Research of laser evaporation of fast-moving target

Evaporation of a stainless steel target moving with high speed (～50 m/s) under action of laser radiation was investigated theoretically and experimentally. In our experiments we used an electroionization CO₂—laser, which generated pulses with duration up to 1 ms and energy up to 100 J. We carried out the microscopic research of laser beam trace on the target surface and investigated the dynamics of the laser plume luminescence. For theoretical research we used 3D numerical model, which took into account: heating, melting and evaporation of target by laser beam, and, thermal effect of oxidation reaction. The results of calculations can explain the experimental data quite good. In particular, it is possible to explain occurrence of interrupted trace on the target at 12–24 kW laser power, that corresponds to intensity in the focal spot of ～10⁷ W/cm². This power is a threshold of unstable mode of laser evaporation. The unstable mode is caused by lack of oxygen, which was pushed away with metal vapor. The lack of oxygen leads to shutting down the oxidation reaction on target surface. The reaction resumes when the vapors fly away and oxygen riches the surface. As the result pulsed mode of evaporation takes place. This phenomenon was observed as pulse mode of laser plume luminescence and was obtained by calculations.     

Experimental investigations of fast-proton production in a picosecond laser plasma

Results of experimental investigations of fast-proton production in a laser plasma are presented for the case where the intensity of laser radiation at the targets is 2 × 10¹⁸ W/cm². Three processes of fast-proton acceleration in laser plasma are investigated: (1) the acceleration of protons from the front surface toward the laser pulse, (ii) the acceleration of protons from the front surface of the target toward its interior, and (iii) the acceleration of protons from the rear foil surface in the outward direction. The activation procedure and CR-39 tracker detectors featuring a set of various-thickness aluminum filters were used to record fast protons. It turned out that the proton-acceleration process is the most efficient in the case of proton acceleration from the rear foil surface in the outward direction. Experimental results revealed that about N _p = 10⁷ protons of energy in the region E _p > 1.9 MeV that are accelerated from the target surface toward a laser ray, N _p = 4× 10⁷ protons of energy in the region E _p > 1.9 MeV that are accelerated fromthe front surface of the target toward its interior, and N _p = 4×10⁸ protons of energy in the region E _p > 1.9 MeV that are accelerated from the rear foil surface in the outward direction are generated at a laser-radiation intensity of 2 × 10¹⁸ W/cm² at the surface of aluminum, copper, and titanium targets. Experimental investigations aimed at optimizing the process of proton acceleration from the rear surface of aluminum foils were performed by varying the foil thickness over the range between 1 and 100 μm. The results of these experiments showed that there is an optimum foil thickness of 10 μm, in which case protons of maximum energy 5 MeV are generated.     

Interaction of the radiation of the high-power ytterbium-fiber laser with inhomogeneous dielectric targets

The action of the radiation of the ytterbium-fiber laser (λ = 1.07 μm) on the Nd³⁺Y₂O₃ target with nonuniform transparency in the course of the nanopowder production is studied. It is demonstrated that the laser irradiation leads to an extremely rough surface with the stalagmite roughness due to a relatively large melting depth. The resulting powder consists of two fractions. The first fraction (99% of the total mass of the powder) consists of nanoparticles with a mean size of 29 nm (BET data). The second fraction consists of micro- and submicroparticles that represent circular drops condensed from the melt and shapeless debris of the target. The peaks on the diameter distribution of the drops at 2, 8, and 80 μm are determined by different effects. The laser heating of the inhomogeneous target with the nonlinear refractive index is numerically analyzed. It is demonstrated that the melting of the target is initiated at a mean laser power of 700 W, a power density of 5.6 × 10⁵ W/cm², and an irradiation time of 150 μs.     

Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes in an expanding vapor-gas flow produced by laser ablation of a graphite-catalyst mixture

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are synthesized by the ablation of a catalyst-containing carbon target with a cw CO₂ laser. Emphasis is on ablation conditions that are favorable to self-organized SWCNT synthesis. It is shown that the graphite target intensely evaporates with the formation of fractal-like tubes at the edge of the jet when the laser power density exceeds 10⁵ W/cm². Still more favorable conditions for carbon nanotube synthesis are set if the power density lies within 2×10⁴–5×10⁴ W/cm². Under these conditions, both individual SWCNTs and their bundles of diameter from 1.1 to 1.5 nm are produced, as shown by Raman scattering and electron microscopy studies. In this series of experiments, the maximal fraction of SWCNTs reaches 20%. A mechanism of SWCNT fast growth in the laser torch is suggested.     

