Spatio-temporal characterization of double plasma mirror for ultrahigh contrast and stable laser pulse

An ultrahigh contrast laser pulse of over 10¹¹ for 6 ps before the main pulse was achieved by employing a double plasma mirror installed at the end of a 100 TW Ti:sapphire laser system. Spatial beam qualities such as focusability and stability were found to be extremely sensitive in the range of 14–360 J/cm² on the double plasma mirror, while ultrahigh contrast was maintained. At the fluence of 90 J/cm² the focusability of the ultrahigh contrast laser was not degraded, and the stability was very close to that obtained without the double plasma mirror when the 2-dimensional normalized standard deviation and the correlation function for several laser beam profiles were analyzed. These results are requisites for carrying out relativistic laser-plasma interactions with ultrahigh contrast laser pulses, enabling the use of ultrathin solid targets.     

Influence of laser contrast on high-order harmonic generation from solid-density plasma surfaces

The influence of laser temporal contrast on high-order harmonic generation from intense laser interactions with solid-density plasma surfaces is experimentally studied. A switchable plasma mirror system is set up to improve the contrast by two orders of magnitude at 10 ps prior to the main peak. By using the plasma mirror and tuning the prepulse, the dependence of high-order harmonic generation on laser contrast is investigated. Harmonics up to the 21 st order via the mechanism of coherent wake emission are observed only when the targets are irradiated by high contrast laser pulses by applying the plasma mirror.     

High repetition rate plasma mirror for temporal contrast enhancement of terawatt femtosecond laser pulses by three orders of magnitude

We present a plasma mirror configuration that improves the temporal pulse contrast of femtosecond terawatt laser pulses by a factor of thousand using a single antireflection coated glass target. The device provides ultra-high contrast for experiments with a maximum repetition rate of 10 Hz. A third-order cross-correlator has been used to measure the temporal pulse contrast for several different plasma mirror targets. It is shown that the ASE can be suppressed to a level of 10⁻¹¹. A comparison between a triggered and an untriggered plasma mirror reveals differences in the intensity distribution of the focused beam. The triggered plasma mirror produces a slightly larger focus due to the expansion of the triggered plasma mirror at −3 ps before the main pulse. We propose a cost-effective AR-coated and a blank glass target to reduce the costs of the consumable target material. High-harmonic radiation on solid surfaces has been generated with different plasma mirror targets to demonstrate the high laser contrast.     

双变形镜自适应光学系统像差解耦研究

对由大行程变形镜和高空间频率变形镜组成的双变形镜自适应光学系统中的像差解耦原理和限定像差校正算法做了理论分析。认为在高空间频率变形镜的斜率响应矩阵中加入限定像差向量,根据直接斜率法分别计算出两个变形镜的控制电压,可以实现两个变形镜分别对低阶像差和高阶像差的闭环校正。仿真研究了19单元变形镜和61单元变形镜组成的双变形镜自适应光学系统对低阶像差和高阶像差分别校正的情况,结果说明双变形镜自适应光学系统的校正效果与理想行程的单变形镜自适应光学系统的校正效果相当,避免了制作同时具有大行程和高空间频率两个特征的变形镜。     

Electron-beam-controlled CO2 laser with plasma mirror

A new high-power electron-beam-controlled CO₂ laser scheme, based on the use of the molecular properties of a high-temperature laser plasma (plasma mirror) produced by the action of the laser radiation on the surface of a solid target and serving as one of the mirrors of the laser resonator, is investigated in detail. The scheme makes it possible to generate laser pulses of nanosecond duration with power of several dozen gigawatts and efficiency 6–10% and obtain a laser plasma with a temperature of several million degrees. The possibility of practical utilization, in applications, of a plasma mirror as a powerful source of soft x rays is demonstrated.Translated from Trudy Ordena Lenina Fizicheskogo Instituta im. P. N. Lebedeva, Vol. 116, pp. 118–145, 1980.     

自动聚焦激光诱导击穿光谱远程测量系统

激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术具有非接触测量、无需样品预处理以及快速多元素同时分析等特点,适合于高温、高压、真空、有毒以及敌对环境等仪器和操作人员无法靠近观测对象的应用中。LIBS技术结合望远镜系统可以实现物质成分的远距离检测与分析。搭建了一套可自动聚焦的LIBS远程测量系统。该系统中的望远镜采用Schwarzschild结构,由一块凹球面反射镜和一块凸球面反射镜组成。两块球面反射镜共轴安装。其中凸面反射镜安装在电控精密平移台上,电动平移台可带动凸面反射镜沿光轴移动。通过调整凸面反射镜的位置,改变凸面反射镜和凹面反射镜的间距,进而改变系统的焦距,实现对不同距离的样品进行光谱测量。该结构的优点在于：激光聚焦光路与信号光采集光路相同,便于安装和调试;望远镜系统采用全反射式光路,适用于紫外波段检测;只包括两个球面反射镜,结构紧凑,元件容易加工。望远镜系统调焦距离为1.5～3.6 m,聚焦光斑直径约为0.5~1.0 mm。使用该系统对铜样品进行了LIBS实验,确认了Cu元素的特征谱线。通过测量Cu元素的LIBS特征谱线(Cu Ⅰ 223.01 nm, Cu Ⅰ 224.43 nm)峰面积和反射镜间距之间关系,得到了激光的最优聚焦位置。实验结果表明,该系统能够完成样品的远程激发和LIBS光谱测量,并能够对不同距离的样品进行自动聚焦。     

