飞秒激光脉冲在正色散固体材料中的自压缩

实验研究了正色散固体介质中的激光脉冲自压缩现象,证明了无需任何外加色散补偿情况下，固体透明介质中的自聚焦传输过程可使高功率飞秒激光脉冲实现时域脉冲压缩，并详细研究了输出脉冲的时域和频域特性随入射脉冲强度的演化规律.实验结果表明脉冲自压缩量随入射脉冲强度的增加呈递增趋势，然而当入射光强增大到足以引起超连续谱及锥形辐射产生时，脉冲时域形状会发生分裂.此外还发现发散光束入射情况下同样可以观察到脉冲自压缩现象. 关键词： 超短激光脉冲 脉冲压缩 非线性传输     

在相对论性激光-等离子体系统中初始物理参数对激光脉冲的影响

基于相对论性激光-等离子体动力学理论，研究了相对论性激光-等离子体系统中圆偏振入射脉冲激光和等离子体相互作用对激光脉冲宽度的影响. 具体分析了在不同初始物理参数下脉冲激光的脉冲宽度在等离子体传播过程中的变化情况，重点分析了激光脉冲在等离子中压缩. 计算结果表明增加入射激光的强度和入射脉冲宽度以及减小等离子体的初始密度，能够有效地实现脉冲宽度在等离子体中压缩；当激光脉冲的初始参数a₀=0.12和τ=70以及等离子体密度n₀=0.3时，脉冲宽度相对压缩T/τ接近于1/10，从而给出了激光压缩的理论优化参数. 关键词： 相对论性激光-等离子体 激光脉冲宽度 等离子体密度 自压缩     

激光脉冲在等离子体中的压缩分裂

通过数值求解一维非线性薛定谔方程,研究了圆偏振入射激光脉冲在初始密度范围为1/4到略低于1倍临界密度的等离子体中的自压缩和分裂现象. 提高等离子体密度和入射激光强度以及减小脉冲宽度可以在更短的传输距离获得有效的激光脉冲压缩,压缩后的脉冲半高宽度可达到初始脉冲半高宽度的1/35,甚至更小. 这种压缩是激光脉冲在等离子体中形成高阶孤子的过程中产生的,可以获得比在稀薄等离子体中更好的压缩比例. 数值计算的结果给出了该情况下激光脉冲在等离子体中自压缩后形成的高阶孤子分裂. 利用一维粒子数值模拟程序(particle-in-cell,PIC)也观察到了脉冲的压缩和分裂现象,得到了与数值计算一致的结果. 关键词： 非线性薛定谔方程 自压缩 脉冲分裂 粒子模拟     

Effect of nonlinear dispersion on pulse self-compression in a defocusing noble gas

Media with a negative Kerr index (n₂) offer an intriguing possibility to self-compress ultrashort laser pulses without the risk of spatial wave collapse. However, in the relevant frequency regions, the negative nonlinearity turns out to be highly dispersive as well. Here, we study the influence of nonlinear dispersion on the pulse self-compression in a defocusing xenon gas. Purely temporal (1+1)-dimensional investigations reveal and fully spatio-temporal simulations confirm that a temporal shift of high intensity zones of the compressed pulse due to the nonlinear dispersion is the main effect on the modulational instability (MI) mediated compression mechanism. In the special case of vanishing n₂ for the center frequency, pulse compression leading to the ejection of a soliton is examined, which cannot be explained by MI.     

Direct carrier–envelope phase stabilization of a soliton-effect compressed sub-two-cycle pulse source through nonlinear mixing of solitonic and dispersive waves

We present a carrier–envelope phase (CEP) stabilized sub-two-cycle 5.2 fs pulse source based on soliton-effect self-compression of femtosecond laser pulses in millimetre-long highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibres. We employ a simple and efficient scheme to generate a strong (40–60 dB, configuration dependent) CEP beat signal directly from the pulse source via f-to-2f interferometry where the second harmonic of the main soliton pulse is mixed with the isolated dispersive blue/green radiation peak that is also generated in the compression process, obviating the need for additional spectral broadening mechanisms.     

Pulse self-compression to the single-cycle limit by filamentation in a gas with a pressure gradient

We calculate pulse self-compression of a 30 fs laser pulse traversing gas with different pressure gradients. We show that an appropriate density profile brings significant improvement to the self-compression by filamentation. Under an optimal pressure gradient, the pulse duration is reduced to the single optical cycle limit over a long distance, allowing easy extraction into an interaction chamber.     

