Ablation induced by single-and multiple-femtosecond laser pulses in lithium niobate

We present results on the surface-damage threshold of lithium niobate after single-and multiple-femtosecond laser pulse irradiation at the pulse duration of 80 fs, with a 800-nm wavelength, and a repetition rate of 1 kHz. The surface-ablation threshold was found to decrease significantly with an increase in the pulse number applied to the surface until reaching an almost constant level due to an incubation effect, which is attributed to the laser-induced defect formation. The threshold of lithium niobate under a single shot is found to be 2.82 J/cm², and the threshold fluence for an infinite number of pulses F _th(∞) converges to a common value of 0.52 ± 0.06 J/cm² for N > 80. The results have the potential for application in laser micromachining and the fabrication of related optical devices and applications in frequency conversion by a femtosecond laser in lithium niobate.     

Nonlinear processes in UV optical materials at 248 nm

Nonlinear processes in UV optical materials were investigated by using 280-fs, 248-nm pulses. Nonlinear absorption in CaF₂ was confirmed to be a two-photon process by using the luminescence of self-trapped excitons, which was also used for the single shot pulse width measurement. The absorption bands due to F centers were identified in CaF₂, MgF₂, and LiF after several hundred shots at 100 GW/cm². Absorption at 248 nm was considerable especially in MgF₂ and LiF. Self-focusing and self-phase modulation were observed in CaF₂.     

Potentiality of the photothermal surface-displacement technique for precisely performed absorption measurement of optical coatings

The influence of sample properties on the measured signal has to be investigated, so that measurements of the optical absorption in thin-film coatings by means of the photothermal surface-displacement technique may be precisely performed. Carrying out simultaneously absorption measurements on metal coatings at =10.6 m by using laser calorimetry as well as the surface-displacement technique, the aforementioned influence and the validity of assumptions of the theoretical model, respectively, can be proven. It can be demonstrated that, in contrast to the model, thermophysical coating properties contribute to the probed surface displacement.     

Photothermally Responsive Inks for Inkjet‐Printing Secure Information

2D patterns of photothermally responsive near‐infrared (NIR) absorbing gold nanostars (GNS), coated with multiple charged polymer layers, are inkjet‐printed on a glass surface. The shape of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) NIR absorption bands in the printed patterns loses its peaked form due to plasmon coupling, unless GNS are enveloped in multiple coating layers, keeping the inter‐GNS distance sufficiently large. In the latter case, the photothermal temperature increase (ΔT) induced by the NIR laser irradiation follows a ΔT versus irradiation wavelength (λ_irr) profile with the same sharply peaked shape of the LSPR bands of the liquid ink. With this result, a new paradigm for inkjet‐writing secure information is introduced, as an alternative to the current methods based on direct visual inspection of printed patterns. While the printed ink patterns of GNS with different coatings are visually indistinguishable despite their different NIR absorption spectrum, their photothermal response changes dramatically with λ_irr. This allows either to write and read simple information using a single λ_irr (YES answer for ΔT > threshold) or to use multiple λ_irr to write and read complex information like thermal bar codes and anti‐counterfeit signatures.     

Optimization of facet coating for highly strained InGaAs quantum well lasers operating at 1200 nm

The optical output power of a laser diode can be enhanced by anti-reflection (AR) and high-reflection (HR) facet coatings, respectively, at the front and back facet. AR and HR coatings also serve the purpose of protection and passivation of laser diode facets. In this work, we have designed and optimized a single layer λ/4 thick Al₂O₃ film for the AR coating and a stack of λ/4 thick Al₂O₃/λ/4 thick Si bi-layers for the HR coating for highly strained InGaAs quantum-well edge emitting broad area (BA) laser diodes. Effect of the front and back facet reflectivities on output power of the laser diodes has been studied. The light output versus injected current (L–I characteristics) measurements were carried out on selected devices before and after the facet coatings. We have also carried out the numerical simulation and analysis of L–I characteristics for this particular diode structure. The experimental results have been compared and verified with the numerical simulation.     

