11/4/2020 Lizzie Roehrs
Holonyak Lab student Pawel Strzebonski has been awarded a DEPS scholarship for his work in directed energy.
Written by Lizzie Roehrs
The Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) was founded in 1999 to encourage research in directed energy technology for national defense and civil applications through professional communication and education. Directed energy uses focused energy, including laser, microwaves and particle beams. DEPS offered partial scholarships up to $10,000 for the 2020-2021 school year. One such scholarship was received by HMNTL student Pawel Strzebonski.
Strzebonski is a PhD student with the Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory studying electrical and computer engineering. His focus is in laser mode and beam control and engineering.
“I started exploring the theory and simulation of waveguide engineering as a method of laser mode engineering as part of my MS work and thesis,” says Strzebonski. “As I moved onto my PhD, I've designed and fabricated diode lasers that aim to test the principle of waveguide engineering for mode engineering.”
Strzebonski says that the research he proposed to DEPS in an evolution of this work.
“The first element of my research is the characterization of those devices to demonstrate the principles of waveguide engineering for mode engineering,” says Strzebonski. “Second is moving beyond those devices by developing new and improved laser designs that can engineer laser modes and beam while achieving high power performance.”
Candidates for the DEPS scholarship are expected to be interested in pursuing or studying Directed Energy.
“I consider winning this scholarship as an indication of interest in mode/beam engineering concepts and their relevance in the engineering of high-performance laser systems, especially for directed energy application,” says Strzebonski.