Pulsed alkali pump light sources for Nd:YAG lasers

Pulsed arc discharges in alkali metal vapours are investigated for use as pump light sources for Nd:YAG lasers. Alkali lamps have a very high radiation efficiency and emit strong lines near the laser pump bands. These absorption bands are fitted by the emission spectrum of sodium and potassium lamps by changing the vapour pressure and input power. The spectral radiation distributions of the lamps are measured by a spectrograph with a gated OMA system. Ray tracing calculations for a laser cavity are used to evaluate the efficiency of the alkali radiation emission for Nd:YAG pumping. The results show that the excitation efficiency of the alkali lamps is twice as high as that of usually used rare gas lamps. For sodium resonance lines the side-on spectral radiance is calculated by a radiation transport model to estimate the pressure and the temperature profile. The results indicate that the alkali vapour lamps could be used as pump light sources with high efficiencies and low heat loading of the laser cavity.     

Studies on the Plasma Shielding of 1.06μm Laser on the Aluminum Target

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Diode pumped Nd:GSAG and Nd:YGG laser at 942 and 935 nm

Two new Nd³⁺ doped crystals show laser activity between the ⁴F_3/2 and ⁴I_9/2 levels. Diode pumped emission of Nd:GSAG at 942 nm wavelength with 950 mW output power and 14% optical to optical efficiency as well as laser emission of Nd:YGG at 935 nm with 700 mW output power and 11% efficiency have been obtained. These wavelengths are useful for water vapour absorption measurements.     

Optically excitedP-quaterphenyl vapour laser

We report the observation of laser action at 350 nm in an organic scintillatorp-quaterphenyl (PQT) in the vapour phase. Pure vapours and their mixtures with SF₆ and N₂ were excited with the fourth harmonic of an Nd laser (266 nm) in transverse pumping geometry. The measured conversion efficiency of the PQT vapour laser was 1% under nonoptimum conditions. Absorption spectrum and vapour density curve are given. Influence of buffer gases on the threshold pump intensity and fluorescence efficiency is reported.     

Calcium phosphate coatings deposited by laser ablation at 355 nm under different substrate temperatures and water vapour pressures

Calcium phosphate coatings were deposited on Ti-6Al-4V by laser ablation with a 355 nm Nd:YAG laser at different substrate temperatures. Two series of coatings were deposited at water vapour pressures of 10 and 45 Pa by varying the substrate temperature from 20 to 600 °C. Characterisation of their structure and adhesion has been carried out in order to study the effect of the deposition temperature and the water vapour pressure on the coating properties. It has been found that a high temperature favours the synthesis of crystalline phases. Ca rich phases are synthesised at 10 Pa while hydroxyapatite is obtained at 45 Pa with some alfa tricalcium phosphate. Scratch test measurements have shown, that the coating-substrate adhesion for coatings deposited at 45 Pa is remarkably increased at substrate temperatures higher than 400 °C, but the highest adhesion has been found for amorphous coatings obtained at 10 Pa and 200 °C.     

VUV generation by frequency tripling the third harmonic of a picosecond kHz Nd:YLF laser in xenon and mercury vapour

uv ^vac=351.165 nm) of a ps 1 kHz Nd:YLF laser system is frequency tripled in xenon and mercury vapour. About 4×10⁴ photons per pulse, i.e. 4×10⁷ photons/s, are generated in xenon yielding a conversion efficiency of η=3×10^-10. The unusual frequency tripling in xenon takes place in a positive dispersive wavelength region. It is shown that Kerr-induced dispersion in the atomic system and a fifth-order process rather than a third-order process can explain the frequency tripling. For comparison a four-wave mixing process is investigated in negative dispersive mercury vapour. Due to absorption of the generated VUV radiation in the autoionization region of mercury the observed effective efficiency is, in our experimental arrangement, even lower than in xenon. An analysis of the VUV generation with respect to absorption is given. Received: 1 September 1997     

Search for superconductivity in vapour quenched alkaline earth metals and lanthanides

