Formation of conical emission of supercontinuum during filamentation of femtosecond laser radiation in fused silica

The formation of conical emission of supercontinuum during filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses with central wavelengths in a wide range is studied experimentally, numerically, and analytically. The frequency-angular intensity distribution of the spectral components of conical emission is determined by the interference of supercontinuum emission in a filament of a femtosecond laser pulse. The interference of supercontinuum emission has a general character, exists at different regimes of group velocity dispersion, gives rise to the fine spectral structure after the pulse splitting into subpulses and the formation of a distributed supercontinuum source in an extended filament, and causes the decomposition of the continuous spectrum of conical emission into many high-contrast maxima after pulse refocusing in the filament. In spectroscopic studies with a tunable femtosecond radiation source based on a TOPAS parametric amplifier, we used an original scheme with a wedge fused silica sample. Numerical simulations have been performed using a system of equations of nonlinear-optical interaction of laser radiation under conditions of diffraction, wave nonstationarity, and material dispersion in fused silica. The analytic study is based on the interference model of formation of conical emission by supercontinuum sources moving in a filament.     

Elliptically polarized Terahertz emission through four-wave mixing in a two-color filament in air

We diagnosed the polarization characteristics of Terahertz emission from a two-color femtosecond laser filament when the polarizations of ω and 2ω beams are orthogonal. We discovered that the THz pulse is elliptically polarized. The generation mechanism could be through four-wave optical rectification inside the filament zone where the inversion symmetry of air is broken.     

Simulation of THz emission from laser interaction with plasmas

One-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) program is used to simulate the generation of high power terahertz (THz) emission from the interaction of an ultrashort intense laser pulse with underdense plasma. The spectra of THz radiation are discussed under different laser intensity, pulse width, incident angle and density scale length. High-amplitude electron plasma wave driven by a laser wakefield can produce powerful THz emission through linear mode conversion under certain conditions. With incident laser intensity of 10¹⁸ W/cm², the generated emission is computed to be of the order of several MV/cm field and tens of MW level power. The corresponding energy conversion efficiency is several ten thousandths, which is higher then the efficiency of other THz source and suitable for the studies of THz nonlinear physics.     

Self-transformation of a powerful femtosecond laser pulse into a white-light laser pulse in bulk optical media (or supercontinuum generation)

We present experimental and theoretical results on white-light generation in the filamentation of a high-power femtosecond laser pulse in water and atmospheric air. We have shown that the high spatio-temporal localization of the light field in the filament, which enables the supercontinuum generation, is sustained due to the dynamic transformation of the light field on the whole transverse scale of the beam, including its edges. We found that the sources of the supercontinuum blue wing are in the rings, surrounding the filament, as well as at the back of the pulse, where shock-wave formation enhanced by self-steepening takes place. We report on the first observation and demonstration of the interference of the supercontinuum spectral components arising in the course of multiple filamentation in a terawatt laser pulse. We demonstrate that the conversion efficiency of an initially narrow laser pulse spectrum into the supercontinuum depends on the length of the filament with high intensity gradients and can be increased by introducing an initial chirp. PACS 42.65.Jx; 42.65.Re; 42.25.Bs; 42.50.Hz     

Computer simulation of laser pulse filament generation in rain

Initiation of femtosecond laser pulse filamentation in rain conditions is investigated numerically. It is shown that coherent scattering on rain water particles generates filament initiation sites. Results of computer simulation are consistent with full-scale experimental data. PACS 42.65.Jx; 42.68.Jg; 42.60.Jf     

H2+分子双H核对高次谐波辐射的贡献

理论研究了H2+分子双H核对高次谐波辐射的贡献。结果表明：在少周期激光场下，由于激光场的反对称性，负向H核辐射谐波强度高于正向H核。随着激光脉宽增大，激光波形趋于对称，因此导致双H核辐射谐波的反对称结构减小。谐波辐射的时频分析图显示，当激光场为正向时(E(t) > 0.0)，负向H核辐射谐波强度高于正向H核；当激光场反向时(E(t) < 0.0)，正向H核辐射谐波强度高于负向H核。最后，通过分析含时电子波包及H2+的缀饰态给出了电子在双H核之间转移的原因。     

H_2~+分子双H核对高次谐波辐射的贡献

理论研究了H_2~+分子双H核对高次谐波辐射的贡献.结果表明:在少周期激光场下,由于激光场的反对称性,负向H核辐射谐波强度高于正向H核.随着激光脉宽增大,激光波形趋于对称,因此导致双H核辐射谐波的反对称结构减小.谐波辐射的时频分析图显示,当激光场为正向时(E(t)0.0),负向H核辐射谐波强度高于正向H核;当激光场反向时(E(t)0.0),正向H核辐射谐波强度高于负向H核.最后,通过分析含时电子波包及H_2~+的缀饰态给出了电子在双H核之间转移的原因.     

