预脉冲在毛细管快放电软x射线激光中的作用

在一台毛细管快放电软x射线激光实验装置上，在相同主脉冲条件下（电流峰值18—30kA，半周期80ns），通过观测放电产生的软x射线辐射，研究了该装置固有的高幅值（2—5kA）和外加的低幅值（10—20A）两种预脉冲，对聚乙烯毛细管和高纯度陶瓷毛细管（99.9%）放电的管壁烧蚀及等离子体状态的影响.采用装置固有的几kA预脉冲和聚乙烯毛细管，放电 过程中产生了大量的管壁烧蚀，并且这种情况下的等离子体均匀性差，没有可能获得激光输 出.而采用20A的预脉冲和高纯度陶瓷毛细管，管壁烧蚀量大大减少，预电离等离子体的均匀 性好，在这种情况下，实验上利用x射线二极管观测到了激光尖峰信号. 关键词： 预脉冲 毛细管放电 软x射线激光     

Capillary discharge tabletop soft X-ray lasers reach new wavelengths and applications

For many years, researchers have envisioned the development of compact high repetition rate tabletop soft X-ray lasers that could be routinely used in application in numerous disciplines. With demonstrated average powers of several mW and mJ-level pulse energy at 46.9 nm, capillary discharge-pumped lasers are the first compact lasers to reach this goal. In this paper we summarize the development status of high repetition rate tabletop soft X-ray lasers based on capillary discharge excitation, and give examples of their successful use in several applications. Results of the use of a capillary discharge pumped 46.9 nm laser in dense plasma interferometry, soft X-ray reflectometry for the determination of optical constants, and laser ablation are described. The observation of lasing at 53 nm line in Ne-like Cl with output pulse energy up to 10 μJ is also reported.     

Characterization of the 46.9-nm soft X-ray laser beam from a capillary discharge

Intense lasing had been obtained from argon plasma in the soft X-ray region from a capillary discharge plasma system. Different diagnostics have been used to characterize the lasing properties by recording the temporal, spatial, and spectral profiles of the emission. The divergence measurement indicates that the soft X-ray laser beam has good directionality with a divergence of 3.5 mrad. The spectrum of the laser beam measured using a transmission grating showed intense lasing line at 46.9 nm. Diffraction orders as high as 10th orders were observed. The temporal profile recorded with a vacuum diode showed a distinct laser peak with a pulse width ~1.2 ns (FWHM). In addition, the coherence of the X-ray laser beam was also confirmed from the high-contrast interference fringes (visibility ~85 %) recorded using double slits.     

Temporal and spectral analysis of capillary-discharge-pumped Ar<Superscript>8+</Superscript> lasers

We measure temporal and spectral characteristics of soft X-ray lasers based on capillary discharge, employing flat-field and Rowland spectrographs for analyzing the spectrum of a Ne-like Ar soft Xray laser and a monochromator for analyzing its temporal behavior on the 46.9 nm laser line. The monochromator provides the time resolution for a single wavelength; therefore, the pulse width and the onset time of the laser pulse can be reliably measured. In spite of the fact that the flat field spectrograph is relatively difficult to adjust (due to the long distance between the entrance slit and the grating), we obtained a fine spectrum with a fairly high precision. In contrast, the Rowland spectrograph is widely used, easily adjusted, and provides instantaneously visible results, but its detection precision is just between that of the monochromator and the flat-field spectrograph. Each of these three types of devices is characterized by its own strong point for the accurate detection and study of the spectrum of a Ne-like Ar laser at J = 0− 1 and wavelength 46.9 nm.     

激励类氖氩软X射线激光的最佳放电电流波形

 为了提高毛细管放电类氖氩46.9 nm软X射线激光的强度,研究了主脉冲电流波形对等离子体Z箍缩过程、激光的产生时间及激光强度的影响。通过改变主开关导通电感,实现了对主脉冲电流上升沿的改变。随着电流上升沿的增加,激光尖峰幅值减小,激光产生时间增加。实验进一步研究了平均电流变化率对激光强度的影响:在毛细管内径3 mm、管内初始气压30 Pa的情况下,产生46.9 nm激光的最佳平均电流变化率约为7.0×10¹¹ A/s。     

The Spectrum of Ne-Like Ar and the 4d-4p Transition of Kr7+ at 45 nm in Capillary Discharge Experiment