Recent papers by Reale [1–3] report superconducting transitions in vapour quenched films of several alkali-, alkaline earth-, and rare earth metals which were not previously known to be superconducting. We report here a vain effort to verify that Mg, Ba, Ce, Pr, Nd or Yb are superconducting above 0.3 K.Supported by the Swedish National Science Research Council     

Generation of multiply charged atomic ions of halogens using second harmonic of nanosecond Nd:YAG laser

Using the second harmonic output (532 nm) of a commercially available pulsed Nd:YAG laser interacting with pure and mixed clusters of iodo compounds, multiply charged ions of halogen group (F, Cl, Br and I) atoms have been generated based on the phenomenon of low intensity Coulomb explosion. This method provides a useful rugged tool for generation of multiply charged ions which can then be used for various applications. The effect of boiling point (vapour pressure) of the compound forming clusters has been correlated with the highest charged state of ion observed in time of flight mass spectrometer.     

Measurement of photoexcitation cross-sections of uranium by saturation method

We report the measurement of photoexcitation cross-sections of three first-step uranium transitions (0 → 16900.38 cm ⁻¹, 0 → 17361.89 cm ⁻¹ and 620 → 17361.89 cm ⁻¹) using saturation method. These measurements were performed on a resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) set-up consisting of Nd:YAG-pumped dye lasers, a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer and high-temperature atomic vapour source. The uranium vapours were excited and photoionized by two-colour, three-photon photoionization scheme using Nd:YAG-pumped dye laser system. The resultant photoion signal was monitored as a function of dye laser fluence used for first step excitation to measure the excitation cross-section values. A new approach was adopted to overcome the large uncertainties associated with such measurements. With this approach the cross-section of transitions whose value is already reported in the literature was measured as a bench mark. By normalizing the measured value to the reported value, a scaling factor was derived. This scaling factor was used to scale up the cross-section values of other transitions measured by this method.     

Mechanisms of ablation-rate decrease in multiple-pulse laser ablation

We present two sets of experimental results on the ablation-rate decrease with increase of the number of consecutive laser pulses hitting the same spot on the target surface. We have studied laser ablation of a carbon target with nanosecond pulses in two different interaction regimes: one with a XeCl laser (λ=308 nm) and the other with a Nd:YAG laser (λ=1064 nm), in both cases at the intensity ∼5×10⁸ W/cm² Two different mechanisms were found to be responsible for the ablation-rate decrease; they are directly related to the two different laser–matter interaction regimes. The UV-laser interaction is in the regime of transparent vapour (surface absorption). The increase of the neutral vapour density in the crater produced by the preceding laser pulses is the main reason for the decrease of ablation rate. With the IR laser each single laser pulse interacts with a partially ionised plume. With increase of the number of pulses hitting the same spot on the target surface, the laser–matter interaction regime gradually changes from the near-surface absorption to the volume absorption, resulting in the decrease in absorption in the target and thus in the decrease in the ablation rate. The change in the evaporation rate was considered for both vacuum and reactive-gas environments. Received: 21 February 2001 / Accepted: 26 February 2001 / Published online: 23 May 2001     

The corrosion behaviour of uncoated bonded NdFeB magnets in humid environments

The corrosion behaviour of uncoated bonded NdFeB magnets prepared using different binders has been assessed in a humid environment (100°C, saturated water vapour) by means of mass change measurements and magnetic characterisation. Epoxy resin, zinc and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have been used to bond melt spun ribbon, MQP-D, as supplied by General Motors. It has been found that the PTFE bonded samples which had been heat treated prior to testing exhibit superior corrosion resistance to the other samples, as characterised by a smaller mass change and greater retention of magnetic properties.     

Oxygen concentration effects on laser-induced grating spectroscopy of toluene

The effects of variation in oxygen concentration on laser-induced grating spectroscopy (LIGS) signals from toluene vapour in nitrogen/oxygen mixtures is investigated. The modulation of LIGS signals arising from the interference of counter-propagating acoustic waves with a stationary density perturbation induced by pulsed excitation of toluene by frequency quadrupled radiation from a Nd:YAG laser has been measured as a function of oxygen partial pressure at total gas pressures up to 8?bar. The modulation depth or signal contrast is found to vary in an unexpected way with oxygen partial pressure and the behaviour is ascribed to energy transfer to excited singlet states of the oxygen molecule and subsequent collisional quenching. A simple model of the energy transfer dynamics is presented that reproduces the observed behaviour and the potential for using the signal contrast of LIGS signals as a measure of oxygen concentration is discussed.     