利用PVDF传感器检测激光超声的实验研究

简要介绍了激光超声技术以及声表面波的基本特点、激光超声产生和接收的基本原理及激光超声技术的应用。概述了聚偏二氟乙烯（PVDF）压电薄膜材料的结构、性质和应用，以及薄膜压电性产生的机理。对PVDF换能器的设计思路和实验方法进行了简单讨论。具体实验采用脉冲激光器激发声表面波，利用PVDF传感器接收实验信号，调试实验信号，得出波形，并对实验现象作出初步分析。证实了该实验装置应用于激光超声无损检测的可行性与可靠性。     

Characterization of laser-induced ultrasound signal by reduced graphene oxide thickness and laser intensity

A nanosecond pulse laser generates acoustic waves on a water-material interface. The absorbed beam energy heats and thermoelastically expands the material. The thermoelastic stress of a material is dependent on its absorbance and expansion coefficient. In this work, we used a composite of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and aluminum thin film to increase the efficiency of conversion from beamed energy to thermoelastic stress. A laser shadowgraph showed enhanced acoustic waves propagating at ~1,500 m/s under water. The effect of RGO on ultrasound generation is examined for different thicknesses of RGO at several laser fluences. The pressure of laser-induced ultrasound on the RGO–aluminum composite was measured to be up to 59 times greater than that produced with an aluminum film alone, and the frequency of laser-induced ultrasound was determined by the thermoelastic response. The strong intensity and broad bandwidth of the laser-induced acoustic wave suggested enhanced repetition time and resolution required for biomedical imaging.     

Specific features of the acoustic emission upon the optical breakdown in liquid induced by the radiation of Nd:YAG laser

The acoustic emission from the zone of the optical breakdown in liquid is experimentally studied. The spectral characteristics and energy of the acoustic wave that is generated in liquid due to expansion of the plasma formation initiated by the optical breakdown at a wavelength of 532 nm are analyzed. Two spectral peaks that characterize the acoustic emission and the low-frequency shift of the low-frequency peak owing to an increase in the laser pulse energy are demonstrated. In general, the linear dependence of the acoustic pressure on the laser pulse energy is observed. The acoustic data can be used to reconstruct function R(t) that is in agreement with dependences R(t) resulting from the optical data. This circumstance is important for the study of breakdown in opaque media.     

Picosecond acoustics in vegetal cells: Non-invasive in vitro measurements at a sub-cell scale

A 100 fs laser pulse passes through a single transparent cell and is absorbed at the surface of a metallic substrate. Picosecond acoustic waves are generated and propagate through the cell in contact with the metal. Interaction of the high frequency acoustic pulse with a probe laser light gives rise to Brillouin oscillations. The measurements are thus made with lasers for both the opto-acoustic generation and the acousto-optic detection, and acoustic frequencies as high as 11 GHz can be detected, as reported in this paper. The technique offers perspectives for single cell imaging. The in-plane resolution is limited by the pump and probe spot sizes, i.e. ∼1 μm, and the in-depth resolution is provided by the acoustic frequencies, typically in the GHz range. The effect of the technique on cell safety is discussed. Experiments achieved in vegetal cells illustrate the reproducibility and sensitivity of the measurements. The acoustic responses of cell organelles are significantly different. The results support the potentialities of the hypersonic non-invasive technique in the fields of bio-engineering and medicine.     

Detection of laser induced dielectric breakdown in water using a laser doppler vibrometer

This study is focused on exploring the feasibility of an all-optic surface scanning method in determining the size and position of a submerged, laser generated, optoacoustic (OA) source. The optoacoustic effect in this case was generated when the absorption of a short electromagnetic pulse in matter caused a dielectric breakdown, a plasma emission flash and a subsequent acoustic wave. In the experiment, a laser pulse with λ = 1064 nm and 12 ns pulse length was aimed at a volume of deionized water. When the laser beam was focused by a f = 16 mm lens, a single dielectric breakdown spot occurred. When a f = 40 mm was used several breakdowns in a row were induced. The breakdowns were photographed using a double shutter camera. The acoustic wave generated by the dielectric breakdowns were detected at a point on the water surface using a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). First, the LDV signal was used to calculate the speed of sound with an accuracy of 10 m/s. Secondly, the location and length of the dielectric breakdown was calculated with an accuracy of 1 mm. The calculated position matched the breakdown location recorded by a camera. The results show that it is possible to use LDV surface measurements from a single spot to determine both the position and length of the OA source as well as the speed of sound in the medium. Furthermore, the LDV measurements also show a secondary peak that originates from the OA source. To unravel the origin and properties of this interesting feature, further investigations are necessary     

Behavior of bubbles induced by the interaction of a laser pulse with a metal plate in water