Deposition of duplex Al2O3/aluminum coatings on steel using a combined technique of arc spraying and plasma electrolytic oxidation

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is a cost-effective technique that can be used to prepare ceramic coatings on metals such as Ti, Al, Mg, Nb, etc., and their alloys, but this promising technique cannot be used to modify the surface properties of steels, which are the most widely used materials in engineering. In order to prepare metallurgically bonded ceramic coatings on steels, a combined technique of arc spraying and plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) was adopted. In this work, metallurgically bonded ceramic coatings on steels were obtained using this method. We firstly prepared aluminum coatings on steels by arc spraying, and then obtained the metallurgically bonded ceramic coatings on aluminum coatings by PEO. The characteristics of duplex coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion and wear resistance of the ceramic coatings were also studied. The results show that, duplex Al₂O₃/aluminum coatings have been deposited on steel substrate after the combined treatment. The ceramic coatings are mainly composed of α-Al₂O₃, γ-Al₂O₃, θ-Al₂O₃ and some amorphous phase. The duplex coatings show favorable corrosion and wear resistance properties. The investigations indicate that the combination of arc spraying and plasma electrolytic oxidation proves a promising technique for surface modification of steels for protective purposes.     

Multi-photon behaviors of shot noise in a quantum dot system under the perturbation of two microwave fields

We have investigated the shot noise affected by the perturbation of two microwave fields (MWFs) with frequencies ω₁ and ω₂, which can be classified as the commensurate and incommensurate external ac fields. The time-dependent current correlation function and the spectral density of shot noise have been obtained. They are very different compared with the single-field applied system in the nonlinear regime of the ac potentials. The different photon absorption and emission processes induce different kinds of noise spectral density. We have performed the numerical calculations for both commensurate balanced and unbalanced photon absorptions and emissions. The multi-photon procedure can be seen clearly from the resonance of shot noise. Different commensurate number q = ω₂/ω₁ contributes to different photon absorption and emission behaviors. It is found that the asymmetric configuration of shot noise is intimately associated with the commensurate number q. The differential conductance appears symmetric and asymmetric behaviors, and the channel blockade exhibits. The shot noise is large enough to surpass its saturated value for the unbalanced photon absorption case. The sensitive behaviors of Fano factor associated with different commensurate numbers and amplitudes of ac fields signify that the shot noise can be controlled by external MWFs significantly.     

Optical actuation of a macroscopic mechanical oscillator

An intensity-modulated HeNe-laser beam was utilized to optically actuate the mechanical resonance of a macroscopic torsional silicon oscillator (f₀ = 67 700 Hz, Q = 42 100 at p = 1 mbar and T = 300 K). Both radiation pressure and photothermal effects may cause optical actuation of a mechanical device. Both excitation effects were studied. In actuation through radiation pressure, the actuating laser beam was focused on the high-reflectivity-coated oscillator surface. In the case where the intensity-modulated laser beam was incident on the uncoated silicon surface the photothermal effect was shown to be the dominating excitation factor. Oscillation amplitudes due to the actuation through radiation pressure and photothermal effects were Δ x_rad = 1.4 pm and Δ x_ph = 4.3 pm with the same optical power of 1.5 mW. The measured resonance frequency and quality value were not changed when purely mechanical and radiation pressure actuation mechanisms were compared. With photothermal actuation the absorbed optical power heats the oscillator, introducing a slight decrease in the resonance frequency. Our experiments demonstrate that optical actuation combined with sensitive optical interferometric measurements can be utilized to perform dynamic vibration analysis of micromechanical components. Prospects of using micromechanical devices for observing extremely weak external forces are discussed.     

Degenerate four-wave mixing in nitrogen dioxide: Application to combustion diagnostics

Single shot degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) images of the distribution of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) doped into a propane/air flame at concentrations of the order of 7000 ppm have been obtained. These images indicate the relative concentration of NO₂ in different parts of the flame with an estimated spatial resolution of 150 m.Initial experiments were performed using NO₂ in a glass cell with nitrogen buffer gas. DFWM signals were generated using both the frequency doubled output of a pulsed ND:YAG laser and the tunable blue output of an excimer pumped dye laser. The signal was investigated as a function of laser power, NO₂ concentration and buffer gas pressure. In addition, spectra of NO₂ in the region 450 to 480 nm were obtained.Signals were then sought in both a cold air/NO₂ gas flow and an ignited mixture of propane and air seeded with NO₂, using a DFWM imaging geometry. The resulting images from the flame demonstrate the disappearance of the NO₂ molecules in the flame interaction zone.This work was done when previously employed by AEA Technology at Harwell     

Impurities detection by optical techniques in KH2PO4 crystals

In this paper we examine how optical techniques can be used for impurities (or defects) detection and identification in KH₂PO₄ (KDP) components. This is important in so far as some of these defects are responsible for a much weaker than expected Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) in these materials, i.e. for a weaker resistance to a laser shot. KDP materials are investigated by photothermal deflection, fluorescence and photoexcitation with the aim of localizing and identifying the laser-induced damage precursors. The rapidly grown KDP crystals are shown to be heterogeneous from the absorption, fluorescence and composition point of view. Impurities concentrations are measured directly by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and tentatively correlated to some optical characteristics and to the LIDT of KDP materials.     