Capillary discharge soft X-ray laser, which is always called “table-top soft X-ray laser,” is one of the effective methods for miniaturization. The method is deemed to have experimental facility with practicable value. With capillary discharge mechanism, Ne-like Ar at 46.9 nm soft X-ray laser has been obtained, and the experimental results and the analyses are reported in this paper. Experimentally, a current pulse with the amplitude of 20 kA was used to excite three different gases: Ar, Kr, and N₂. The signals were detected by an X-ray diode (XRD), and the emission spectra were monitored with a Rowland spectrograph. The J = 0–1 line and one 3d-3p transition of Ne-like Ar were detected, with wavelengths of 46.9 nm and 48.5 nm, respectively. Adjusting the pure Ar to the appropriate pressure, the authors found that the J = 0–1 line gains amplification, while 3d-3p does not. When the Ar pressure was 26 Pa, the J = 0–1 line completely dominated the spectrum. N₂ and Kr were used as the materials of capillary discharge respectively. The spike signal was obtained by XRD, then the spectrum was detected by Rowland spectrograph, and the spectrum of Kr⁷⁺ was found.     

Growth and properties of KLu(WO4)2, and novel ytterbium and thulium lasers based on this monoclinic crystalline host

High‐quality crystals of monoclinic KLu(WO₄)₂, shortly KLuW, were grown with sizes sufficient for its characterization and substantial progress was achieved in the field of spectroscopy and laser operation with Yb³⁺‐ and Tm³⁺‐doping. We review the growth methodology for bulk KLuW and epitaxial layers, its structural, thermo‐mechanical, and optical properties, the Yb³⁺ and Tm³⁺ spectroscopy, and present laser results obtained in several operational regimes both with Ti:sapphire and direct diode laser pumping using InGaAs and AlGaAs diodes near 980 and 800 nm, respectively. The slope efficiencies with respect to the absorbed pump power achieved with continuous‐wave (CW) bulk and epitaxial Yb:KLuW lasers under Ti:sapphire laser pumping were ≈ 57 and ≈ 66%, respectively. Output powers as high as 3.28 W were obtained with diode pumping in a simple two‐mirror cavity where the slope efficiency with respect to the incident pump power reached ≈ 78%. Passively Q‐switched laser operation of bulk Yb:KLuW was realized with a Cr:YAG saturable absorber resulting in oscillation at ≈ 1031 nm with a repetition rate of 28 kHz and simultaneous Raman conversion to ≈ 1138 nm with maximum energies of 32.4 and 14.4 μJ, respectively. The corresponding pulse durations were 1.41 and 0.71 ns. Passive mode‐locking by a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) produced bandwidth‐limited pulses with duration of 81 fs (1046 nm, 95 MHz) and 114 fs (1030 nm, 101 MHz) for bulk and epitaxial Yb:KLuW lasers, respectively. Slope efficiency as high as 69% with respect to the absorbed power and an output power of 4 W at 1950 nm were achieved with a diode‐pumped Tm:KLuW laser. The slope efficiency reached with an epitaxial Tm:KLuW laser under Ti:sapphire laser pumping was 64 %. The tunability achieved with bulk and epitaxial Tm:KLuW lasers extended from 1800 to 1987 nm and from 1894 to 2039 nm, respectively.     

Capillary discharge soft X-ray laslng in Ne-like Ar pumped by long current pulses

A capillary discharge soft X-ray laser operating at 46.9 nm on the transition 3p-3s (J = 0-1) of the Ne-like Ar has been realized by exciting the active medium with a long half-cycle duration current pulse of 140 ns. The current is produced by discharging a 10 nF water dielectric capacitor, initially charged to voltages lower than 200 kV by a six stage Marx generator, through a 15-cm long capillary channels. The laser amplification has been obtained by properly adjusting all the other experimental parameters. Utilizing a 3-mm in diameter Al₂O₃ capillary channel initially filled with 0.3 torr of Ar pressure, a laser beam, which has a 4-mrad divergence and a time duration of 1.3 ns, is characterized by a gain of 0.6±0.1 cm^-1. The stability of the plasma compression followed by the laser emission is verified. Received 13 December 2001     

Observation of the spectrum of Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm soft X-ray and the laser under different main current rise time

Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm soft X-ray laser has been realized by the main current with different rise time. In this paper, the spectrum of capillary discharge Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm soft X-ray laser has been detected using a Rowland spectrograph, a new method of changing the rise time of the main current is also researched when the other conditions are fixed. The rise time will be changed when altering the inductance of the main switch, which will influence the time of lasing onset and the energy of the laser output. The time of lasing onset will be postponed and the energy of the laser will increase when the induction of the main switch increases. The energy of the laser increase by 78.5% when the rise time is changed from 38 to 55 ns.     

