KMLabs was established in 1994 by Professor Margaret M. Murnane and Professor Henry C. Kapteyn. Their research in the early 1990s resulted in the development of the first robust and repeatable mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser capable of generating <10fs light pulses. Realizing that this device could make ultrafast technology accessible to non-experts for a multitude of applications, Murnane and Kapteyn published a step-by-step guide explaining how-to build the laser. Dissemination of this laser design played a key part in the revolution that transformed ultrafast science in the 1990’s. Responding to widespread interest in their laser design, Margaret Murnane and Henry Kapteyn founded KMLabs in 1994. Over the following eight years, KMLabs sold several hundred reliable low-cost, ultrafast Ti:sapphire laser oscillators to customers worldwide. Then, around 2002, KMLabs began a phase of more rapid growth based upon a new range of robust, high-performance, ultrafast oscillator and amplifier products for the international research market. Critical enabling IP in simple power-scaling, in pulse-shortening and, most recently, in coherent soft X-ray generation has enabled KMLabs to establish and protect a position as a world leader in high peak and average power and ultrashort pulse ultrafast amplifier systems. In 2007/2008, KMLabs began a new growth phase based upon: a revitalized product range, outreach to new markets, and an increasing international network of distributors and service providers.
KMLabs' product range for 2009 comprises:
• Ultimate performance 3-50 W Dragon/RedDragon multipass amplifiers with CEP-stabilization option for applications including high-harmonic generation, attosecond generation. And quantum coherence and control
• 0.5-15 W 1-250 kHz single-box, single-stage, robust turn-key Wyvern regenerative amplifiers for applications in micro-machining, THz generation/spectroscopy, and ultrafast imaging/spectroscopy
• Robust turn-key and versatile oscillators for research applications in medicine, biology, chemistry and physics.
Murnane-Kapteyn Research Group at JILA, University of Colorado (Boulder)
Professors Murnane and Kapteyn have worked at the forefront of ultrafast laser research for over 20 years. Their pioneering research in 10fs-class lasers led to the development of a new generation of robust <10fs lasers and, subsequently, to novel techniques for coherent ultrashort pulse generation in the deep-UV and soft x-ray region for fundamental studies of dynamic processes and nanoscale-resolution imaging. This work enabled the first demonstration of fully coherent x-ray sources, the generation of attosecond duration light pulses, manipulation of electrons on attosecond time scales, as well as opening up new frontiers in visualizing the coupled motions of electrons and atoms in molecules and materials.
Margaret Murnane
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Margaret Murnane is KMLabs Chairman of the Board, a JILA Fellow, and
a Professor of Physics and ECE at the University of Colorado.
She received her B.S and M.S. degrees from University College in
Cork, Ireland, and her Ph.D. degree from the University of
California at Berkeley. She was previously a member of the
Faculty of Physics at Washington State University and the
University of Michigan. She is a Fellow of the APS, OSA, and the
AAAS; recipient of the APS Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award; elected
to the National Academy of Sciences, and a John D. and Catherine
T. MacArthur Fellow.
Henry C. Kapteyn
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Henry Kapteyn is CEO at KMLabs, a JILA Fellow, and a
Professor of Physics and ECE at the University of Colorado.
He received his Ph.D. from the University of California at
Berkeley. He was previously a member of the Faculty of
Physics at Washington State University and the University of
Michigan. Prof. Kapteyn has received a number of awards
including the National Science Foundation Young Investigator
award, the OSA Adolph Lomb Medal, and (with Prof. Murnane) the
2009 Ahmed Zewail Award in Ultrafast Science and Technology of
the American Chemical Society. He is a Fellow of the OSA,
APS, and the AAAS.
Greg Taft
Product Line Manager, Oscillators
Dr. Greg Taft received his Ph.D. in Physics from Washington
State University, where he worked in the research
Kapteyn-Murnane research group. For his Ph.D. research,
Dr. Taft studied the underlying physics of the Ti:sapphire
oscillator. By constructing a low dispersion oscillator
and performing FROG pulse measurements, he concluded that, if
intracavity dispersion could be minimized, pulses shorter than
8.5 fs could be generated directly from a Ti:sapphire laser.
After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Taft taught physics and astronomy
at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for nine years.
In addition to teaching, he studied the ultrafast dynamics of
materials through pump-probe experiments. He became a
consultant for KMLabs when the company formed, and joined
KMLabs full-time in June of 2006.
Director, Engineering
Dr. Neil Anderson is the Director of Engineering at KMLabs. He joined the company in 2005, and was then promoted to Product Line Manager for Dragon and RedDragon amplifiers. He has 15 years of experience building, maintaining and using ultrafast lasers. He also has extensive experience with ultrafast spectroscopy and frequency conversion techniques. Prior to joining KMLabs, Dr. Anderson obtained a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Michigan, and had post doctoral appointments at both Emory and NIST.
Leadership Team
Sterling Backus
Vice-President, Research & Development
Since joining KMLabs full-time in 2003, Dr. Sterling Backus has
led the development of new high-power amplifier systems funded
by external research contracts and IR&D. His career began
with six years in the U.S. Army before he attended WSU,
graduating with B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Physics. After
working on SDI-related programs for a small business in WA, Dr.
Backus returned to WSU to conduct his Ph.D. research in the
Murnane-Kapteyn Group on ultrafast kHz amplifier systems, and UV
/ VUV generation and characterization (first UV FROG). He
remained with Murnane-Kapteyn, for Post-Doctoral work at the
University of Michigan and University of Colorado (JILA),
pushing performance to >10W and <15fs, and working on high
harmonic generation (HHG). Dr. Backus has authored over 50
publications, and holds an h-index rating of 22, for scientific
contribution.
Xiaoshi Zhang
Product Line Manager,
Wyvern Amplifiers
Dr. Xiaoshi Zhang joined KMLabs in 2007, as a research scientist
responsible for research and development of state-of-the-art
high pulse energy, short pulse and high repetition rate
regenerative amplifiers. He also developed the XUUS EUV
and X-light source based on high harmonic generation.
Dr. Zhang was recently appointed as Product Line Manager for
the Wyvern™ regenerative amplifier series. He received his
B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physics from University of Science and
Technology, China, in 1998 and 2001 respectively. He received
his Ph.D. in Physics from JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder
in 2007.
Dorothy Korbe
Director of Business and Finance
Operations
Dorothy Korbe joined the KMLabs team
in August 2007 as Accounting Manager, and was then promoted
to Controller in 2008.
Dorothy took on a new role as Director of Business
and Finance Operations in October 2009.
She brings over 20 years of business management and
accounting/finance experience in construction and other
industries. Dorothy holds a BBA from the University of
North Dakota and an Associate in Risk Management from Insurance
Institute of America. She is currently pursuing her MBA at
Regis University.
