Dynamics of laser-induced cavitation bubble during expansion over sharp-edge geometry submerged in liquid – an inside view by diffuse illumination

Laser ablation in liquids is growing in popularity for various applications including nanoparticle production, breakdown spectroscopy, and surface functionalization. When laser pulse ablates the solid target submerged in liquid, a cavitation bubble develops. In case of “finite” geometries of ablated solids, liquid dynamical phenomena can occur inside the bubble when the bubble overflows the surface edge. To observe this dynamics, we use diffuse illumination of a flashlamp in combination with a high-speed videography by exposure times down to 250 ns. The developed theoretical modelling and its comparison with the experimental observations clearly prove that this approach widens the observable area inside the bubble. We thereby use it to study the dynamics of laser-induced cavitation bubble during its expansion over a sharp-edge (“cliff-like” 90°) geometry submerged in water, ethanol, and polyethylene glycol 300. The samples are 17 mm wide stainless steel plates with thickness in the range of 0.025–2 mm. Bubbles are induced on the samples by 1064-nm laser pulses with pulse durations of 7–60 ns and pulse energies of 10–55 mJ. We observe formation of a fixed-type secondary cavity behind the edge where low-pressure area develops due to bubble-driven flow of the liquid. This occurs when the velocity of liquid overflow exceeds ~20 m s⁻¹. A re-entrant liquid injection with up to ~40 m s⁻¹ velocity may occur inside the bubble when the bubble overflows the edge of the sample. Formation and characteristics of the jet evidently depend on the relation between the breakdown-edge offset and the bubble energy, as well as the properties of the surrounding liquid. Higher viscosity of the liquid prevents the generation of the jet.     

An experimental method for eliminating effect of rigid out-of-plane motion on 2D-DIC

The out-of-plane motion is one of the most important factors that affect the precision of two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC). In this paper, a novel solution is presented to improve conventional 2D-DIC by eliminating the effect of out-of-plane motion, including translation and rotation. Firstly, an experimental technique using two projected laser strips is proposed to measure the out-of-plane motion of a planar specimen. A theoretical model is then established to predict the pseudostrains caused by out-of-plane motion based on the pin-hole imaging model. Using the measured out-of-plane displacement, the captured deformed images used in 2D-DIC are amended to eliminate the effect of out-of-plane motion by the theoretical model. Finally, two experiments were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results indicate that application of the proposed method can effectively eliminate the errors caused by out-of-plane motion.     

Optical analysis of polymer powder materials for Selective Laser Sintering

This study increases the basic understanding of optical material properties of polymer powders used in selective laser sintering (SLS). Therefore, different polymer powder materials were analyzed regarding their optical material properties with an integration spheres measurement setup. By the measurements a direct connection between the absorption behavior of the solid material and the overall optical material characteristics of the same material in powdery form could be shown. The results were used to develop an advanced explanation model for the optical material properties of powders. At present, existing explanation models only consider the occurring of multiple reflections in the gaps between the particles to explain the overall optical material properties of powder materials. Thus, by also considering the absorption behavior of the single particles, the basic understanding of the beam-matter interaction and their effect on the optical material properties of powder materials can be expanded.     

Interface and defects engineering for multilayer laser coatings

High-reflective multilayer laser coatings are widely used in advanced optical systems from high power laser facilities to high precision metrology systems. However, the real interface quality and defects will significantly affect absorption/scattering losses and laser induced damage thresholds of multilayer coatings. With the recent advances in the control of coating design and deposition processes, these coating properties can be significantly improved when properly engineered the interface and defects. This paper reviews the recent progress in the physics of laser damage, optical losses and environmental stability involved in multilayer reflective coatings for high power nanosecond near-infrared lasers. We first provide an overview of the layer growth mechanisms, ways to control the microstructures and reduce layer roughness, as well as the nature of defects which are critical to the optical loss and laser induced damage. Then an overview of interface engineering based on the design of coating structure and the regulation of deposition materials reveals their ability to improve the laser induced damage threshold, reduce the backscattering, and realize the desirable properties of environmental stability and exceptional multifunctionality. Moreover, we describe the recent progress in the laser damage and scattering mechanism of nodule defects and give the approaches to suppress the defect-induced damage and scattering of the multilayer laser coatings. Finally, the present challenges and limitations of high-performance multilayer laser coatings are highlighted, along with the comments on likely trends in future.     