Two-photon pumping of random lasers by picosecond and nanosecond lasers

We experimentally demonstrated two-photon pumping of random lasers using picosecond and nanosecond pump lasers. The picosecond laser pumping experiment was performed with 400 ps laser pulses at 770 nm, and the gain media was a Coumarin 480D dye solution doped with TiO₂ nanoparticles. Onset of laser action was observed at a pump laser pulse energy below 500 μJ. The nanosecond laser pumping experiment was performed with 7 ns laser pulses at 1064 nm, and the gain media was a Rhodamine 640 dye solution doped with TiO₂ nanoparticles. Onset of laser action was observed at a pump laser energy ∼18 mJ. Our results suggest that there exists an optimal pulse duration of the pumping laser in two-photon pumped random lasing that leads to minimum photodamage of the gain media and still keeps a high pumping efficiency. PACS 33.50.Dq; 42.55.Mv; 42.55.Zz     

Energy transfer Rhodamine 6G-Safranin-T dye laser

The lasing behaviour of the mixed dye system of Rhodamine 6G and Safranin-T at various concentrations was studied using N₂ laser as the pumping source. The ETDL system is found to operate efficiently with a wide concentration tuning range of 31 nm at a pump power of ≈ 100 kW.     

Intensity distribution of a capillary-discharge 46.9 nm soft X-ray laser

We realize a Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm soft X-ray laser pumped by a capillary discharge. The study of the laserpulse-intensity distribution is important for applications of soft X-ray lasers. The intensity distribution demonstrates the gain distribution, plasma radius, and axial plasma density that contribute to the study of the laser-pulse formation. To measure the intensity in different positions of the X-ray laser spot, we moved transversally an X-ray diode (XRD) assembled with a slit. We obtain the onedimensional intensity distribution. We find a laser divergence (FWHM) of 4.0 mrad. According to the gain-guided model, we calculate the intensity distribution. The measured divergence of 4.0 mrad roughly corresponds to a plasma radius a approximately equal to 230–250 μm and on-axis electron density n _e ≈ 8.0?10¹⁸ ?9.0?10¹⁸ cm ^?3. The results of calculations indicate that the divergence of the intensity distribution increases when the plasma radius decreases and the on-axis electron density increases.     

High power high repetition rate pulsed collisional laser using a He + Eu+ mixture

Studies have been made of the properties of an ionized europium collision laser with=1002 nm in the 1.5 to 6 kW range of pumping powers. For this purpose, a gas-discharge tube made of BeO ceramic, 50 cm long and 2.7 cm diameter was used. The pulse repetition rate ranged from 2 to 10 kHz at a pumping duration of 400 ns.For helium pressures in the range of 0.3 to 1 atm, the efficiency and laser power increases faster than the concentration of helium atoms. At the atmospheric pressure of helium, the optimal lasing conditions are as follows: discharge current amplitude 150 A, the europium vapour pressure corresponds to 640 to 660° C and is dependent on the discharge current. The laser efficiency is independent of the pulse repetition rate in the 3 to 9 kHz range.The maximum laser power achieved was 12.7 W atF=9.5 kHz, and the efficiency amounted to 0.21%, whereas at 11.8 W andF=6.5 kHz the maximum efficiency was 0.24%. The dynamic efficiency of the laser reached 0.4%.     

Characteristics of a Ne-like Ar 46.9-nm soft X-ray laser in capillary discharge at a low Ar pressure

A capillary discharge-pumped Ne-like Ar 46.9-nm soft X-ray laser at a low Ar pressure (28–46 Pa) is proven. To our knowledge, this is the first time an XRD laser output in the condition of the low threshold of a main-current pulse spike (20–21 kA) is demonstrated. The Al₂O₃ ceramic capillary tube is 20 cm in length (Mo electrode is 4 cm in length) and 3 mm in diameter. The maximum laser energy of the precalibrated XRD is 3.5 μJ. The maximum gain coefficient g = 0.46 cm^?1, the maximum gain-length product is 8.28, the beam divergence is 5.4 mrad, and the laser pulse width is 1.65 ns. In addition, the results show that the laser plasma column became difficult to Z-pinch with a increasing Ar pressure, its Z-pinching state of a higher Ar pressure fluctuates more intensely than that of a lower pressure by analyzing the scattering of the delay time between the pre-and main-current pulse.     

Picosecond laser ablation of thin copper films

The ablation process of thin copper films on fused silica by picosecond laser pulses is investigated. The ablation area is characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The single-shot ablation threshold fluence for 40 ps laser pulses at 1053 nm has been determinated toF _thres = 172 mJ/cm². The ablation rate per pulse is measured as a function of intensity in the range of 5 × 10⁹ to 2 × 10¹¹ W/cm² and changes from 80 to 250 nm with increasing intensity. The experimental ablation rate per pulse is compared to heat-flow calculations based on the two-temperature model for ultrafast laser heating. Possible applications of picosecond laser radiation for microstructuring of different materials are discussed.     

