Laser plasma propulsion generation in nanosecond pulse laser interaction with polyimide film

The plasma propulsion generated in nanosecond pulse laser interaction with polyimide film is investigated. A comparison of coupling coefficient and specific impulse with glass layer and water layer confinement is given. It shows that polyimide has a higher efficiency in water confinement ablation. Through doped carbon black in polyimide film, a higher coupling coefficient is obtained. In ablated surface images, less re-deposited products on polyimide surface have been observed compared with other polymers at the same laser intensity.     

High Coupling Efficiency Generation in Water Confined Laser Plasma Propulsion

High coupling efficiency generation in water confined laser plasma propulsion is investigated. It is found that the coupling efficiency is enhanced over thirty times in water confined ablation compared to that of direct ablation. From calculation of the ablation pressure induced by the plasma on the target surface, it is realized that high coupling efficiency is attributed to the confinement of the water layer on the plasma expansion.     

Enhancement of coupling coefficient of laser plasma propulsion by water confinement

Water-confined laser ablation to enhance the coupling coefficient in laser plasma propulsion is proposed. It is found that the confinement of the plasma expansion due to the water layer leads to high absorption efficiency and therefore a high coupling coefficient of over 250 dyne/W is observed. This is an enhancement of over thirty times compared to that from direct ablation. PACS 52.75.Di; 52.38.Mf; 79.20.Ds     

纳秒激光烧蚀冲量耦合数值模拟

为研究激光烧蚀靶产生冲量过程和机理, 建立了一个复杂的一维热传导和流体动力学模型. 以空间碎片常见材料Al为例, 用建立的模型数值计算了纳秒脉宽激光烧蚀靶产生的冲量及冲量耦合系数随时间变化情况. 数值结果和已有的实验数据符合的较好. 数值计算表明: 激光脉冲时间内, 靶获得的冲量随时间迅速增加, 在脉冲时间结束后, 冲量变化随时间趋于稳定; 在冲量耦合过程中, 烧蚀等离子体向真空膨胀, 羽流尺度逐渐增大, 同时吸收入射激光能量, 导致激光与靶耦合的能量降低. 关键词： 激光烧蚀 冲量耦合 等离子体     

Single and multiple shot near-infrared femtosecond laser pulse ablation thresholds of copper

The single-shot ablation threshold and incubation coefficient of copper were investigated using an amplified near-infrared, femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. To date, the near-infrared femtosecond ablation threshold of copper has been reported in the range of several hundred millijoules per cm² based primarily on multiple shot ablation studies. A careful study of the single shot ablation threshold for copper was carried out yielding an incident single-shot ablation threshold of (1.06±0.12) J/cm² for a clean copper foil surface. This was determined by measuring the diameters of the ablation spots as a function of the laser pulse energy using scanning electron microscopy for spatially Gaussian laser spots. When multiple shots were taken on the same spot, a reduction in ablation threshold was observed, consistent with a multiple shot incubation coefficient of 0.76±0.02. Similar experiments on 250 nm and 500 nm copper thin films sputtered on a silicon substrate demonstrated that scaling the threshold values with the absorbance of energy at the surface yields a consistent absorbed fluence threshold for copper of (59±10) mJ/cm². This absorbed threshold value is consistent with the expected value from a two-temperature model for the heating of copper with an electron-lattice coupling constant of g=10¹⁷ Wm^-3 K^-1. Single-shot rippling of the surface in the threshold ablation intensity regime was also observed for the foil target but not for the smooth thin film target. PACS 61.80.Ba; 61.82.Bg     

Two-dimensional numerical research on effects of titanium target bombarded by TEMPⅡ accelerator

Two-dimensional numerical research has been carried out on the ablation effects of titanium target irradiated by intense pulsed ion beam (IPIB) generated by TEMP II accelerator. Temporal and spatial evolution of the ablation process of the target during a pulse time has been simulated. We have come to the conclusion that the melting and evaporating process begin from the surface and the target is ablated layer by layer when the target is irradiated by the IPIB. Meanwhile, we also obtained the result that the average ablation velocity in target central region is about 10\,m/s, which is far less than the ejection velocity of the plume plasma formed by irradiation. Different effects have been compared to the different ratio of the ions and different energy density of IPIB while the target is irradiated by pulsed beams.     

Self-cleaning effect of sealing caps for infrared hollow fiber delivering pulsed Er:YAG laser light

A sealing cap had been proposed as an output device for hollow optical fibers in delivering laser light underwater. Properties of sealing cap were experimentally discussed when used in ablation on soft tissue for Er:YAG laser. A self-cleaning effect of the sealing cap was observed when various targets were used for different laser light power. Debris from pork fat formed a uniform oil layer on the output surface of the cap, and the oil layer is relatively transparent in Er:YAG laser light wavelength band. When the target was pork muscle, almost no debris could attach on the surface of the cap. The self-cleaning effect was more obvious when ablation was conducted underwater because of the protection of the water film between the target and the cap's surface.     