Study of boron and molybdenum plasmas on multipulse interaction of femtosecond radiation with a target

Laser plasmas generated by femtosecond radiation on the surface of boron and molybdenum targets are investigated by the shadowgraph method. The modes of single-pulse and multipulse interaction of laser radiation with a target are compared. The occurrence of plasma bullets is discussed, which were observed on both single-pulse and multipulse interaction with the same area of a target. The wavefront velocities of expanding boron and molybdenum plasmas were measured to be 5 × 10⁴ and 6 × 10³ m s^?1, respectively. The electron density measured by interferometry using a time delay of 800 ps in a boron plasma excited by 795-nm radiation with an intensity of 10¹⁶ W cm^?2 amounted to 8 × 10¹⁹ cm^?3. The correlation between some specific features of the plasma and the generation of the 3/2 harmonic, observed on multipulse interaction of femtosecond radiation with a boron target, is discussed.     

Spectroscopic diagnostics of a laser erosion plasma formed from CuSbS<Subscript>2</Subscript> polycrystals

The spectra and dynamics of emission from regions of a laser plasma torch located at different distances from a polycrystalline CuSbS₂ target irradiated by a neodymium laser (W=(3–5)×10⁸ W/cm², ?=20 ns, f=12 Hz, 73x03BB;=1.06μm) were investigated. The emission data were used to estimate the average temperature (≤0.82 eV) and the electron density ((1.82?1.92)×10¹⁶ cm^?3) in the laser torch and the recombination times of ions (t _r(S²⁺)=15 ns, t _r(Cu⁺)=65?85 ns), as well as to analyze the efficiency of filling of excited atomic levels. A model describing the target destruction and the evolution of the processes accompanying spread of the laser plasma is proposed.     

Pressure dependence of stimulated brillouin scattering from a hydrogen gas target

Backscattering of CO₂ laser radiation from underdense hydrogen plasma was found to increase from ～0.2 to ～12% as gas target filling pressure was increased from 20 to 130 torr. No marked change in growth constant was observed for increased radiation intensity from 1 × 10¹¹ to 3 × 10 ¹¹ W/cm².     

Emission characteristics of a lead erosion laser plasma

The spectra and dynamics of the line emission of a lead erosion laser plasma at a distance of 1 mm from the target are investigated. The plasma is ignited in a vacuum (P=3–12 Pa) with a pulse-periodic neody-mium laser (τ=20 ns, f=12 Hz, W=(1–2)×10⁹ W/cm², and λ=1.06 µm). The data obtained are used to analyze the emission dynamics and the mechanism of formation of the laser plume.     

Emission of excited copper atoms in laser-produced erosion plasmas

The distribution of emission from excited states of a copper atom in erosion plasmas formed in vacuum by the action of neodymium laser pulses with a power density of (3–5)×10⁸ W/cm² on a copper target is studied. Averaged spectra and oscillograms of emission of Cu I lines were recorded in a region of 210–600 nm. Resonant lines of Cu I, lines of cascade transitions to resonant levels of Cu I, and lines from shifted levels of a copper atom are shown to possess the highest intensity. Oscillograms of emission at Cu I transitions have two peaks, which may be associated with two phases of surface evaporation of copper: under the action of a Nd³⁺:YAG laser pulse and radiation of the core of an erosion plasma plume. The relationship between the intensities of peaks in oscillograms of emission of Cu I lines points to the presence of a considerable cascade contribution to the population of the resonant states of Cu I and self-absorption of resonant lines of a copper atom at the first stage of evaporation of a copper target.     

Nanospallation induced by an ultrashort laser pulse

A femtosecond laser pulse with power density of 10¹³ to 10¹⁴ W/cm² incident on a metal target causes ablation and ejection of the surface layer. The ejected laser plume has a complicated structure. At the leading front of the plume, there is a spall layer where the material is in a molten state. The spall layer is a remarkable part of the plume in that the liquid-phase density does not decrease with time elapsed. This paper reports theoretical and experimental studies of the formation, structure, and ejection of the laser plume. The results of molecular dynamics simulations and a theoretical survey of plume structure based on these results are presented. It is shown that the plume has no spall layer when the pulse fluence exceeds an evaporation threshold F _ev. As the fluence increases from the ablation threshold F _a to F _ev, the spall-layer thickness for gold decreases from 100 nm to a few lattice constants. Experimental results support theoretical calculations. Microinterferometry combined with a pump-probe technique is used to obtain new quantitative data on spallation dynamics for gold. The ablation threshold is evaluated, the characteristic crater shape and depth are determined, and the evaporation threshold is estimated.     

