Laser scribing of polycrystalline thin films

We have investigated the use of several different types of lasers for scribing of the polycrystalline materials used for thin-film solar cells: CdTe, CuInGaSe₂ (CIGS), ZnO, SnO₂, Mo, Al, and Au. The lasers included four different neodymium–yttrium–aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) (both 1064 and 532 nm wavelengths), a Cu vapor (511/578 nm), an XeCl excimer (308 nm), and a KrF excimer (248 nm). Pulse durations ranged from 0.1 to 250 ns. We found that the fundamental and frequency-doubled wavelengths of the Nd:YAG systems work well for almost all of the above materials except for the transparent conductor ZnO. The diode-laser-pumped Nd:YAG was particularly convenient to use. For ZnO the uv wavelengths of the two excimer lasers produced good results. Pulse duration was found generally not to be critical except for the case of CIGS on Mo where longer pulse durations (≥250 ns) are advantageous. The frequently observed problem of ridge formation along the edges of scribe lines in the semiconductor films can be eliminated by control of intensity gradients at the film through adjustment of the focus conditions.     

不同波长飞秒脉冲的相位测量

飞秒脉冲技术的不断发展能够较方便地产生不同波段和结构特性的飞秒脉冲. 对已有的改进型零附加相位光谱相位相干电场重构系统进行优化整合,使之胜任不同特性飞秒脉冲的测量. 利用该系统测量了两台飞秒激光系统输出不同波长的脉冲及其通过厚度为80 mm的BK7玻璃块而得到的啁啾脉冲. 实验结果表明,该系统的适用范围较宽. 关键词： 光谱相位相干直接电场重构法 飞秒脉冲测量 波长     

Photoluminescence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes excited at different wavelengths

In this paper the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized by a chemical vapour deposition and the SEM graph shows that the sample has good construction. The micro-Raman spectrum shows the characteristic line of the MWNTs and an additional line produced by the defects on the outer surface of MWNTs. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra observed experimentally are variable under different excitation wavelengths and the strong excitation wavelength dependence of luminescence indicates a distribution of emitters which include electron $\pi$ in excited states and the Van Hove singularities. The absorption spectra confirm the transition channels which are consistent with the PL emission.     

Investigation of techniques for minimizing resistivity of thin metallic films at submillimeter wavelengths

Experimental investigations of the substrate deposition temperature and annealing temperature influence on aluminum films deposited on diamond substrates were conducted. Tests were performed at direct current and at 101.55 GHz. Minimum resistivity levels, near theoretical predictions, occurred for deposition temperatures in the range of 50–160°C and for peak annealing temperatures of 100–120°C. Both colder and hotter substrate temperatures resulted in larger resistivity levels.     

不同波长下氩原子高阶阈上电离的类共振增强结构

利用量子S-矩阵理论, 借助一致近似方法, 研究了波长分别为800, 1300与2000 nm的强激光场下氩原子高阶阈上电离光电子能谱的类共振增强结构. 结果表明: 在近红外和中红外波段的强激光场下, 阈上电离光电子能谱中均会出现类共振增强结构, 而出现的光强正好满足通道关闭条件, 从而进一步证实了类共振增强的通道关闭机理解释; 发现随着激光波长和光强的增加, 光电子能谱中类共振增强和抑制会交替出现, 该原因可能是电子返回次数不同的“量子轨道”间的相干叠加, 这可以解释实验观察到的长波长下出现的类共振增强能量范围展宽的现象. 研究表明, 在中红外波段的强激光场下, 也会出现与近红外波段类似的type-Ⅰ和type-Ⅱ类共振增强结构.     

Laser scribing of gallium doped zinc oxide thin films using picosecond laser

We report on a comprehensive study of picosecond laser scribing of gallium doped zinc oxide (GZO) thin films deposited on glass substrates using 355 nm, 532 nm and 1064 nm radiation, respectively. In this study, we investigated the influence of front side and rear side irradiation and determined single pulse ablation thresholds for all three wavelengths. Good ablation quality with full electrical isolation, steep groove walls and a smooth groove bottom was achieved by 355 nm rear side processing with a scanning speed of 224 mm/s. Ridges at the groove rims were found to be between 15 nm and 45 nm high. At similar scanning speed, laser scribing using 532 nm and 1064 nm radiation resulted in a lower ablation quality due to a higher roughness of the groove bottoms or higher ridges at the groove rims.     