Diamond coating deposition by synergy of thermal and laser methods—A problem revisited

Diamond coatings were deposited by synergy of the hot filament CVD method and the pulse TEA CO₂ laser, in spectroactive and spectroinactive diamond precursor atmospheres. Resulting diamond coatings are interpreted relying on evidence of scanning electron microscopy as well as microRaman spectroscopy. Thermal synergy component (hot filament) possesses an activating agent for diamond deposition, and contributes significantly to quality and extent of diamond deposition. Laser synergy component comprises a solid surface modification as well as the spectroactive gaseous atmosphere modification. Surface modification consists in changes of the diamond coating being deposited and, at the same time, in changes of the substrate surface structure. Laser modification of the spectroactive diamond precursor atmosphere means specific consumption of the precursor, which enables to skip the deposition on a defined substrate location. The resulting process of diamond coating elimination from certain, desired locations using the CO₂ laser might contribute to tailoring diamond coatings for particular applications. Additionally, the substrate laser modification could be optimized by choice of a proper spectroactive precursor concentration, or by a laser radiation multiple pass through an absorbing medium.     

Study of luminescent defects in hafnia thin films made with different deposition techniques

Hafnia thin films for high-power optical coatings have been characterized by photoluminescence pumped by 4.66 eV photons and photothermal deflection measurements. These data are compared to the statistical laser damage behavior in order to find correlations between destructive and non-destructive characterizations. Thin films have been produced at two thicknesses and using different thin-film deposition techniques typically employed for optical coating fabrication: EBD (HfO₂ target), EBD (Hf target), RLVIP and DIBS. The photoluminescence spectra show significant differences depending on the deposition techniques and thicknesses. EBD films show significant luminescence but the luminescence of ion-assisted films could not be distinguished from the uncoated substrate. All EBD coating spectra could be described by a linear combination of four bands. Further, XRD measurements show that the 255-nm-thick films had a relatively high crystallinity: EBD films contained the monoclinic phase and the ion-assisted films contained oriented nanocrystals of orthorhombic hafnia. The presence of orthorhombic phases indicates high compressive strain quenching the photoluminescence of these samples.     

Stress, absorptance and laser-induced damage threshold properties of 355-nm HR coatings

A number of 355-nm Al₂O₃/MgF₂ high-reflectance (HR) coatings were prepared by electron-beam evaporation. The influences of the number of coating layers and deposition temperature on the 355-nm Al₂O₃/MgF₂ HR coatings were investigated. The stress was measured by viewing the substrate deformation before and after coating deposition using an optical interferometer. The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of the samples was measured by a 355-nm Nd:YAG laser with a pulse width of 8 ns. Transmittance and reflectance of the samples were measured by a Lambda 900 spectrometer. It was found that absorptance was the main reason to result in a low LIDT of 355-nm Al₂O₃/MgF₂ HR coatings. The stress in Al₂O₃/MgF₂ HR coatings played an unimportant role in the LIDT, although MgF₂ is known to have high tensile stress.     

Microstructure and wear properties of laser clad Cuss/Cr5Si3 metal silicide composite coatings

Wear resistant Cu-based solid solution (Cu_ss) toughened Cr₅Si₃ metal silicide composite coatings were fabricated on austenitic stainless steel AISI321 by laser cladding process. Due to the rapidly solidified microstructural characteristics and the excellent toughening effect of Cu_ss on Cr₅Si₃, the Cu_ss/Cr₅Si₃ coatings have outstanding wear resistance and low coefficient of friction under room temperature dry sliding wear test conditions coupling with hardened 0.45% C steel.     