红外激光对可见光CCD成像系统的干扰

采用连续波红外激光对可见光面阵CCD成像系统进行了干扰实验,观察到饱和串扰、全屏饱和等干扰现象,并测到串扰阈值小于2.0×102W/cm2,全屏饱和阈值为1.2×104W/cm2。通过分析CCD输出电压、视频信号,提出基于有效干扰面积的干扰效果评估方法,并利用该方法对干扰面积与激光功率密度、辐照时间之间的关系进行了半定量分析。结果显示:激光功率密度对干扰效果的影响较大,而辐照时间在0.5~2.0 s之间时,辐照时间对CCD干扰效果的影响不明显。     

Boron isotope enrichment in nanosecond pulsed laser-ablation plume

Boron isotopic enrichment is observed in the laser ablation of B₄C target using nanosecond (ns) wide 532 nm laser beam of a Nd-YAG laser. B¹⁰/B¹¹ ratio of 0.9 against the natural abundance of 0.25 is obtained at a laser power density of 8×10⁸ W/cm² (fluence of 6.4 J/cm²). The enrichment as a function of laser power density is demonstrated using a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Apart from higher enrichment factor, only singly charged ions are found in the laser plume from the B₄C target, in contrast to the multiply charged ions from the BN target reported in a recent report using femtosecond (fs) laser pulses. This study indicates the possibility of using less expensive, widely used ns lasers, which can also yield a higher throughput per pulse than a fs laser for isotope enrichment. Received: 28 September 2001 / Accepted: 4 February 2002 / Published online: 3 June 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +91-4114/480-065, E-mail: mj@igcar.ernet.in     

Neutron production in a picosecond laser plasma at a radiation intensity of 3×1017W/cm2

Neutron production as a result of the reaction ²H(d, n)³He in a picosecond laser plasma is reported. A considerable neutron yield of 5×10⁴ per pulse is obtained for the first time in a picosecond laser plasma on the surface of a solid deuterated target at laser radiation intensity of 3×10¹⁷ W/cm².     

Energetic ion generation by Coulomb explosion in cluster gas and a low-density plastic foam with an intense femtosecond laser

The energy distributions of protons emitted from the Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters by an intense femtosecond laser have been experimentally obtained. Ten thousand hydrogen clusters were exploded, emitting 8.1-keV protons under laser irradiation of intensity 6 × 10¹⁶W/cm². The energy distributions are interpreted well by a spherical uniform cluster analytical model. The maximum energy of the emitted protons can be characterized by cluster size and laser intensity. The laser intensity scale for the maximum proton energy, given by a spherical cluster Coulomb explosion model, is in fairly good agreement with the experimental results obtained at a laser intensity of 10¹⁶–10¹⁷ W/cm² and also when extrapolated with the results of three-dimensional particle simulations at 10²⁰–10²¹ W/cm². Energetic proton generation in low-density plastic (C₅H₁₀) foam by intense femtosecond laser pulse irradiation has been studied experimentally and numerically. Plastic foam was successfully produced by a sol-gel method, achieving an average density of 10 mg/cm³. The foam target was irradiated by 100-fs pulses of a laser with intensity 1 × 10¹⁸ W/cm². A plateau structure extending up to 200 keV was observed in the energy distribution of protons generated from the foam target, with the plateau shape explained well by Coulomb explosion of lamella in the foam. The laser-foam interaction and ion generation were studied qualitatively by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, which indicated that energetic protons are mainly generated by the Coulomb explosion. From the results, the efficiency of energetic ion generation in a low-density foam target by Coulomb explosion is expected to be higher than in a gas-cluster target.     