Nonlinear optical behaviours in a silver nanoparticle array at different wavelengths

The optical nonlinearities of an Ag nanoparticle array are investigated by performing the Z-scan measurements at the selected wavelengths (400, 600, 650, and 800 nm). The nonlinear refraction index in the resonant region (around 400 nm) exhibits a significant enhancement by two orders compared with that in the off-resonant region (around 800 nm)), and exhibits an sign alternation of the resonant nonlinear absorption, which results in a negligible nonlinear absorption at a certain excitation intensity. Moreover, a low degree of nonlinear absorption was measured at the edges of the resonant region (600 and 650 nm), which is attributed to the competition of the saturated absorption and the two-photon absorption processes.     

Nonlinear optical behaviors in a silver nanoparticle array at different wavelengths

The optical nonlinearities of an Ag nanoparticle array are investigated by performing Z-scan measurements at the selected wavelengths (400, 600, 650, and 800 nm). The nonlinear refraction index in the resonant region (around 400 nm) exhibits a significant enhancement by two orders compared with that in the off-resonant region (around 800 nm)), and exhibits an sign alternation of the resonant nonlinear absorption, which results in a negligible nonlinear absorption at a certain excitation intensity. Moreover, a low degree of nonlinear absorption was measured at the edges of the resonant region (600 and 650 nm), which is attributed to the competition of the saturated absorption and the two-photon absorption processes.     

Supercontinuum generation of ultrashort laser pulses in air at different central wavelengths

Supercontinuum generation by femtosecond filaments in air is investigated for different laser wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to infrared. Particular attention is paid on the role of third-harmonic generation and temporal steepening effects, which enlarge the blue part of the spectrum. A unidirectional pulse propagation model and nonlinear evolution equations are numerically integrated and their results are compared. Apart from the choice of the central wavelength, we emphasize the importance of the clamped intensity reached by self-guided pulses, together with their temporal duration and propagation length as key players acting on both supercontinuum generation of the pump wave and emergence of the third harmonic. Maximal broadening is observed for large wavelengths and long filamentation ranges.     

Comparison of surface films formed on titanium by pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation at different powers and wavelengths in nitrogen atmosphere

The nitridation of titanium (Ti) caused by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser under nitrogen gas atmosphere was investigated in situ using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A laser having a wavelength of 1064 nm and 532 nm (SHG mode) was irradiated on a titanium substrate in an atmosphere-controlled chamber, and the substrate was then transported to an XPS analysis chamber without exposing it to air. The characteristics of the surface layer strongly depend on the laser power. When the power is relatively low, a titanium dioxide layer containing a small amount of nitrogen is formed on the substrate. Laser irradiation beyond a certain laser power is required to obtain a stoichiometric titanium nitride (TiN) layer. A TiN layer and an oxynitride layer with a TiO_xN_y-like structure are formed as the topmost and the lower surface layer, respectively, when the laser power exceeds this threshold value. The threshold laser power strongly depends on the wavelength of the laser, and this threshold value for the 532-nm laser is quite lower than that for the 1064-nm laser.     

Comets at radio wavelengths

Comets are considered as the most primitive objects in the Solar System. Their composition provides information on the composition of the primitive solar nebula, 4.6 Gyr ago. The radio domain is a privileged tool to study the composition of cometary ices. Observations of the OH radical at 18 cm wavelength allow us to measure the water production rate. A wealth of molecules (and some of their isotopologues) coming from the sublimation of ices in the nucleus have been identified by observations in the millimetre and submillimetre domains. We present an historical review on radio observations of comets, focusing on the results from our group, and including recent observations with the Nançay radio telescope, the IRAM antennas, the Odin satellite, the Herschel space observatory, ALMA, and the MIRO instrument aboard the Rosetta space probe.     

Simultaneous operation at two different wavelengths of an PrLaP5O14 laser

Simultaneous laser operation at the wavelengths of λ₁=637 and λ₂=717 in Pr_0.5La_0.5P₅O₁₄ single crystals was observed. The crystals were excited by nanosecond publses from a Coumarin 2 dye laser (λ=450 nm). Laser emissions and their interdependence were studied both in crystals without an external resonator and in crystals placed within a plane parallel resonator. The energetic, time and frequency characteristics for both laser actions were examined. The effect of bifrequential emission was also found in crystals of different ratios of Pr and La ions concentration and in pure praseodymium pentaphosphate.     