Dipole traps with mode-locked lasers

We investigate the properties of two separate dipole traps, realised using a cw mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser and a cw mode-locked Nd:YVO₄ laser, red-detuned by 25 nm and 284 nm, respectively. Approximately 10³ laser-cooled ⁸⁵Rb atoms were confined in the traps at ≈50 μK, with no observable heating after initial loading. The lifetimes of the traps were consistent with limitations imposed by wavelength-dependent photoassociation losses and collisions with background vapour. Determination of the ac Stark shift of the 780 nm cooling transition using a weak probe beam showed no observable difference between using narrow-bandwidth or mode-locked trapping light. Techniques for trapping and focusing of atoms based on the dipole force of blue and uv light become much more accessible through efficient doubling, tripling and quadrupling of mode-locked sources. This opens up the possibility of manipulating more technologically interesting species. Received: 30 September 1999 / Revised version: 21 December 1999 / Published online: 24 March 2000     

Characterization of Nd Doped Films Prepared by Femtosecond Pulsed Laser DepositionSCIEI北大核心CSCD

Thin films of Nd : YAG and Nd : Glass were prepared on Si (100) substrate by pulsed laser deposition technology. The morphology of film surface and cross section, composition, absorption spectrum and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of films were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR), optical parametric oscillator(OPO) and grating spectrometer. The results show that both Nd : YAG films and Nd : Glass films grown on the substrates at room temperature are amorphous. Nd : YAG films grown by PLD contain Nd element with 0. 15 at. % stoichiometric proportion. The absorption spectrum of bulk Nd : YAG target rather than deposited films exhibit two absorption peaks at 750 and 808 nm. There are no evident peaks in the photoluminescence spectra curve of Nd : YAG films. However, the photoluminescence spectra of Nd : Glass films with two sharp peaks at the wavelength of 877 and 1 064 nm are observed. It indicates that Nd is doped into glass host as optically active Nd3+ ions when Nd : Glass films grow at room temperature. But for Nd : YAG films, Nd don't incorporate into YAG host as Nd3+ ions.     

High-power and high optical conversion efficiency diode-end-pumped laser with multi-segmented Nd:YAG/Nd:YVO_4

A novel flat-flat resonator consisting of two crystals(Nd:YAG + Nd:YVO_4) is established for power scaling in a diode-end-pumped solid-state laser. We systematically compare laser characteristics between multi-segmented(Nd:YAG + Nd:YVO_4) and conventional composite(Nd:YAG + Nd:YAG) crystals to demonstrate the feasibility of spectral line matching for output power scale-up in end-pumped lasers. A maximum continuous-wave output power of 79.2 W is reported at 1064 nm, with M_x~2= 4.82, M_y~2= 5.48, and a pumping power of 136 W in the multi-segmented crystals(Nd:YAG + Nd:YVO_4). Compared to conventional composite crystals(Nd:YAG + Nd:YAG), the optical-optical conversion efficiency of multi-segmented crystals(Nd:YAG + Nd:YVO4) from 808 nm to 1064 nm is enhanced from 30% to 58.8%,while the laser output sensitivity as affected by the diode-laser temperature is reduced from 55% to 9%.     

Impact of an extended source in laser ablation using pulsed digital holographic interferometry and modelling

Pulsed digital holographic interferometry has been used to study the effect of the laser spot diameter on the shock wave generated in the ablation process of an Nd:YAG laser pulse on a Zn target under atmospheric pressure. For different laser spot diameters and time delays, the propagation of the expanding vapour and of the shock wave were recorded by intensity maps calculated using the recorded digital holograms. From the latter, the phase maps, the refractive index and the density field can be derived. A model was developed that approaches the density distribution, in particular the ellipsoidal expansion characteristics. The induced shock wave has an ellipsoid shape that approaches a sphere for decreasing spot diameter. The ellipsoidal shock waves have almost the same centre offset towards the laser beam and the same aspect ratio for different time steps. The model facilitates the derivation of the particle velocity field. The method provides valuable quantitative results that are discussed, in particular in comparison with the simpler point source explosion theory.     