Laser control of magneto-polaron in transition metal dichalcogenides triangular quantum well

We study the dynamic of magneto-polaron condensate in monolayer two dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) materials of 2H types in triangular quantum well potential. Within both the quantum mechanical Schrödinger approach (QMSA) and the improved Wigner-Brillouin theory (IWBT), Landau energies levels (LELs) are derived. We have shown that the magneto-polaron condensation is enhanced in monolayer MoSe₂ compared to MoS₂, WS₂ and WSe₂. We derive various levels by increasing a magnetic field and laser parameter. We show that the quantum confinement lifts the degeneracy of the Landau levels (LLs) resulting in an anticrossing and crossing. The dephasing effect due to the quantum well potential's parameter plays an important role in the magneto-polaron energy corrections, which are also affected by the amplitude of the laser field. The system presents Stückelberg oscillations which is important for practical applications.     

角锥棱镜谐振腔激光模式模拟研究

为了探究角锥棱镜谐振腔激光模式,以角锥-平面镜腔为例,将角锥棱镜等效为衍射光栅,考虑角锥镜棱宽在谐振腔中的衍射效应以及二面角误差引起的附加相位分布对谐振腔激光模式的影响,在光学谐振腔理论的基础上,建立了求解本征模式的理论分析模型.采用快速傅里叶法数值模拟不同腔长、角锥镜棱宽和二面角误差情况下该无源谐振腔激光输出模式分布情况.结果表明,在腔长30 cm、角锥镜棱宽小于75μm、二面角误差在-10′~5′之间时,可实现光斑完整的圆形分布输出模式,且有较好的光束质量;棱宽不小于0.4 mm,二面角误差在-40′~10′之间时,光斑为TEM 03阶横模,光场呈六瓣分布;当角锥镜棱宽为0.4 mm、二面角误差为3′,腔长从30~90 cm范围内增加时,该谐振腔输出的激光模式从TEM 03转换成TEM 10.     

喷流冷却复合陶瓷薄片激光器的热特性仿真分析及实验研究

为分析喷流冷却复合陶瓷薄片激光器的热特性,设计用于冷却复合陶瓷薄片的喷流冷却系统.利用湍流换热理论和计算流体动力学仿真方法建立喷流冷却复合陶瓷薄片激光器的流固耦合热仿真模型,定义评价其冷却能力和冷却均匀性的定量参数.根据该仿真模型得到喷流冷却系统的最优设计参数,并进行实验验证.使用163孔喷板,流量为0.2kg/s,入口温度为20℃,在1200 W泵浦时获得359 W激光输出功率,并测得复合陶瓷薄片上表面的最高温度为92℃.激光输出功率与复合陶瓷薄片上表面温度均与泵浦功率呈近似正线性关系,且温度的实验值与仿真值相符度较高.     

Fabrication and luminous properties of phosphor ceramic for application in automotive laser headlight

We report on the optimization of fabrication of a ceramic phosphor plate (CPP) using α-Al₂O₃ as functional materials for an automotive laser headlamp. The prepared CPP shows the high luminous characteristics with increasing α-Al₂O₃ contents because of the light scattering of the hexagonal structure of α-Al₂O₃ materials. We investigated the correlation between α-Al₂O₃ and thickness of CPP. The luminous properties of the CPP are improved and optimized according to the variables of one. We found that the prepared sample is a potential material for future solid-state laser lighting in application as an automotive headlamp.     

Basics of optical force

Light possesses momentum, and hence, force is exerted on materials if they absorb and/or scatter light. Laser techniques that use optical forces are currently attracting considerable attention. Optical manipulation for trapping, transporting small particles, and measuring the interparticle force is a representative technique. In addition, photoinduced force microscopy is a promising scanning type of microscopy using optical force. Optical force techniques have recently been used in various fields of research, such as molecular bioscience, organic photochemistry, materials engineering, and molecular fluid dynamics. In these techniques, several types of optical forces such as scattering, absorption, and gradient forces play their respective roles. In this article, we summarize the basics of optical forces and present their elementary expressions for using simplified models of light and matter systems. This will help the readers of this Special Issue to understand how different types of forces are distinguished in the basic expressions used for analyzing the optical force phenomena that appear depending on the light geometry and matter systems. After observing simplified cases of scattering and absorption forces, we introduce general formulae for the optical force and then discuss how different components appear in particular cases of laser geometry and materials.