Thermal melting and ablation of silicon by femtosecond laser radiation

The space-time dynamics of thermal melting, subsurface cavitation, spallative ablation, and fragmentation ablation of the silicon surface excited by single IR femtosecond laser pulses is studied by timeresolved optical reflection microscopy. This dynamics is revealed by monitoring picosecond and (sub)nanosecond oscillations of probe pulse reflection, which is modulated by picosecond acoustic reverberations in the dynamically growing surface melt subjected to ablation and having another acoustic impedance, and by optical interference between the probe pulse replicas reflected by the spalled layer surface and the layer retained on the target surface. The acoustic reverberation periods change during the growth and ablation of the surface melt film, which makes it possible to quantitatively estimate the contributions of these processes to the thermal dynamics of the material surface. The results on the thermal dynamics of laser excitation are supported by dynamic measurements of the ablation parameters using noncontact ultrasonic diagnostics, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and optical interference microscopy of the modified regions appearing on the silicon surface after ablation.     

强流脉冲离子束辐照靶材烧蚀效应二维数值研究

对强流脉冲离子束(IPIB)辐照Ti靶的烧蚀效应进行了二维数值研究.得到了表面烧蚀物质随脉冲时间的变化关系.得出TEMP Ⅱ 型加速器产生的脉冲束流辐照靶材时引起的汽、液化均是从表面开始、并且汽化过程中表面物质被层层烧蚀的结论.同时，得到中心区的平均烧蚀速度为10m/s 数量级，它远小于产生的烧蚀等离子体的喷发速度.得到脉冲期间靶材内部不同位置烧蚀斑痕形状的时间演化过程，以及束流中含有的离子种类分额不同时IPIB辐照过程产生的不同效果. 关键词： 强流脉冲离子束 靶 烧蚀过程 二维数值模拟     

热阻塞效应对激光辐照靶材烧蚀过程的影响分析

研究了百兆瓦级激光烧蚀碳/碳复合材料靶材产生的等离子体吸收激光束能量引起的热阻塞效应。首先,基于逆轫致吸收理论,建立了激光在烧蚀靶材产生的等离子体中的传播模型;然后,基于磁流体理论,得到了等离子体在百兆瓦级激光形成的电磁场中的波动方程,建立了等离子体吸收激光能量引起热阻塞效应的模型。最后,对烧蚀过程中粒子的总密度、吸收系数、靶材表面等效热流随激光持续时间的变化规律以及是否考虑热阻塞效应时,靶面垂直方向的温度场进行了数值模拟。结果表明:等离子体的形成,对激光形成了明显的热阻塞效应,削弱了激光对靶材的烧蚀作用,使粒子总密度、吸收系数、靶材表面等效热流以及靶面垂直方向温度场的变化均呈现为非线性。     

Transverse surface waves in a layered structure with a functionally graded piezoelectric substrate and a hard dielectric layer

As to an ideally layered structure with a functionally graded piezoelectric substrate (material parameters change continuously along the thickness direction) and a hard dielectric layer, the existence and propagation behavior of transverse surface waves is studied by analytical technique. The dispersion equations for the existence of the transverse surface waves with respect to phase velocity are obtained for electrically open and short circuit conditions, respectively. A detailed investigation of the effect of gradient coefficient on dispersion relation, electromechanical coupling factor and penetration depth is carried out. It is found by numerical examples that adjusting gradient coefficient makes the electromechanical coupling factor of the transverse surface waves achieve quite high values at some appropriate ratio values of the layer thickness to the wavelength, and at the same time, the penetration depth can be reduced to the same order as the wavelength.     

Hydrodynamic Effects on Thermalisation of Dense Core with Surrounding Corona in Laser-Imploded Z-Layered Plasma Target

Plasma ablation effect on the heat transfer from the superthermal corona to the inner cold dense core in the case of Z layered plasma target is analysed. Thermalisation of core with the surrounding corona depends on the laser wavelength, the ‘flux-limit’ parameter, width of Z layer and the mean electron temperature of the overlapping region between the core and the corona. The presence of Z layer reduces the electronic mean free path and consequently the width of the plasma ablation zone. Considering the self-regulation condition for the heating of plasma target, the dependence of core-corona coupling on the “flux-limit”, the laser and plasma parameters has been studied.     

Formation of linear momentum in a rod during a laser pulse–matter interaction

Recently, we developed an optodynamic experimental technique that makes it possible to measure the linear momentum obtained by a metal target sample in the shape of a rod during a nanosecond laser pulse interaction in the ablative regime. The height of the rod’s rear end axial step-like displacement, caused by the first reflection of the laser-generated ultrasonic wave, is proportional to the linear momentum acquired by the rod. In comparison with commonly used ballistic methods, we can determine the acquired momentum on a much shorter time scale corresponding to the wave transition time, from the front to the rear end of the rod. Using this method we investigated the ambient air pressure dependence on the formation of linear momentum over a laser intensity range, from the ablation threshold to values about ten times higher. Steel rods of various diameters were used to demonstrate the effect of an expanding blast wave which delivers additional momentum to the target, when the laser beam on the target surface is smaller than the target itself. The typical value of the acquired target momentum is on the order of μN s and 10 μN s/J for the momentum coupling coefficient.     

