Konstantin Vodopyanov MIR Group

Our group uses ultrafast lasers to generate frequency combs covering an unprecedented frequency range – from 1 terahertz (1012 Hz, submillimeter range) to 1 petahertz (1015 Hz, UV spectral range) – and explores their diverse applications. These include dual frequency comb spectroscopy to achieve record-high resolution of molecular spectra in the UV–mid-infrared–terahertz range, ultrasensitive detection of trace molecules and their isotopologues, biomedical research aimed at early diagnosis of various health conditions, and spectroscopic study of fast chemical processes.

Ultra-broadband frequency combs

Dual-comb MIR-THz spectroscopy

UV Frequency Combs

Biomedical spectroscopy

5-minute Lab Tours

Jan 2025 Laser Focus World paper about our research.

The book “Laser-based Mid-infrared Sources and Applications” by K.L. Vodopyanov gives a comprehensive overview of the existing methods for generating coherent light in the important yet difficult-to-reach mid-infrared region of the spectrum (2–20 μm) and their applications. It describes major approaches for mid-infrared light generation including ion-doped solid-state lasers, fiber lasers, semiconductor lasers, and laser sources based on nonlinear optical frequency conversion, and reviews a range of applications: spectral recognition of molecules and trace gas sensing, biomedical and military applications, high-field physics and attoscience, and others. Every chapter starts with the fundamentals for a given technique that enables self-directed study, while extensive references help conduct deeper research.

Latest News

May 15, 2025,. An article in UCF News appeared about our research in electro-optic sampling. link
April 17, 2025. An invited review came out in Optica: I.-C. Benea-Chelmus, J. Faist, A. Leitenstorfer, A. S Moskalenko, I. Pupeza, D. V. Seletskiy, and K. L. Vodopyanov, “Electro-optic sampling of classical and quantum light”, Optica 12, 546-563 (2025) pdf. By probing a light wave with an optical pulse shorter than its half-cycle, both its amplitude and phase can be fully characterized. This technique not only enables the acquisition of high-resolution molecular spectra but also detects vacuum fluctuations—the “zero-point motion” of electric fields—offering deep insights into fundamental physics.
October 31, 2024. We generated an ultraviolet (UV) frequency comb with an unprecedented one million comb lines. Paper: A. Muraviev, D. Konnov, S. Vasilyev, K. L. Vodopyanov, “Dual frequency comb UV spectroscopy with one million resolved comb lines,” Optica, 11, 1486-1489 (2024). See pdf and also news releases : linkedin, Optica news release, PHYS ORG NEWS
April 3, 2024. Dmitrii Konnov successfully defends his PhD thesis “Dual frequency comb mid-IR – THz spectroscopy “
February 9, 2024. Dmitrii Konnov wins 2024 CREOL Student of the Year Award! His presentation title was “Dual-Comb Molecular Spectroscopy from Mid-IR to THz”.
Nov 2023. Our paper came out as a Featured Article in APL Photonics “High-resolution frequency-comb spectroscopy with electro-optic sampling and instantaneous octave-wide coverage across mid-IR to THz at a video rate”. (Konnov et al., APL Photon. 8, 110801 (2023). pdf
April 2023. Our paper came out in Optics Letters (Vasilyev et al., Opt. Lett. 48, 2273 (2023)), where we demonstrate dual-comb spectroscopy in the mid-IR (6–12 µm) with an unprecedented acquisition speed: some quarter million comb-mode resolved spectral points were obtained at up to VIDEO RATE! https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7055752253407666176/
March 2023. Konstantin Vodopyanov receives Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award.d
Jan 2023. Konstantin Vodopyanov gives an invited talk at Photonics West (San Francisco) “Precision mid-IR-THz frequency combs produced by frequency division and optical rectification”.
Aug 2022. Our paper: Taiki Kawamori, Peter Schunemann, Vitaly Gruzdev, and Konstantin Vodopyanov “High-order (N = 4–6) multiphoton absorption and mid-infrared Kerr nonlinearity in GaP, ZnSe, GaSe, and ZGP crystals ” – is published in APL Photonics [APL Photon. 7, 086101 (2022)].
March 2022. A review paper was published: K. L. Vodopyanov, “Ultra-broadband mid-infrared frequency combs produced by optical subharmonic generation”, Quantum Electronics 52, 307-312 (2022).
January 2022. Woraprach Kusolthossakul joins the group as a graduate student.
Nov 10, 2021. Taiki Kawamori defended his PhD thesis in Optics and Photonics: “Nonlinear Light-Matter Interactions in Novel Crystals for Broadband Mid-Infrared Generation”.
Oct. 2021. Konstantin Vodopyanov is featured in the Pegasus, The Magazine of the University of Central Florida link
June 2021. Dmitrii Konnov successfully completes the Dissertation Proposal Examination.
Feb 2021, our paper Q. Ru, T. Kawamori, P. G. Schunemann, S. Vasilyev, S. B. Mirov, and K. L. Vodopyanov, “Two-octave-wide (3–12 µm) subharmonic produced in a minimally dispersive optical parametric oscillator cavity” is published in Opt. Lett. and highlighted as an “Editors’ Pick” , link
Aug 2020, our paper V. Karlovets, I.E. Gordon, D. Konnov, A.V. Muraviev, K.L. Vodopyanov, “Dual-Comb Laser Spectroscopy of CS2 near 4.6 µm” is published in the Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer (JQSRT) , link
August 2020, a monograph by Konstantin Vodopyanov “Laser-based Mid-infrared Sources and Applications” is published (Wiley, 2020). link
August 2020, Ozarfar Gafarov joins the group as a postdoctoral scholar.
July 2020. Taiki Kawamori successfully completes the Dissertation Proposal Examination.
July 2020. Dmitrii Konnov successfully completes the Candidacy Examination.
March 2020, a chapter by Konstantin Vodopyanov “Isotopologues Detection and Quantitative Analysis by Mid‐Infrared Dual‐Comb Laser Spectroscopy” is published in the Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry (Wiley, 2020). link
July 3, 2019. Qitian Ru defended his PhD thesis in Optics and Photonics: “Broadband Mid-infrared Frequency Combs Generated via Frequency Division”.
June 3, 2019. Dmitrii Konnov passes CREOL PhD Qualifying Examination (the ‘Qualifier’).
March 27, 2019. Qitian Ru became the winner of the UCF Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and walked away with a 1000-dollar prize. There were 10 finalists and they were judged on the ability to effectively convey the essence and importance of their research in an engaging way to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, with one PowerPoint slide. Qitian will continue competing on the national level.
March 2019. Qitian Ru is on the front page of the 2019 CREOL Industrial Affiliates Symposium booklet.
March 2019. Taiki Kawamori passes CREOL candidacy exam.
February 2019. Our paper was published in Optica: T. Tomberg et al. “Background-free broadband absorption spectroscopy based on interferometric suppression with a sign-inverted waveform”, Optica 6, 147-151 (2019).
January 2019. Qitian Ru passes CREOL dissertation proposal exam.
January 2019. Our paper was published in Optica: S. Vasilyev et al. “Super-octave longwave mid-infrared coherent transients produced by optical rectification of few-cycle 2.5-μm pulses”, Optica 6, 111-114 (2019).
August 2018. Dmitrii Konnov joins the group as a graduate student.