Ultrafast nonlinear optical response of Ag:BaTiO3 composite films at the near-ultraviolet wavelengths

The ultrafast nonlinear optical response of Ag:BaTiO3 composite films synthesized by pulse laser deposition (PLD) is studied at the near-ultraviolet (400 nm) wavelength. The pulse duration of the laser used in the measurement is 200 fs. The real and imaginary parts of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility x(3) of the composite materials are measured. The composite films indicate self-focusing effect and nonlinear saturation, the values of Rex(3) and Imx(3) are measured to be 3.42 × 10-10 and -1.37 × 10-10 esu respectively, which are much lower than those reported before. It is mainly because that the duration of the laser used in the measurements is too short to induce the hot electron excitation and the thermal effect. The ultrafast nonlinear saturated absorption response of the Ag:BaTiO3 composite films may have potential applications for femtosecond laser mode locking.     

Interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with CIGS and CZTSe thin films

The thin-film solar cell technologies based on complex quaternary chalcopyrite and kesterite materials are becoming more attractive due to their potential for low production costs and optimal spectral performance. As in all thin-film technologies, high efficiency of small cells might be maintained with the transition to larger areas when small segments are interconnected in series to reduce photocurrent and related ohmic losses in thin films. Interconnect formation is based on the three scribing steps, and the use of a laser is here crucial for performance of the device. We present our simulation and experimental results on the ablation process investigations in complex CuIn_1?x Ga _x Se₂ (CIGS) and Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSe) cell’s films using ultra-short pulsed infrared (~1 μm) lasers which can be applied to the damage-free front-side scribing processes. Two types of processes were investigated—direct laser ablation of ZnO:Al/CIGS films with a variable pulse duration of a femtosecond laser and the laser-induced material removal with a picosecond laser in the ZnO:Al/CZTSe structure. It has been found that the pulse energy and the number of laser pulses have a significantly stronger effect on the ablation quality in ZnO:Al/CIGS thin films rather than the laser pulse duration. For the thin-film scribing applications, it is very important to carefully select the processing parameters and use of ultra-short femtosecond pulses does not have a significant advantage compared to picosecond laser pulses. Investigations with the ZnO:Al/CZTSe thin films showed that process of the absorber layer removal was triggered by a micro-explosive effect induced by high pressure of sublimated material due to a rapid temperature increase at the molybdenum-CZTSe interface.     

Effect of silver nanoparticles with different shapes on luminescence of samarium complex at two different excitation wavelengths

The luminescence properties of Sm(TTFA)₃ complex in presence of the silver (Ag) nanoparticles with size ranged from 80 nm to 120 nm and different shapes (nanorod, cube, tetrahedron, and nanowire) were investigated at two different excitation wavelengths of 397 nm and 350 nm, which was resonant and off-resonant excitation, respectively. The luminescence enhancement for the resonant excitation was much greater than that for the off-resonant excitation. The electric and magnetic dipole transitions were affected by the Ag nanoparticles and the results showed that their emission enhancement depended on the balance of the overlap between the emission wavelengths and the localized surface plasmon resonant of nanoparticles and their sensibility to the variation of local environments. The enhancement and quenching of the luminescence were both observed at the resonant excitation.     

Digital holography at millimetre wavelengths

In this paper, we describe a method for wavefront reconstruction at millimetre wavelengths using off-axis holography, a frequently used image recording technique at visible wavelengths first demonstrated in the 1960’s. Millimetre radiation has been highlighted recently in the imaging of non-conducting materials and objects, which often show significant transparency at these long wavelengths, even though opaque at visible and infrared wavelengths. Holography provides a method for recording a lens-less image of an object thus reducing loss of spatial frequency information, which is important for obtaining maximum resolution at long wavelengths. An experimental arrangement based on a simple form of Fresnel off-axis holography is described, with the object illumination and reference beams derived using two radiating horn antennas fed by a single coherent source (a Gunn diode oscillator operating at 100 GHz – wavelength 3 mm) via a 3 dB cross-guide coupler. The process is discussed in the context of imaging and in the validation of millimetre wave radiation sources (horns). We show that the entire fields from these and other components can be analysed using computational optics with data derived from a single measurement obtained using inexpensive equipment.     

Ferrite uses at millimeter wavelengths

This paper: (1) reviews past research on ferrite materials and important characteristics of wave propagation at millimeter wavelengths; (2) suggests experimental programs and new ferrite materials which complement the early works of the nineteen-fifties and sixties for the purpose of improving present commercial devices and developing new ferrite devices; (3) projected device performance (on a quantitative basis) using ferrite materials; and (4) calculates physical limitations (in terms of material parameters) of certain classes ferrites when applied in a givendevice configuration at millimeter wavelengths.