Characteristics of droplets ejected from liquid glycerol doped with carbon in laser ablation propulsion

The characteristics of droplets ejected from liquid glycerol doped with carbon are investigated in laser ablation propulsion. Results show that carbon content has an effect on both the coupling coefficient and the specific impulse. The dopedcarbon moves the laser focal position from the glycerol interior to the surface. This results in a less consumed glycerol and a high specific impulse. An optimal propulsion can be realized by varying carbon content in glycerol.     

A theoretical study of the evaporation induced by a pulsed laser in a finite slab

The two-dimensional integral Laplace transform technique has been applied to get the temperature distributions in the molten layer, the solid part and in the backward surface of a finite target irradiated with a pulsed laser. Formulas for the time dependence of the evaporated part and the molten layer thicknesses of the target were found. This is accomplished by considering the temperature dependence of the absorption coefficient of the irradiated surface as well as the chemical reaction. As an illustrative example computations were carried out on an aluminum (Al) target.     

激光烧蚀冲量耦合系数解析计算模型

利用激光清除空间碎片被认为是一种可行手段,冲量耦合系数是数值计算空间碎片清除效果的重要参数。建立了激光烧蚀冲量耦合系数解析计算模型,引入电离度参数,将气化机制与等离子体机制两种机制下的冲量耦合系数解析计算模型联系起来,建立统一的耦合系数解析模型。以空间碎片常见材料Al为例,计算得到冲量耦合系数、电离度、激光功率密度三者之间的变化关系。随着激光功率密度的增加,气化机制逐渐向等离子体机制过渡,电离度增加,直至完全电离,冲量耦合系数先增加后减少,并且在等离子机制占主导情况下达到最优冲量耦合。     

The temperature profile in the molten layer of a semi-infinite target induced by irradiation using a pulsed laser

The two-dimensional Laplace integral transform technique has been used to compute the temperature profile of the molten layer on the surface of a semi-infinite target when irradiated by a pulsed laser. Mathematical expressions for the temperature distribution in the molten layer thickness and the solid part of the target, taking cooling and the temperature-dependent absorption coefficient of the irradiated surface into account, were obtained. As an illustrative example computations were carried out on a semi-infinite aluminum (Al) target.     

Efficiency of hydrodynamic energy transfer to an arbitrarily thick flat layer of material during pulsed ablation

We obtained a general analytical solution of the problem of hydrodynamic energy transfer to a flat layer of material with an arbitrary initial thickness when ablation—the evaporation of material and the formation of a pressure gradient under the action of an external pulsed energy source—takes place at one of its surfaces. The solution was obtained in the form of a dependence of the fraction of the source energy transferred to the nonevaporated part of the layer on the intensity and duration of the energy source as well as on the initial layer thickness and density. The solution includes, as limiting cases, the previously obtained solutions for the hydrodynamic transfer coefficient during the ablation acceleration of a thin layer, through which the travel time of a shock or acoustic wave is much shorter than the duration of the energy source, and for the ablation loading efficiency when a shock wave propagates through a semiinfinite layer.     

Nanosecond surface interferometry measurements on designed and commercial polymers

The effect of the ablation mechanism on surface morphology changes during an ablation process was studied by comparing three different polymers: a triazene polymer, a polyimide and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) with nanosecond surface interferometry. The triazene polymer, for which only indications for a photochemical ablation mechanism had been detected in previous studies, revealed no surface swelling, which could be attributed to a thermal ablation mechanism. For polyimide, a photothermal ablation mechanism is usually used to describe the ablation process at irradiation wavelengths 248 nm. However, the interferometric measurements do not show any surface swelling, which would be a clear indication for a thermal ablation mechanism. A surface swelling was only detected for PMMA with irradiation at 248 nm and fluences below the threshold of permanent surface modification. The detected phase shift, which is proportional to the change of the film thickness and the refractive index, can be explained by the opposite signs of the thermal expansion coefficient and the thermal refractive-index coefficient. PACS 52.38.Mf; 42.87.Bg; 71.20.Rv     

On melting a semi-infinite target using a pulsed laser

The two-dimensional Laplace integral transform technique is used to solve the problem of melting a semi-infinite target induced by surface absorption of a laser pulse.Mathematical expressions for the temperature distribution within the solid part of the target and the thickness of its liquified part were obtained considering cooling, temperature dependent absorption coefficient of the irradiated surface and constant temperature in the molten layer. As an illustrative example computations were carried out on a semi-infinite aluminium (Al) target.