Enhancement of Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm laser output by mixing appropriate He ratio at low pressure

With pure Ar and gaseous mixtures of Ar-He, the laser spike of Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm pumped by capillary discharge is measured with XRD (X-ray diode) at low pressure. We observe the effects of the Ar pressure and the He ratio on the amplitude of laser pulse. Compared with the laser spike of pure Ar, a mixture of Ar and a small quantity of He enhances the laser output. The time of lasing onset and the duration of laser pulses are not affected by mixing He. In addition, a monochromator is used to measure the laser pulse at 46.9 nm. This is the first observation of laser output with a Ar-He mixture.     

Gas laser excitation by an electron beam formed at open discharge

The method of formation of powerful electron beams (EBs) with nanosecond duration has been described (electron energyu10 to 20 keV and beam currentl _EB>1 kA) in the medium pressure gas which is simultaneously the laser active medium. The value ofl _EB=7 kA has been achieved atU=22 kV, =20 ns andp _Ne=300 Pa in a coaxial cell 330 mm long and 99 mm in diameter. The 3 kA current from the cathode with 60 cm² square in the shape of a segment of a sphere 140 mm in diameter has been achieved atU=23 kV, =15 ns andp _Ne=300 Pa. With the help of a magnetic field this beam has been transported to a distance of up to 100 cm.Applications of the beams for pumping various lasers were broadened. Lasing in He + Cd⁺ mixtures at the optimal He pressure of 10 to 12 kPa and in the triple mixture He-Cd-Kr has been obtained. Using the method of doubled excitation pulses it has been shown that EB pumping provides preservation of the lasing pulse parameters in the Eu atom laser in comparison with glowing discharge, the sequential frequency being an order of magnitude greater. Lasing at a significantly greater ion concentration than in gas discharge has been obtained in the ion laser on the self-terminating transition of Ca⁺,=866 nm. Quasicontinuous lasing has been realized in the mixture He + Sr + Kr in the plasma laser on Sr⁺,=430.6 nm.     

1444-nm Q-switched pulse generator based on Nd:YAG/V:YAG microchip laser

Q-switched microchip laser emitting radiation at eye-safe wavelength 1444 nm was designed and realized. This laser was based on composite crystal which consists of 4 mm long Nd:YAG active medium diffusion bonded with 1 mm long V:YAG saturable absorber. The diameter of the composite crystal was 5 mm. The initial transmission of the V:YAG part was T ₀ = 94% @ 1440 nm. The microchip resonator consists of dielectric mirrors, directly deposited onto the composite crystal surfaces. These mirrors were specially designed to ensure desired emission at 1444 nm and to prevent parasitic lasing at other Nd³⁺ transmissions. The output coupler with reflectivity 94% for the generated wavelength 1444 nm was placed on the V³⁺-doped part. The laser was operating under pulsed pumping for the duty-cycle up to 50%. With increasing value of mean pumping power a strong decrease of generated pulse length was observed. The shortest generated pulses were 4.2 ns long (FWHM). Stable pulses with energy 34 μJ were generated with repetition rate up to 1.5 kHz. Corresponding pulse peak power was 8.2 kW. The wavelength of linearly polarized TEM₀₀ laser mode was fixed to 1444 nm.     

Prepulse dependence ofJ=0−1 lasing at 32.6 nm in neon-like titanium

The dependence of the intensity of the 3p—3s,J = 0–1 lasing line at 32.6 nm in neon-like titanium on the prepulse level has been investigated experimentally. Titanium slabs were irradiated with 1.315 µm/450 ps pulses from the Asterix IV iodine laser using a defined prepulse of 5.2 ns before the main pulse. It is found that for pump energies close to the minimum energy for which lasing is observed, a prepulse level of order 0.5% gives the highest XUV laser intensity, whereas a higher prepulse level, of order 10% and more, is required for optimum XUV lasing far above the threshold. For a 2.7 cm long titanium target lasing was observed down to a pump irradiance of 2.5 TW/cm² (50 J/450 ps) for the 0.5% prepulse.     

Efficient pulse operation of Nd:GdVO4 laser with AO Q-switch

We realized an efficient laser diode-pumped Nd:GdVO₄ laser with crystals grown by the floating zone method. In the lasing experiment, a slope efficiency of 78% was achieved with a 1 at.% Nd-doped crystal by pumping at 879 nm. Furthermore, excellent pulsed laser operation was demonstrated with the Nd:GdVO₄ crystal by using an acousto-optical (AO) Q-switch. A pulse width of 7 ns was observed when the pulse-repetition frequency was 40 kHz. It is the shortest pulse width recorded in the case of the AO Q-switched Nd:GdVO₄ laser.