Dr. Oleg Mitrofanov established the Ultrafast Laser Laboratory in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Focused on future ultrafast technologies and underlying science, the Ultrafast Laser Laboratory is conducting experimental research on the femtosecond and picosecond time scales. Probing and controlling physical processes at such speeds became possible with the development of lasers producing very short optical pulses. This technology allowed detection of ultrafast phenomena such as atomic vibrations in crystals and molecular rotations in gases.

Research scope of the Laboratory includes studies of ultrafast processes in materials and electronic devices. Dr. Mitrofanov is actively involved in Terahertz (THz) research with the main focus on development and application of advanced THz characterization tools, such as THz time resolved imaging systems, which allow producing images in THz light with picosecond resolution.

Dr. Mitrofanov made contributions to development of THz near-field microscopy, which allows detection and visualisation of electromagnetic fields on the micron scale. This capability can help advancing development of THz technologies, including THz waveguides, metamaterials and plasmonics devices. Combined with THz spectroscopic analysis this technique also provides a unique opportunity to investigate fundamental physical processes in condensed matter systems.

Research directions:

THz near-field microscopy
http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/~olegm/research/thzres/index.html

THz waveguides
http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/~olegm/research/thzres/waveguides.html

Organic electronic materials
http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/~olegm/research/rubres/index.html