspiring moment for current researchers and students. Her journey from a graduate student at the laboratory to a Nobel laureate exemplifies the potential for groundbreaking discoveries in academic research settings.

The visit not only celebrated Strickland’s past achievements but also highlighted the continuing advancements in laser technology at LLE, reinforcing the laboratory’s position at the forefront of optical physics research.