Ionization self-compression of intense femtosecond pulses propagating through gas-filled dielectric capillaries

A mechanism of the ionization-induced self-compression of femtosecond laser pulses propagating in a gas-filled hollow dielectric capillary has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. In particular, the double self-compression of a laser pulse from 76 to 40 fs has been experimentally demonstrated. A theoretical model that explains the mechanism of such a self-compression and provides a good agreement with the experimental data has been developed. The model also predicts that a laser pulse shorter than 10 fs can be generated in the optimal regime with an energy efficiency exceeding the efficiency of self-compression on a filament widely discussed at present.     

Diode-pumped passively mode-locked yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide ceramic sub-picosecond laser

A diode-pumped sub-picosecond laser is realized with Yb³⁺-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramic Yb:(Y_0.9La_0.1)₂O₃ as the gain medium for the first time. By using Gires-Tournois interferometer mirrors and chirped mirror for dispersion compensation and semiconductor saturable absorber mirror for passive mode-locking, laser pulse as short as 730 fs was obtained at the central wavelength of 1033 nm and repetition rate of 65.5 MHz. Under the maximum pump power of 6 W at 976 nm, the output power is 92 mW.     

高强度飞秒激光脉冲在空气中的自压缩

利用高重复频率（1kHz）、吉瓦级飞秒激光脉冲实验验证了高强度飞秒脉冲在空气中的自 压缩现象，研究了入射脉冲在不同初始啁啾情况下经空气中聚焦成丝后，时域及频域特性随 入射脉冲能量的变化规律.实验结果表明，在无需后继色散补偿情况下，高强度飞秒脉冲仅 通过在空气中的非线性传输过程就可以实现脉冲压缩；在入射脉冲为负啁啾情况下，实验观 察到脉冲光谱及时域宽度同时得到压缩，并可获得比激光源所能提供的更短的近双曲正割型 变换限脉冲. 关键词： 高强度飞秒激光脉冲 自压缩 自聚焦     

Diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:CaNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> laser

We have experimentally demonstrated a diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:CaNb₂O₆ laser for the first time to our best knowledge. With a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) as a passive mode locker, the laser generated stable mode-locked pulses with pulse duration of 17.3 ps and repetition rate of 88.4 MHz. With a singe-emitter laser diode pumping, the maximum average output power of the mode-locked laser was 0.843 W, with a slope efficiency of 23%. The experimental results show the Nd:CaNb₂O₆ crystal is a promising laser gain medium for picosecond pulse generation.     

飞秒强激光脉冲在等离子体中的自压缩

文章从激光等离子体相互作用的非线性薛定谔方程出发,理论研究了飞秒强激光脉冲在等离子体中的自压缩行为.结果表明在一定范围内随着激光脉冲宽度、激光强度的增大以及等离子体密度的减小,飞秒强激光脉冲在等离子体中传播的自压缩现象越明显.另外通过适当设定参量得到了近似稳定传播的基孤子.     

Modulation instability in filamentary self-compression

We numerically analyze filamentary propagation for various media and input pulse parameters and show that temporal self-compression can greatly benefit from refocusing events. Analyzing the dynamical behavior in the second focal spot, it turns out that a dispersive temporal break-up may appear due to the emission of a hyperbolic shock wave from the self-steepened trailing edge of the pulse. This break-up event in the refocus enhances the self-compression capabilities of laser filaments, enabling up to 12-fold temporal compression. Only slightly perturbing the input pulse parameters, we further identify a regime in which refocusing events give rise to extended subdiffractive propagation in a weakly ionized channel.     

Passively Q-switched laser performance of a diode-pump mixed Nd:Lu<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.85</Subscript>VO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal

A diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:Lu_0.15Y_0.85VO₄ laser with a GaAs output coupler is demonstrated. By using a mixed crystal Nd:Lu_0.15Y_0.85VO₄ as laser medium, the passively Q-switched laser can generate shorter pulse width with higher peak power in comparison with the passively Q-switched Nd:LuVO₄ or Nd:YVO₄ lasers under the same laser cavity. At the incident pump power 11.9 W, the minimum pulse width of 3.23 ns and the maximum peak power 1.67 kW can be obtained. The average output power and the pulse repetition rate of the laser are also measured. The experimental results show that the mixed crystal is a promising laser medium for shorter Q-switched pulse with higher peak power.     