Experimental study of nuclear processes in the presence of superstrong fields of a picosecond laser plasma

Nuclear processes in the presence of the superstrong laser fields of a picosecond laser plasma are experimentally studied at a radiation intensity of 2 × 10¹⁸ W/cm² on a Neodim laser setup with a power of 10 TW. Experimental data regarding neutron generation on the surface of a deuterated target (CD₂)_n owing to the thermonuclear fusion ²H(d,n)³He and the neutron generation on the Be target due to the photonuclear reaction ⁹Be(γ,n)2α are presented. Neutron yields Y _n of 10⁶ and 10³ per 4π sr per laser pulse are obtained for the (CD₂)_n and Be targets, respectively. The alpha-particle yield is measured for the first time in the neutron-free thermonuclear reactions ¹¹B + H → 3⁴He in the laser plasma on the surface of the composite B + (CH₂)_n targets. The alpha-particle yield is 10³ per 4π sr per laser pulse.     

Backscattering of a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse from a solid target at oblique incidence

The results of experimental measurement and analytical estimation of the coefficient of backward reflection from targets made of various materials upon their irradiation by a picosecond laser pulse having the intensity of (0.8–4) × 10¹⁸ W/cm² are presented. It is shown that the induced surface instability leads to the formation of a profile backscattering the incident radiation. The coefficient of backward reflection achieves a few percent and has an intensity optimum depending on the target material.     

Non-equilibrium plasma production by pulsed laser ablation of gold

A gold target has been irradiated with a Q-switched Nd:Yag laser having 1064?nm wavelength, 9?ns pulse width, 900?mJ maximum pulse energy and a maximum power density of the order of 10¹⁰?W/cm². The laser–target interaction produces a strong gold etching with production of a plasma in front of the target. The plasma contains neutrals and ions having a high charge state. Time-of-flight (TOF) measurements are presented for the analysis of the ion production and ion velocity. A cylindrical electrostatic deflection ion analyzer permits measurement of the yield of the emitted ions, their charge state and their ion energy distribution. Measurements indicate that the ion charge state reaches 6⁺ and 10⁺ at a laser fluence of 100?J/cm² and 160?J/cm², respectively. The maximum ion energy reaches about 2?keV and 8?keV at these low and high laser fluences, respectively. Experimental ion energy distributions are given as a function of the ion charge state. Obtained results indicate that electrical fields, produced in the plume, along the normal to the plane of the target surface, exist in the unstable plasma. The electrical fields induce ion acceleration away from the target with a final velocity dependent on the ion charge state. The ion velocity distributions follow a “shifted Maxwellian distribution”, which the authors have corrected for the Coulomb interactions occurring inside the plasma.     

Synchronization effect on the small-signal gain and saturation intensity of a CuBr laser

A pair of copper bromide laser in an oscillator–amplifier configuration was used to investigate the small signal gain and saturation intensity as amplifying parameters, versus delay time of triggering between lasers. The maximum amplifying parameters and output power of 0.07 cm^?1, 43 μJ cm^?2, and 9 W were measured, respectively at optimum delay time of about 10 ns. The amplifying parameters and measured output power of laser versus delay times between intervals of 6–43 ns, shows some local maxima and minima. The output power extracted from the amplifier exceeds that achieved with the same device as the oscillator by more than 60%.     

Generation of high-energy negative hydrogen ions upon the interaction of superintense femtosecond laser radiation with a solid target

The formation of a high-energy (～35 keV) beam of negative hydrogen ions was observed in the expanding femtosecond laser plasma produced at the surface of a solid target by radiation with an intensity of up to 2× 10¹⁶ W/cm². The energy spectra of the H⁺ and H^?-ions show a high degree of correlation.     

A study of the nonlinear refractive index in amorphous Ge–As–S layers and nanocomposites with gold nanoparticles

Nonlinear refractive indices of simple and composite chalcogenide glasses with gold nanoparticles are measured by the Z-scan method using a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser with a central wavelength of 800 nm and a pulse duration of 40 fs. It is shown that introduction of nanoparticles into thin layers of amorphous GeS₂, As₃₀Ge₂₀S₅₀, and As₃Ge₃₅S₆₂ leads to a decrease in the total nonlinear refractive index due to additional absorption of femtosecond laser radiation without efficient excitation of localized plasmons outside the resonance region. For example, the nonlinear refractive index decreases with addition of gold nanoparticles from 16.1 × 10^–12 to 13.0 × 10^–12 cm²/W for GeS₂, from 3.9 × 10^–12 to 3.2 × 10^–12 cm²/W for As₃₀Ge₂₀S₅₀, and from 5.8 × 10^–12 to 4.7 × 10^–12 cm²/W for As₃Ge₃₅S₆₂.