Photonic Sensing and Flow Interaction Laboratory
About Us
Welcome to the webpage of the Limbach research group at the University of Michigan. Members of our team work at the intersection between laser physics and aerospace engineering. Our research has a dual focus, 1) to develop and apply groundbreaking laser and optical sensing techniques - both on the ground and in flight - to better understand plasmadynamics and hypersonic flow physics, and 2) to explore transformational concepts for in-space power and propulsion using laser and/or atomic beams.
Our labs are located on the second floor of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Aerospace Engineering Building on UM North Campus. During their research efforts, group members work collaboratively to solve problems and gain technical experience in laser physics, optics, spectroscopy, plasma physics, vacuum science and high-speed aerodynamics. We have a lot of fun!
OPEN POSITIONS
The group is looking to hire one or more PhD students for fall 2024 in the area of high-speed diagnostics or laser-enabled space propulsion. Application information can be found on the AERO graduate admissions website here.
Undergraduates are also encouraged to inquire about directed study and research opportunities during the winter term and summer. Please contact Dr. Limbach directly for more information at limbach@umich.edu.
Paper Highlights
News and Events
Upcoming Events
October 9th - 12th: APS Gas Electronics Conference in Ann Arbor. Excited to see my colleagues in town - please let me know if you'd like a meeting or laboratory tour!
December 11-15: AGU Meeting - Bob Randolph will be presenting his work on a LIDAR analyzer using spectral hole burning.
May 6-7: JANNAF Space Propulsion Subcommittee: Kaeshav Chandrasekar, Ashley Carman, and Reganne Watts will be presenting their work on a sensitive thrust test stand.
January 2024: AIAA SciTech Conference
News
Very excited to start our new project on supersonic LIDAR: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2023/10/09/professor-limbach-selected-for-nasa-supersonic-lidar-project/
Congratulations to my student Boris Leonov for earning his PhD and publishing an excellent paper on 250 kHz NO PLIF of a Mach stem flow in Physics of Fluids.
Congratulations to my student Clark Pehrson on publishing his paper on FLEET boundary layer profiling in Measurement Science and Technology.
Very excited to see our collaboration with Chris Kliewer and Scott Steinmetz at Sandia National Labs result in our recent Optics Letters publication. VIPA-CARS is an exciting new method for measuring vibrational non-equilibrium in flows and plasmas.
Congratulations to Bob Randolph for winning the NASA FINNEST-AO fellowship award! Bob will be working on adaptive high spectral resolution LIDAR using optical hole burning in atomic vapors.
Congratulations to Madison Hetlage for her publication in Applied Optics (Editor's pick)! Maddie has been studying the first optically pumped, controllable atomic filter for high-spectral resolution LIDAR.