High-order harmonic generation by nonlinear reflection of an intense high-contrast laser pulse on a plasma

We demonstrate the use of a plasma mirror to obtain 60-fs 10-TW laser pulses with a temporal contrast of 10(8) on a nanosecond time scale and 10(6) on a picosecond time scale, and we use these high-contrast pulses to generate high harmonics by nonlinear reflection on a plasma with a steep electronic density gradient. Well-collimated harmonics up to 20th order are observed for a laser intensity of approximately equal to 3 x 10(17) W/cm2, whereas no harmonics are obtained without the plasma mirror.     

掺Yb双包层光纤激光器的时域特性和光谱特性研究

实验观测了掺Yb3+双包层光纤激光器的时域特性和光谱特性. 研究了抽运功率、腔损耗对激光器工作特性的影响. 研究发现, 利用单镜腔结构的光纤激光器, 可产生自脉动、受激布里渊散射和受激喇曼散射等非线性效应; 而采用双镜腔结构可有效抑制自脉动特性, 提高激光器工作的稳定性, 并对实验现象进行了定性的分析.     

MEMS-based optical beam steering system for quantum information processing in two-dimensional atomic systems

To provide scalability to quantum information processors utilizing trapped atoms or ions as quantum bits (qubits), the capability to address multiple individual qubits in a large array is needed. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology can be used to create a flexible and scalable optical system to direct the necessary laser beams to multiple qubit locations. We developed beam steering optics using controllable MEMS mirrors that enable one laser beam to address multiple qubit locations in a two-dimensional trap lattice. MEMS mirror settling times of approximately 10 micros were demonstrated, which allow for fast access time between qubits.     

Double Gires-Tournois interferometer negative-dispersion mirrors for use in tunable mode-locked lasers

We report the implementation and operation of novel superhigh-reflectivity negative-dispersion dielectric mirrors for use in tunable ultrafast laser systems. The mirror structure is divided into two distinct regions: an underlying superhigh-reflectivity dielectric quarter-wavelength stack and an overlying negative-dispersion section consisting of only a few layers and forming simple multiple Gires-Tournois interferometers. The example that we present was designed for operation from 800 to 900 nm and has a near-constant group-delay dispersion of -40 fs(2) and a peak reflectivity greater than 99.99%. We show a comparison of the predicted and the measured mirror performance and application of these mirrors in a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser tunable from 805 to 915 nm.     

High-dispersive mirror for pulse stretcher in femtosecond fiber laser amplification system

We present a high-dispersive multilayer mirror for pulse stretching in a femtosecond fiber laser amplification system. The designed mirror contains 54 layers with a total physical thickness of 7.3 μm, which can provide a positive group delay dispersion (GDD) of 600 fs² and a high reflectance over 99.9% from 1010 to 1070 nm. The samples were prepared by dual ion beam sputtering. The measured transmittance matches well with the theoretical result. The GDD characteristics of samples were tested by home-made white light interferometer. The measured GDD is higher than the design results, an average GDD of +722 fs² from 1010 nm to 1070 nm. The mirrors were employed in a Yb-doped large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber amplification system. An input pulse compressed by the gratings with autocorrelation function of 83 fs is obtained with a stretched FWHM of 1.29 ps after 28 bounces between the dispersive mirrors. The results show that the multilayer dispersive mirror could be an effective and promising technique for pulse stretching in femtosecond amplification systems.     

纳秒激光诱导等离子体发射光谱中的自吸收效应

为了减小激光诱导等离子体发射光谱中光谱线的自吸收效应,提高激光光谱分析技术对物质中高含量元素的检测水平,实验采用了一种平面反射镜装置约束等离子体,比较了有或无平面反射镜装置时光谱线的线型变化。实验表明,在无平面反射镜装置时,样品元素Al,Mg和Mn的光谱线半高全宽度分别为0.16,0.24,0.058nm,而采用由四块平面反射镜组成的装置在空间上约束激光等离子体时分别为0.11,0.13,0.047nm。结果表明,光谱线的自吸收明显减小,谱线线型变得比较锐且强度显著提高。通过观测等离子体照片,测量等离子体温度和电子密度,分析讨论了激光光谱自吸收效应降低的原因。     

Interferometers for displacement-noise-free gravitational-wave detection

We propose a class of displacement- and laser-noise-free gravitational-wave-interferometer configurations, which does not sense nongeodesic mirror motion and laser noise, but provides a nonvanishing gravitational-wave signal. Our interferometers consist of four mirrors and two beam splitters, which form four Mach-Zehnder interferometers. By contrast to previous works, no composite mirrors with multiple reflective surfaces are required. Each mirror in our configuration is sensed redundantly, by at least two pairs of incident and reflected beams. Displacement- and laser-noise-free detection is achieved when output signals from these four interferometers are combined appropriately. Our 3-dimensional interferometer configuration has a low-frequency response proportional to f2, which is better than the f3 achievable by previous 2-dimensional configurations.     