Comparative laser performances of pyrromethene 567 and rhodamine 6G dyes in copper vapour laser pumped dye lasers

Narrowband laser performances and photochemical stability of alcoholic solutions of pyrromethene 567 and rhodamine 6G dyes, under high-repetition rate copper vapour laser (at 510 nm), as well as, high-peak intensity Nd:YAG laser (at 532 nm) excitation have been investigated. We have observed that pyrromethene 567 dye solutions offer higher efficiency, wider tuning range, but lower photochemical stability and higher lasing threshold than that of rhodamine 6G dye solutions. An addition of about 100 mM DABCO, as a singlet oxygen quencher, in pyrromethene 567 dye solutions improved its photochemical stability close to that of rhodamine 6G. The observation of higher slope efficiency, in spite of higher threshold pump energy for pyrromethene 567 dye than that of rhodamine 6G dye solutions, was explained by a predictive model on gain characteristics of both dye solutions as a function of pump energy. PACS 42.55.Mv; 42.55.Rz; 42.70.Hj; 42.70.Jk     

Fluorescence Emission Centres and the Corresponding Infrared Fluorescence Saturation in a Bismuth-Doped Silica Fibre

We investigate the fluorescence characteristics of bismuth doped silica fibres with and without A1 co-dopant which are fabricated by means of modified chemical vapour deposition （MCVD） technique, and find that the fluorescences in the red region （centred around 750nm） and in the infrared region （centred around llOOnm） may originate from different emission sites in the fibre. Strong upconversion phenomena are observed in both Al-codoped and non A1 codoped bismuth fibres when the fibres are excited by an acoustic-optic Q-switched Nd：YVO4 laser. Both the aspects indicate that the upper energy level absorption reported in the work of the bismuth doped silica fibre lasers may result from the fluorescence emission sites that are not responsible for the infrared emission. It is thus expected that optimizing the compositions and the fabrication conditions of the fibre and then transferring more fluorescence emission centres are helpful for the infrared emission.     

Relative performance of a 1.06 μm laser with various Nd doped crystals

Laser emission at 1.06 μm has been observed from Nd: doped YAG, KGW and SGGM crystals pumped by a linear Xe-gas filled flashlamp in the input energy range of 1–25 J. The intrinsic slope efficiency has been determined to be 8.84%, 2.25% and 1.25% from Nd: KGW (Nd: 3% atomic), Nd: YAG (Nd: 1.0% atomic) and Nd: SGGM (Nd: 4% atomic), respectively.     

CdSe:Nd纳米晶及CdSe:Nd@SiO2核壳结构的合成及发光性能

利用有机相法合成Nd³⁺掺杂CdSe纳米晶（CdSe∶Nd）,通过X射线粉末衍射（XRD）、透射电镜（TEM）、紫外吸收光光谱及荧光光谱表征,证明Nd³⁺已经成功掺入到CdSe的晶格中。与纯CdSe纳米晶相比,CdSe∶Nd纳米晶的结构仍为立方晶型,且形貌近似球形,均匀分散,粒径约为2~4 nm。紫外吸收峰和荧光发射峰都发生红移,而且掺杂后的CdSe∶Nd纳米晶量子产率也提高,这可能是由于掺杂Nd³⁺引入了新的杂质能级,带隙减小。为了实现CdSe∶Nd纳米晶的可加工性和功能性,通过微乳法合成SiO₂壳包覆的CdSe∶Nd纳米球（CdSe∶Nd@SiO₂纳米球）,CdSe∶Nd@SiO₂纳米球呈均匀球形,直径约为100~115 nm,并且包壳后的CdSe∶Nd@SiO₂纳米球发射峰（581 nm）与CdSe∶Nd纳米晶（598 nm）相比,发光强度提高且发射峰蓝移,蓝移约为17 nm,可能是因为SiO₂壳可以减少纳米晶表面的非辐射跃迁以及改善表面缺陷导致的。