Vineet Kumar

Optical Metrology Engineer | Thin-Film Characterization | Laser Diagnostics

9+ years of experience designing precision metrology systems, characterizing dielectric coatings, and developing production-grade laser diagnostic instruments

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About Me

I'm an Optical Metrology Engineer with 9+ years of experience in thin-film characterization and high-power laser diagnostics. Specialized in evaluating dielectric coatings designed for continuous-wave and pulsed laser systems operating at 1064 nm, 532 nm, and 355 nm. My expertise spans absorption measurements at the parts-per-million level, interferometric surface quality assessments, and the development of custom metrology instrumentation that bridges R&D innovation with manufacturing requirements.

With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Electro-Optics) from the University of Tennessee, my research background includes surface plasmon resonance near-field probing and nanoscale material characterization, with publications in Applied Physics Letters and New Journal of Physics.

Professional Experience

Optical Scientist

IPG Photonics, Marlborough, MA

November 2021 – October 2023

  • Designed and deployed a photothermal common-path interferometer (PCI) for ppm-level absorption measurements in dielectric coatings and bulk laser crystal materials
  • Characterized DBAR, UV AR, HR, and multilayer coatings optimized for high-power operation at 1064 nm, 532 nm, and 355 nm
  • Measured surface and bulk absorption in nonlinear crystals such as LBO under CW and pulsed excitation
  • Designed custom angular scattering apparatus to quantify coating-induced scatter
  • Conducted laser damage investigations and supported coating process optimization
  • Developed metrology software in C#/.NET and Python for automated acquisition and statistical tracking
  • Transferred advanced metrology systems from R&D to production environments
PCIC#/.NETPythonLBO CrystalsAngular Scattering

Optical Engineer

IPG Photonics, Marlborough, MA

September 2018 – October 2021

  • Performed thin-film spectral characterization using PerkinElmer spectrophotometers across UV–VIS–IR ranges
  • Evaluated AR, DBAR, and HR coatings for high-power laser components
  • Assembled customized optical metrology systems on vibration-isolated optical tables
  • Integrated continuous and pulsed laser sources with lock-in detection systems
  • Conducted interferometric surface quality assessments and coating validation
PerkinElmerLock-in DetectionAR/HR CoatingsInterferometry

Associate Researcher

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

January 2015 – May 2018

  • Designed and implemented a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) near-field probing system for nanoscale material characterization
  • Fabricated tapered optical fiber nanotips and deposited gold coatings via high-vacuum e-beam evaporation
  • Deposited gold films for Kretschmann-configuration SPR excitation using a 632.8 nm He–Ne laser
  • Detected plasmon perturbations using photomultiplier tubes and low-noise current amplifiers
  • Conducted cleanroom fabrication, vacuum processing, SEM imaging, and AFM surface characterization
SPRE-Beam EvaporationSEMAFMCleanroom

Technical Skills

Optical Metrology & Thin-Film

Photothermal Common-Path Interferometry ppm-Level Absorption Measurement DBAR / AR / HR Coatings Angular Scattering Analysis Laser Crystal Qualification

Laser & Instrumentation

CW & Pulsed Laser Diagnostics Lock-in Amplifiers Photomultiplier Tubes Fiber Optics & Alignment Spectrum Analyzers

Fabrication & Characterization

E-Beam Evaporation Sputtering & CVD SEM & AFM Cleanroom Processing Vacuum Systems

Software & Data

Python C# / .NET Statistical Analysis Signal Processing Instrument Control

Education

Ph.D., Electrical Engineering (Electro-Optics)

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN — 2019

Dissertation: Nanoscale Probing of Modified Surfaces Using Surface Plasmons

Selected Publications

2020

Photofield electron emission from an optical fiber nanotip

Keramati, S., Passian, A., Khullar, V., & Batelaan, H.

Applied Physics Letters, 117(6), 061102

2020

Surface plasmon enhanced fast electron emission from metallised fibre optic nanotips

Keramati, S., Passian, A., Khullar, V., Beck, J., Uiterwaal, C., & Batelaan, H.

New Journal of Physics, 22, 083069

2018

Green's function for a sharpened and metal-coated dielectric probe

Khullar, V., Gu, G., Passian, A., & Ferrell, T.

Applied Optics

2019

Nanoscale Probing of Modified Surfaces Using Surface Plasmons

Khullar, V.

Doctoral Dissertation, University of Tennessee

Get In Touch

Email

vineetkumarkhullar25@gmail.com

Phone

234-567-9804

Location

Marlborough, MA