DIOUF Lab

Contact

Mbaye Diouf, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
RIT School of Physics and Astronomy
Phone: (585) 475-7139
Email

Our research is focused on advancing the limits of light manipulation and application, driving innovation across optics, microscopy, and photonics.

About Dr. Mbaye Diouf

headshot of Mbaye Diouf

Dr. Mbaye Diouf is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He received his master’s degree and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Senegal.

During his Ph.D., Dr. Diouf conducted research at the Higher School of Communication of Tunis, Tunisia, in the field of highly nonlinear fiber optics for supercontinuum generation, supported by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). After completing his Ph.D., he served as a research fellow under the Fellowship Training and Research in Italian Laboratories (TRIL) program at ICTP in Trieste, Italy.

He later joined the School of Engineering at Brown University in Rhode Island, USA, where he served for several years. He worked first as a Postdoctoral Researcher and then as a Senior Research Associate. During this time, he played a pivotal role in the design and construction of the PROBE Lab, which he led almost single-handedly, while also training and mentoring many of the lab’s students.

Current Projects

In our lab, we explore innovative ways to control and manipulate light through both experimental and theoretical optical physics. Our work spans ultrafast optics, advanced microscopy, structured light, supercontinuum laser sources, and nonlinear materials, driving advances in optics and photonics.

Project 1: Space-Time Wave Packets

Space-Time Wave Packets Diagram

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Space-Time Wave Packets Diagram No. 2

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We investigate the behavior and manipulation of propagation-invariant space-time (ST) light sheets, which offer unique spatiotemporal properties that can be harnessed for diffraction-free and dispersion-free light propagation.

This ST light sheet is uniquely structured through classical entanglement, meaning it combines multiple properties of light in a non-separable way. Recently, we developed the ST vector light sheet and demonstrated that it resists speckle and maintains much higher phase stability than standard Gaussian beams. This approach opens new possibilities for more stable optical interferometry, with applications in precision sensing, quantum optics, length measurement, and bioimaging.

We have also explored the generation and control of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which enable strong light–matter interactions at subwavelength scales, opening avenues for ultra-compact photonic devices.

Related Publications: 

Project 2: Orbital Angular Momentum

Orbital Angular Momentum Diagram 1

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Orbital Angular Momentum Diagram 2

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Optical beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) have demonstrated great potential in applications such as optical communications, quantum information, sensing, and imaging. However, their practical implementation is still constrained by turbulence, scattering, and diffractive spreading, which degrade mode purity and disrupt the orthogonality of OAM channels. Therefore, studying methods to preserve and control OAM modes under realistic propagation conditions is essential for unlocking their full potential in advanced photonic systems.

Related Publications:

Project 3: Light-sheet and Multiphoton Microscopy

Multiphoton Microscopy Diagram 1

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Deep-tissue optical imaging remains constrained by scattering, absorption, and diffraction. Conventional one-photon fluorescence microscopy provides strong signal but poor resolution at depth, while multiphoton microscopy offers extended penetration using near-infrared light, but suffers from low absorption cross-sections and costly laser requirements. Our research seeks to develop innovative optical strategies, using multiphoton light sheet microscopy, to achieve higher resolution, wider fields of view, and greater penetration depth in scattering media.

Related Publications:

Project 4: Supercontinuum Laser Sources

Laser Source Diagram 1

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Laser Source Diagram 2

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Supercontinuum light sources, spanning from the visible to the mid-infrared (MIR), are generated through strong nonlinear optical effects and have enabled advances in defense, telecommunications, biomedicine, frequency metrology, OCT, sensing, and spectroscopy. Our research aims to design and experimentally demonstrate ultra-broadband, high-power infrared sources with pulse durations reaching the femtosecond and even attosecond regime.

These sources are engineered using various material platforms and photonic structures, including chalcogenide and tellurite-based integrated waveguides, photonic crystal fibers, step-index fibers, and laser-written waveguides. The tailored dispersion and nonlinear properties of these media are optimized for applications such as high-resolution optical imaging, gas spectroscopy, and optical sensing across diverse environments.

Related Publications:

