The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has recognized David Burghoff, assistant professor of electrical engineering, with a Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) award.
The YIP Award was established to foster creative basic research in science and engineering, enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators and increase opportunities for researchers. In 2019, the AFOSR will award approximately $17.8 million in YIP grants to 40 scientists and engineers from 30 research institutions and businesses.
Burghoff’s project, Microresonator Solitons in Quantum Cascade Lasers, aims to create the first soliton sources of long-wavelength light on a chip. Solitons are pulses of light that maintain their shape when propagating. At terahertz frequencies, they could be used to make sensors capable of mapping chemical concentrations and seeing through opaque materials. Terahertz solitons have potential to be used as explosive sensors as well as to detect the distance of remote objects, making them suitable in applications like self-driving cars.
“I am extremely excited to have won the award and would like to thank both the Air Force for funding this work and my department at Notre Dame for their support and mentorship of new faculty,” said Burghoff.
Burghoff received his Ph.D. and did postdoctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2018 and is an affiliated faculty member of the Center for Nano Science and Technology and Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame.
“David’s work in the terahertz regime has the potential for great impact in a broad range of applications,” said Greg Snider, professor and chair of electrical engineering. “This award is a wonderful recognition of his work and potential for the future.”
Originally published by at conductorshare.nd.edu on November 19, 2019.