Pulse behaviour of a compact RF discharged CO2 slab laser

We present the measurements made on a medium power, 35 cm long, radio-frequency discharge CO₂ slab laser operated in a pulsed regime obtained by switching the RF discharge. In this way, pulses with peak power up to 480 W at pulse repetition frequencies in the range 1 to 10 kHz have been obtained. Pulse energy and average extracted power have been experimentally characterized with respect to the pulse repetition frequency and to the pulse duration, and the pulse shape and characteristic times have been measured. We also investigated the propagation properties of the beam emerging from our laser.     

Spectral and laser properties of Yb and Ho co-doped（YLa）2O3 transparent ceramic

Highly transparent Yb,Ho doped(YLa)2O3 ceramic was fabricated by conventional ceramic processing with nanopowders.The absorption and emission spectra of the ceramic was investigated.The energy transfer mechanism between Yb3+ and Ho3+ was also discussed.The strong emission band around 2 μm indicated that the Yb-Ho:(Y 0.90 La 0.10)2O3 transparent ceramic is a promising gain medium for the generation of 2 μm laser emissions.The laser operation of Yb-Ho co-doped(YLa)2O3 ceramic at 2.1 μm is first reported.     

An experimental study of self-focusing and self-defocusing of a TEA CO2 laser pulse in CDF3

We observed self-focusing and self-defocusing of a TEA CO₂ laser pulse in CDF₃ vapor under different conditions. The experimental parameters we varied are the pressure inside the interaction cell, the frequency of the laser, the energy and the temporal length of the pulse. We have shown that it is possible to pass from self-focusing to self-defocusing by only increasing the intensity of the laser pulse. We propose a physical model that can explain these experimental results. This model is different from that used to explain the selffocusing of a CO₂ laser in SF₆.     

A plasma effect in injection-mode selection of TEA CO2 lasers

We present experimental evidence obtained by a laser heterodyne technique for a chirp of about 10¹⁴ Hz/s in the cavity resonance during the pulse build-up time of a TEA CO₂ laser. The frequency sweep arises from the refractive-index contribution of the time-dependent electron density in the exciting discharge plasma. The phenomenon provides a mechanism, previously unexplained, for the extended and asymmetric mode selection zone in injection experiments.     

Laser-induced backside wet etching of fluoride and sapphire using picosecond laser pulses

Laser-induced backside wet etching (LIBWE) is a promising process for microstructuring of rigid chemical resistant and inert transparent materials. LIBWE with nanosecond laser pulses has been successfully demonstrated in a number of studies. LIBWE in a time scale of femtosecond and picosecond pulse durations has been investigated only in a few studies and just on fused silica. In the present study LIBWE of fluorides (CaF₂, MgF₂) and sapphire with a mode-locked picosecond (t _p=10 ps) laser at a UV wavelength of λ=355 nm using toluene as absorbing liquid has been demonstrated. The influence of the laser fluence and the pulse number on the etching rate and the achieved surface morphology was investigated. The etching rate grows linearly with the laser fluence in the low and high-fluence ranges with different slopes. The achieved etching rates for CaF₂ and for sapphire were in the same range. Contrary to CaF₂ and sapphire the etching rates of MgF₂ were one magnitude less. For backside etching on sapphire at high fluences smooth surfaces and at low fluences ripples pattern were found, whereas fluoride surfaces showed a trend towards crack formation.     

Thermomagnetic switching in a GdFeBi-photoconductor sandwich

Magneto-optic films of amorphous rare earth transition metal alloys with uniaxial anisotropy can be used as a memory medium in optical storage systems. The information is written thermomagnetically and is retrieved via the magneto-optic Kerr- or Faraday-effect. The threshold laser power for writing is reduced compared to direct laser heating by a combination of the ferrimagnetic film with a CdS ? Cu ? Cl photoconductor sandwiched between In₂O₃ ? SnO₂ transparent electrodes. The film characteristics and switching properties are discussed.     

Self-focusing of laser radiation in cluster plasma

The self-focusing of laser radiation in plasma with ionized gaseous clusters is studied both analytically and numerically. An electrodynamic model is proposed for cluster plasma in a field of ultrashort laser pulse. The radiation self-action dynamics are studied using the equation for wave-field envelope with allowance for the electronic nonlinearity of the expanded plasma bunches and the group-velocity dispersion in a nanodispersive medium. It is shown that, for a laser power exceeding the self-focusing critical power, the wave-field self-compression occurs in a medium with dispersion of any type (normal, anomalous, or combined). Due to the strong dependence of the characteristic nonlinear field on the size of ionized cluster, the corresponding processes develop faster than in a homogeneous medium and give rise to the ultrashort pulses.