Publications

  1. Krishangi Krishna, Joshua A. Burrow, Mbaye Diouf, Jieliyue Sun, Mitchell Harling, and Kimani C. Toussaint Jr. “Using flat-top light sheet generated by femtosecond-pulsed laser for optical manipulation of microscopic particles,” Optical Engineering 64(2), 024107 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.64.2.024107 
  2. Mbaye Diouf, Kimani C. Toussaint; Demonstration of space-time wave packet carrying orbital angular momentum across scattering media. APL Photonics; 10 (1): 016123, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0236625.
  3. Mbaye Diouf, Mitchell Harling, and Kimani C. Toussaint, "Large depth-of-focus via programmable space time light sheets," Opt. Lett. 50, 1795-1798 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.555203<
  4. Mbaye Diouf, Zixi Lin, Mitchell Harling, Krishangi Krishna, and Kimani C. Toussaint, "Interferometric phase stability from Gaussian and space–time light sheets," Optica 10<, 1161-1164 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.493336
  5. Mbaye Diouf, Joshua A. Burrow and Kimani C. Toussaint, Jr. Elusive phase wave caught, Nat. Phys. 19, 314–316 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-022-01861-z.
  6. Mbaye Diouf, Z. Lin, M. Harling, and K. C. Toussaint, Jr., Demonstration of speckle resistance using space–time light sheets. Sci Rep 12, 14064 (2022). >https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18153-4.
  7. Mbaye Diouf, Joshua A. Burrow, Krishangi Krishna, Rachel Odessey, Ayman F. Abouraddy, and Kimani C. Toussaint, "Excitation of surface plasmon polaritons by diffraction-free and vector beams," Appl. Opt. 61, 7469-7473 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.465853. 
  8. Rutendo Jakachira, Mbaye Diouf, Zixi Lin, Joshua A. Burrow, Andrew Howes, Teniola Oguntolu, Robert Carter III, Shira I. Dunsiger, and Kimani C. Toussaint, "Single-wavelength, single-shot pulse oximetry using an LED-generated vector beam," Opt. Express 30, 27293-27303 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.461871. 
  9. Mitchell Harling, Varun Kelkar, Chukwuemeka Okoro, Mbaye Diouf, Ayman F. Abouraddy, and Kimani C. Toussaint, "Reversible inter-degree-of-freedom optical-coherence conversion via entropy swapping," Opt. Express 30, 29584-29597 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.463852.
  10. Mbaye Diouf, Mitchell Harling, Murat Yessenov, Layton A. Hall, Ayman F. Abouraddy, and Kimani C. Toussaint, "Space-time vector light sheets," Opt. Express 29, 37225-37233 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.436161.
  11. Mbaye Diouf, Ahmadou Wague, and Mourad Zghal, "Numerical investigation of an ultra-broadband coherent mid-infrared supercontinuum in a chalcogenide AsSe2-As2S5 multimaterial photonic crystal fiber," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 36, A8-A14 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.36.0000A8
  12. Mbaye Diouf, Lucien Mandeng Mandeng, Clément Tchawoua, and Mourad Zghal, "Numerical Investigation of Supercontinuum Generation Through AsSe2/As2S5 Chalcogenide Photonic Crystal Fibres and Rib Structures," J. Lightwave Technol. 37, 5692-5698 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1364/JLT.37.005692
  13. Mbaye Diouf, Amine Ben Salem, Rim Cherif, Hamed Saghaei, and Ahmadou Wague, "Super-flat coherent supercontinuum source in As38.8Se61.2 chalcogenide photonic crystal fiber with all-normal dispersion engineering at a very low input energy," Appl. Opt. 56, 163-169 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.56.000163
  14. Mbaye Diouf, R. Cherif, A. Ben Salem, A. Wague, M. Zghal, “Ultra-Broadband, coherent mid-IR supercontinuum expanding from 1.5 to 12.2 μm in new design of AsSe2 photonic crystal fiber,” Journal of Modern Optics, 64(7), (2017). https://doi.org/10.1080/09500340.2017.1288830.
  15. Mbaye Diouf, A. Ben Salem, Rim Cherif, A. Wague, M. Zghal “High Power Broadband Mid-Infrared Supercontinuum Fiber Laser Using a Novel Chalcogenide AsSe2 Photonic Crystal” Optical Materials 55, 10, (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2016.03.010.
  16. A. Ben Salem, Mbaye Diouf, Rim Cherif, Ahmadou Wague, Mourad Zghal, “Ultra Flat-top Mid infrared Coherent Broadband Supercontinuum Using all Normal As2S5-Borosilicate Hybrid Photonic Crystal Fiber,” Optical Engineering, 55(6), 066109 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.6.066109. >

  1. Mbaye Diouf, et al. "Metrology of tissue pathology using optical self-healing", Proc. SPIE 11958, Optical Interactions with Tissue and Cells XXXIII; and Advanced Photonics in Urology, 1195805. March 2022, San Francisco, California, United States. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2609161.
  2. Mbaye Diouf, Z. Lin, M. Harling, and K. C. Toussaint, "Speckle resistance from space-time light sheets," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO), Technical Digest Series (Optica Publishing Group, 2022), paper JTh2P.3. https://opg.optica.org/abstract.cfm?uri=CLEO_SI-2022-JTh2P.3. 
  3. Mbaye Diouf, et al. "Multiphoton imaging using a quantitative CMOS camera", Proc. SPIE 11965, Multiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences XXII, 119650D (3 March 2022). March 2022, San Francisco, California, United States. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2610510.

1. Toussaint, Kimani, Rutendo Jakachira, Mbaye Diouf, Joshua Burrow, and Zixi Lin. "Optical determination of a cardiovascular variability parameter independent of skin contributions." U.S. Patent 12,274,547, issued April 15, 2025.