The NSF Physics Frontier Center “Frontiers in Optical, Coherent, and Ultrafast Science” (FOCUS) provides a unique national platform for discovery-class, interdisciplinary research in the optical sciences. The participating institutions are the University of Michigan and the University of Texas, with plans to include The Ohio State University and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). FOCUS research is organized in three interconnected major activities (MAs) that concentrate on coherent laser-matter interactions at the highest energy, fastest time and shortest length scales.  Many of the physics concepts and methods developed in one area are applicable to another.

High-Intensity Physics (MA1)

On the high-intensity physics frontier, FOCUS researchers working in the area of high-field lasers and laser-driven plasmas elucidate the scientific foundations of table-top particle accelerators, x-ray free electron lasers and bright attosecond (10 ^-18s) sources, explore applications of these novel sources, and address fundamental problems in ultra-relativistic plasma science and intense x-ray-matter interactions. The research is carried out using world-class laser systems at the University of Michigan, with new experiments also planned at The Ohio State University and SLAC. The high-field research has applications in astrophysics, high-energy physics, material science, and medicine.

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Ultrafast Dynamics (MA2)

At the ultrafast frontier, FOCUS researchers apply attosecond sources to advance the frontiers of spectroscopy to the atomic time-scale, enabling real time observation of complex electronic motion in condensed matter systems and transient changes during a chemical or physical process. At the frontier of x-ray science, FOCUS scientists employ tunable, pulsed sources at the Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source for time-resolved imaging of condensed phase and biomolecules with atomic length-scale precision. Pump-probe techniques will also be used in quantum control of few-body, interacting atomic and condensed-matter systems.

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Coherent Spatio-Temporal Spectroscopy (MA3)

At this frontier, FOCUS researchers propel the study of complex biomolecular and many-body atomic systems into uncharted combinations of spatial and temporal domains. On time scales ranging from atto- to milli-seconds, FOCUS researchers map out the dynamical functions of complex multi-scale systems, ranging from biomolecules to entire cells, using novel combinations of multi-dimensional, ultrafast spectroscopies. Crystallization and orientation of biological objects in optical lattices has the potential to provide a new paradigm to investigate the structure and dynamics of these objects.

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