A simple method for automatic cavity alignment of a solid-state laser

Misalignment of a laser cavity would result in the displacement of beam location on the cavity mirrors. We present a simple method for automatic cavity alignment of a solid-state laser through detecting the location of the laser beam on the rear mirror, with which neither external alignment beams nor modifications to the cavity are required. The rear mirror of the laser cavity is replaced by a tip/tilt mirror to compensate for the misalignment. Experiments show that this method could effectively correct the misalignment of the laser cavity and restore the output power to almost the original value when the resonator is well aligned.     

Research on OEF geometry control algorithm in dual-galvanometric laser scanning manufacturing

For the dual-galvanometric laser scanning manufacturing, the traditional geometry algorithm-fθ only considered the distance between the two swaying mirrors, the distance between the swaying mirror and the convex lens, the mirror swaying angle, and the lens focal length. And it could not correctly express the manufacturing track which was made geometry distorted. Based on analysis, a creative geometry control algorithm - optical entire factors (OEF) was brought forward. From the creative algorithm it can be known that OEF geometry control algorithm was concerned with not only the distance of the two swaying mirrors, distance between the swaying mirror and the convex lens, mirror swaying angle, and lens focal length, but also the lens central height, lens convex radius, and medium refractive index. The manufacturing system can manufacture satisfied geometry with the creative double ends approach (DEA) control model based on OEF in the experiments.     

Large intensity noise from symmetric low-Q cavity semiconductor lasers driven with pump-noise-suppressed current injection in the high-pump regime

We have measured the intensity noise from symmetric low-Q cavity laser diodes (LD's) operated far above threshold in a constant-current mode. The single-sided output noise exhibits significant dependence on the mirror reflectivities of the laser cavity, in good agreement with the theoretical predictions based on a quantum-mechanical traveling-wave analysis. In an antireflection-coated LD with a residual mirror reflectivity of 5%, intensity noise as large as 9 dB above the shot-noise level was observed at a pumping rate of 10 times the threshold. This is caused by amplification of the vacuum-field fluctuations coupled by the low-reflectivity mirrors into the laser cavity.     

Experimental Investigation of High Power Erbium-Ytterbium Co-doped Double Clad Fibre Laser

All-fibre high power erbium-ytterbium co-doped double clad fibre lasers are proposed and demonstrated. By using different back-cavity mirrors, the different double clad fibre lasers are constructed. It is experimentally found that the output behaviour of laser can be controlled by a back-cavity mirror. The lower the reflectivity of the back-cavity mirror, the higher the output power and the high the slop efficiency. The maximum output power is about 1.6 W and the slop efficiency is 27.6%.     

Entanglement generation and protection for two atoms in the presence of two parallel mirrors

We study, in the framework of open quantum systems, the entanglement generation of two atoms in between two parallel mirrors in a thermal bath of quantum scalar fields. We find that the presence of mirrors plays an important role in entanglement generation and protection. The entanglement dynamics is crucially dependent on the geometric configurations of the two-atom system with respect to the mirrors, and the ranges of temperature and interatomic separation within which entanglement can be generated are significantly changed compared with those in a free space. In particular, when the atomic transition wavelength is larger than twice the distance between the two mirrors, the atoms behave as if they were isolated from the environment and the entanglement can persist in the steady state if the atoms are initially entangled and no entanglement can be created if they are initially separable, no matter how the atoms are placed with respect to the mirrors and to each other. This is in sharp contrast to the fact that in a free space, steady-state entanglement is possible only when the two atoms are placed extremely close to each other, while in the presence of one mirror, it is possible when the two atoms placed extremely close to the mirror.     

外反馈He—Ne激光器的非稳特性研究

报道了平面镜和自泵浦相位共轭镜反馈Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光器的非稳特性，观测了反馈镜位置对激光光强起伏及波动频率的影响，即在半腔长的整数倍附近，激光光强具有较大的起伏和秒量级的准周期振荡，并对其产生机理进行了分析。     

球面腔镜对孔耦合波导自由电子激光振荡器的影响

平面波导约束的自由电子激光振荡器两端的腔镜由柱面镜改换为球面镜.利用分析估计和数值模拟方法说明对所考虑的模型问题,这一腔镜改变所带来的影响甚小.