About

I'm Varun Sharma, and my journey in the world of optics has been an exhilarating exploration into the intricacies of light and its boundless possibilities.

I completed my Ph.D. at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, India, where I specialized in the research of Nonlinear and Structured Beam Optics. My thesis work centered around the optical parametric oscillator (OPO), a versatile tool of nonlinear optics that allows tunable wavelength generation through the interaction of intense laser light with nonlinear crystal. During this period, I took an innovative approach to engineer the cavity of the OPO to generate spatially structured beams of light — including optical vortices, vector vortex beams, and Airy beams — from the OPO itself across a broad spectral range.

To expand my horizons, I ventured to the University of Graz, working with Prof. Peter Banzer on developing on-chip metrology techniques using programmable photonic integrated circuits. This work focused on the detection and distinction of spatially structured beams, specifically investigating the orbital angular momentum of light.

Currently, I am part of the pioneering research at Cornell University, working with Prof. Frank Wise to investigate large core GRIN waveguides and demonstrating their applications in spatial beam cleaning and pulse compression. I am also developing regenerative amplifiers as high pulse energy sources to study optical thermodynamics, with an active focus on the multimodal spatio-temporal control and measurement of light pulses.

Beyond the lab and research papers, I am a passionate photographer, finding solace and artistry behind the lens. Whether it's capturing the serene beauty of the Himalayas or the stark grandeur of desert landscapes, photography allows me to see the world through a different kind of optic.