Time-Resolved Spectroscopy with Integrating Spheres

This Victoria Unviersity of Wellington-led project, supported by researchers at Measurement Standards Laboratory, seeks to combine ultrafast lasers and integrating spheres to develop a unique time-resolved spectroscopy system. Pump-probe spectroscopy leverages ultrashort laser pulses to excite and subsequently monitor the time evolution of a sample’s optical response, thus yielding valuable insights into the photophysical and photochemical processes that underlie material functionality. However, a significant challenge arises when dealing with samples exhibiting a strong scattering response. This project will address this challenge by placing the sample within an integrating sphere. The complex time dynamics of light in an integrating cavity under femtosecond pulsed illumination and time-resolved detection will be rigorously modelled and experimentally characterized, informing the design and operation of the platform. Once optimized, the system will be used to advance research into photocatalysis and photoexcitation dynamics within highly scattering media, suitable for exploring both nanomaterials and biological systems.