When a pulsed laser beam is focused onto a metal plate in water, a high-pressure pulse can be generated. This paper investigates the formation and behavior of bubbles that appear after the high-pressure-pulse generation. A 200-mJ, second-harmonic Nd:YAG laser pulse (duration of 7 ns) is incident on a stainless steel (SUS 304) plate to form a 1.1-mm-diameter spot. A bubble is formed and expands over the spot, which generates a hemispherical blast wave around the spot. The bubble grows in a period of the order of 400 s after the laser pulse to reach a radius of about 5 mm. The behavior of the bubble is strongly affected by the thickness of the plate. When the plate thickness is 10 mm, the bubble keeps its hemispherical shape during the period of the first bounce. However, with a thin plate, for example of 0.1-mm thickness, the bubble is pinched and its head separates; moreover, another bubble is generated on the other side of the plate. Since these bubbles have different bounce motions, the acoustic field between 400 and 900 s significantly differs depending on the thickness of the plate. PACS 47.40.Nm; 68.45.-v; 42.62.Cf     

Interaction of Rayleigh waves with a rib attached to a plate

An analysis of the interaction of a pulse of Rayleigh waves on a plate with a rectangular flange or rib attached in the far field of its acoustic emission (AE) source is presented. A finite difference (FD) model is used to give numerical visualizations of the development of the complete wave-field propagating through the structure and also to give displacement data for selected points. An ‘energy partition model’, for Rayleigh wave propagation across the rib has been developed and is described. Ray theory wave arrival time calculations are given for the propagation of various mode-converted components transmitted across the flange. A series of experimental measurements of AE wave propagation across a T-butt welded rib on a plate were made and these are compared with the model predictions. The practical implications of these findings for acoustic emission monitoring of large structures of complex shape are discussed.     

The comparison study of diagnostics of light filaments in air

Long plasma channels in air induced by femtosecond laser pulses are investigated using three different methods, including the cross-section imaging, resistivity measuring and acoustic diagnostics. These methods are based on different properties of the light filaments. A comparison of the three diagnostics shows that the imaging method is the most precise one in studying the filaments distribution and evolution, that the sonographic method is the most convenient approach to detecting long plasma channels by detecting the acoustic wave generation, and that the resistivity measurement can only be applied for giving a rough estimate. The diagnostics of filaments allow us to choose appropriate detecting methods and provide further insight into the dynamic evolution of the light filaments in air.     

Analytical one-dimensional model for laser-induced ultrasound in planar optically absorbing layer

Ultrasound generated by means of laser-based photoacoustic principles are in common use today and applications can be found both in biomedical diagnostics, non-destructive testing and materials characterisation. For certain measurement applications it could be beneficial to shape the generated ultrasound regarding spectral properties and temporal profile. To address this, we studied the generation and propagation of laser-induced ultrasound in a planar, layered structure. We derived an analytical expression for the induced pressure wave, including different physical and optical properties of each layer. A Laplace transform approach was employed in analytically solving the resulting set of photoacoustic wave equations. The results correspond to simulations and were compared to experimental results. To enable the comparison between recorded voltage from the experiments and the calculated pressure we employed a system identification procedure based on physical properties of the ultrasonic transducer to convert the calculated acoustic pressure to voltages. We found reasonable agreement between experimentally obtained voltages and the voltages determined from the calculated acoustic pressure, for the samples studied. The system identification procedure was found to be unstable, however, possibly from violations of material isotropy assumptions by film adhesives and coatings in the experiment. The presented analytical model can serve as a basis when addressing the inverse problem of shaping an acoustic pulse from absorption of a laser pulse in a planar layered structure of elastic materials.     

脉冲激光在液体中激发的声波特性研究

理论上分析了脉冲激光在液体中产生的声波波阵面随光声源形状的变化,以及不同激发机制下光声脉冲波形的差别,并从实验中得出了脉冲CO2激光光声脉冲频谱特性.结果表明光声波波阵面为球面或柱面,热弹机制激发双极性的光声脉冲,汽化机制激发单极性的光声脉冲,CO2脉冲激光在水中激发的声波频谱峰值主要在100 kHz以下.通过选择光声源的形状和激发机制可以获得所需的光声信号.     

Laser ultrasonic surface wave inspection of alumina ceramics of varying density

In this paper, the surface acoustic wave velocity results acquired from the inspection of specially manufactured and characterised alumina ceramic materials are presented. Ultrasonic velocity data of alumina-based ceramics in the range 60-100% theoretical density was generated utilising non-contacting laser-ultrasonic measurements based on laser generation and detection of surface acoustic waves with the objective of creating a routine technique for industrial advanced alumina inspection. With linear fitting the surface acoustic wave velocity data serves as a calibration graph for using laser ultrasonics for routine monitoring of alumina. A second laser ultrasonic technique based on the laser generation and foil transducer detection of surface acoustic waves was used to validate the surface acoustic wave velocities measured by the laser generation/detection technique.     

Experimental study of pulse compression in a side-pumped Yb-doped double-clad mode-locked fiber laser

We have developed a side-pumped passively mode-locked Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser emitting sub-picosecond pulses at around 1.05 μm. Mode locking is achieved through a polarization additive-pulse mode-locking technique and compression is obtained with a grating pair inserted in the cavity. We have investigated the compression properties of this laser. High-energy pulses are emitted and different behaviors are observed, such as sideband generation, secant-like or Gaussian-like pulse emission. Received: 7 May 2001 / Revised version: 13 November 2001 / Published online: 17 January 2002