Quantitative NO-LIF imaging in high-pressure flames

Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) images of NO concentration are reported in premixed laminar flames from 1–60 bar exciting the A-X(0,0) band. The influence of O₂ interference and gas composition, the variation with local temperature, and the effect of laser and signal attenuation by UV light absorption are investigated. Despite choosing a NO excitation and detection scheme with minimum O₂-LIF contribution, this interference produces errors of up to 25% in a slightly lean 60 bar flame. The overall dependence of the inferred NO number density with temperature in the relevant (1200–2500 K) range is low (<±15%) because different effects cancel. The attenuation of laser and signal light by combustion products CO₂ and H₂O is frequently neglected, yet such absorption yields errors of up to 40% in our experiment despite the small scale (8 mm flame diameter). Understanding the dynamic range for each of these corrections provides guidance to minimize errors in single shot imaging experiments at high pressure. Received: 13 May 2002 / Published online: 8 August 2002     

Mössbauer spectroscopy of laser surfaces treated metallic materials

Laser treated surfaces of the Fe₈₃Si₁₇ alloy and of the coatings prepared on low-carbon steel by laser surface alloying with Ni and Al were investigated by means of Mossbauer spectroscopy. The short range order in the surface layer after irradiation by neodymium laser pulses was found to be similar to that before irradiation. The high quenching rate of a single melt pool after single pulse action seems to be masked by annealing due to the heat produced by successive pulses covering the whole surface. A detailed phase analysis of the coatings prepared by laser surface alloying was done. Seven different phases were found in dependence on chemical composition of alloy coatings and on traverse speed, i.e. the speed of relative motion of sample and the continuous CO₂-laser beam.     

Independent electron theory of multiple ionization of xenon by intense laser pulses

The intensity dependence of the multiphoton ionization spectra of Xe atoms has been investigated with an improved accuracy and well-controlled laser parameters. In particular, we have examined the ionization rates for X³⁺, X²⁻, X⁺ as functions of the laser intensity and the pressure in the target chamber. The apparatus used for these measurements is characterized by a high-energy resolution (better than 200 meV) and a completely digital acquisition system. The time-of-flight spectra clearly show the contributions of the different isotopes present in Xe gas. The laser pulses have been characterized with great accuracy by monitoring the energy, pulse width and divergence shot by shot. The ionization rates of the different ions have been used for testing the basic assumption of the Geltman theory of multiple ionization based on the single electron ionization model. We have found that for the small intensity range investigated the quantity (dXe ⁺/dI)·(dXe ³⁺/dI)/(dXe ²⁺/dI)² appears to be quite close to the value 0.5 predicted by this model.     

表面层对1 064 nm高反射镜损伤阈值影响

 采用电子束蒸发的方法制备了３种具有不同表面层材料及结构的中心波长为1 064 nm的零度高反镜,３种膜系表面层分别为1/4波长光学厚度的HfO₂,1/2波长光学厚度的SiO₂,以及1/4波长光学厚度的SiO₂。光谱测试表明：三者在1 064 nm处均有较高的反射率（高于99.8%）,利用热透镜的方法测量得到３个膜系辐照激光正入射情况下,薄膜对光的吸收比例分别为3.0×10^-6,5.0×10^-6和6.5×10^-6,其损伤阈值分别为32.5,45.2和28.4 J/cm²。并在膜层内部电场分布和膜层材料物理特性的基础上分析了３种不同表面层膜系吸收和损伤阈值差别的原因。     

Overcoat dependence of laser-induced damage threshold of 355 nm HR coatings

A series of HR coatings, with and without overcoat, were prepared by electron beam evaporation using the same deposition process. The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) was measured by a 355 nm Nd:YAG laser with a pulse width of 8 ns. Damage morphologies of samples were observed by Leica-DMRXE Microscope. The stress was measured by viewing the substrate deformation before and after coatings deposition using an optical interferometer. Reflectance of the samples was measured by Lambda 900 Spectrometer. The theoretical results of electric field distributions of the samples were calculate by thin film design software (TFCalc). It was found that SiO₂ overcoat had improved the LIDT greatly, while MgF₂ overcoat had little effect on the LIDT because of its high stress in the HR coatings. The damage morphologies were different among HR coatings with and without overcoats.     

Laser-induced etching of polycrystalline Al2O3TiC in KOH aqueous solution

Laser-induced etching of polycrystalline Al₂–O₃TiC material by a tightly-focused cw Ar ion laser has been investigated in a KOH solution with different concentrations. It is found that the KOH concentration can strongly affect the etching quality where low KOH concentration can result in rough and irregular patterns. Laser-induced etching of polycrystalline Al₂O₃TiC in a KOH solution is found to be a photothermal reaction in which a threshold laser power exists. With an appropriate set of etching parameters, well-defined grooves can be obtained with clean side walls and with an etching rate up to several hundred micrometers per second. The etching behavior is also found to depend on laser scanning direction. It is also found that the grains in the polycrystalline Al₂O₃TiC material play an important role in the etching dynamics and etching quality. This etching process is believed to be applicable to the formation of a slider surface of magnetic heads in the future.