Comparative study of laser-induced damage of two reflective coatings in vacuum due to organic contamination

The impact of gaseous toluene contamination on the damage characteristics of two high reflectors (HR) at 1064 nm is investigated. It is found that laser-induced damage threshold of 45° p polarization reflection film decreases, while for 0° reflection film, toluene seems to be benign and increases laser-induced damage threshold of the film. The possible reason is analyzed and discussed. Different surface electric field distribution is the main cause of the difference of laser-induced damage of two HR films.     

氧化物薄膜抗1064nm脉冲激光损伤的特性研究

对向种氧化物介质膜料的单层膜、增透膜及高反膜的激光损伤特性进行了实验研究,分别测试了单脉冲和多脉冲１０６４ｎｍ激光的损伤阈值,分析和讨论了实验的物理现象及其结果。研究表明ＳｉＯ２、Ｇｄ２Ｏ３、Ｅｒ２Ｏ３、Ｙ２Ｏ３具有激光损伤阈值高、损伤程度轻的特点,特别对１０Ｈｚ激光而言,更是明显;增透膜及高反膜加λ／２层ＳｉＯ２对其激光损伤程度和损伤几率。     

HfO_2/SiO_2高反膜、增透膜及偏振膜的1064nm激光损伤特性

高反膜、增透膜和偏振膜是Nd∶YAG激光器中的关键薄膜元件 ,其抗激光损伤能力直接影响到激光器的输出能量和功率。由于优异的物理化学性能 ,高功率Nd∶YAG激光器的光学薄膜一般采用HfO2 /SiO2 膜料组合镀制 ,因而用此膜料镀制的光学薄膜的激光损伤特性是薄膜工作者重点关注的问题。对光学中心APS15 0 4镀膜机镀制的HfO2 /SiO2 高反膜、增透膜和偏振膜等开展了 10 64nm的激光损伤实验研究 ,用 2 0 0倍的Normaski显微镜详细分析了高反 ,增透和偏振膜的激光损伤图貌 ,发现对于脉宽为 10ns波长的 10 64nm的激光而言 ,高反膜基本表现为孔洞和等离子体烧蚀疤痕 ,孔洞是由薄膜中的节瘤 (nodular)缺陷的激光损伤引起的 ,损伤的能流密度较低 ,为薄膜的零损伤阈值密度。疤痕为薄膜的激光等离子体烧伤引起的 ,尺寸大小与激光能量密度成近似正比。增透膜一般为双面镀 ,分前后膜堆两种情况 ,前膜堆表现为孔洞和疤痕 ,与高反膜相似 ;后膜堆为孔洞型的小圆麻点聚积 ,麻点处的薄膜完全剥落 ,没有疤痕等烧伤痕迹 ,是激光在基片之间形成的驻波电场损毁 ,损伤阈值比前膜堆低 1 5倍 ,决定着增透膜的损伤阈值。偏振膜的低能量密度损伤与增透膜后膜堆相似 ,表现为孔洞型小麻点聚积 ,损伤处未见疤痕等烧蚀痕迹。对薄膜小尺度损?     

Graded index broadband antireflection coating prepared by glancing angle deposition for a high-power laser system

This paper reports that SiO₂ is selected to fabricate broadband antireflection (AR) coatings on fused silica substrate by using glancing angle deposition and physical vapour deposition. Through accurate control of the graded index of the SiO₂ layer, transmittance of the graded broadband AR coating can achieve an average value of 98% across a spectral range of 300--1850~nm. Moreover, a laser-induced damage threshold measurement of the fabricated AR coating is performed by using a one-on-one protocol according to ISO11254-1, resulting in an average damage threshold of 17.2~J/cm$^{2}$.     

横向电场下的类金刚石薄膜激光损伤

类金刚石(DLC)薄膜在红外区有很高的透过率,但激光损伤阈值低,严重限制了其应用领域。采用直接在DLC薄膜上沉积Ti电极,基于激光损伤阈值(LIDT)测试平台,用1-on-1零几率损伤法,研究了在不同偏置电场下DLC薄膜损伤阈值及损伤形貌的变化。发现电场强度从0增加到700V/cm,损伤阈值明显增大;进一步增大偏置电场,损伤阈值相对不变。分析认为偏置电场改变了激光辐照DLC薄膜区域的光生载流子漂移速度,减小了DLC薄膜的局部热累积,减缓了薄膜的石墨化进程,提高了DLC薄膜的抗激光损伤阈值。     

多脉冲激光作用下光学薄膜损伤的累积效应

研究了高反射膜在多脉冲激光作用下损伤的累积效应.实验中使用1064nm调Q的Nd∶YAG激光器,脉宽是12 ns,频率为10 Hz.实验发现:高反射膜的损伤阈值随辐照脉冲数增加而降低,表现出明显的累积效应.通过对损伤阈值和损伤概率以及辐照次数的统计性研究,并结合单脉冲辐照的结果,说明了存在于薄膜中微小的缺陷参与了多脉冲激光对薄膜的损伤过程,得到了制备IBS高反射膜的损伤阈值和照射次数的关系式,用Nomarski偏光显微镜观察了实验过程中样品的损伤形貌,发现是典型的缺陷损伤.     

重复率激光作用下光学薄膜损伤的累积效应

使用脉宽12 ns,频率10 Hz的1064 nm调Q NdYAG激光器,研究了高反射膜在重复率激光作用下的损伤的累积效应.实验发现,高反射膜的损伤阈值随辐照脉冲数增加而降低,表现出明显的累积效应.通过对损伤阈值和损伤概率以及辐照次数的统计性研究,并结合单脉冲辐照的结果,说明了存在于薄膜中微小的缺陷参与了多脉冲激光对薄膜的损伤过程.可用预损伤机制解释实验结果.得到了关于IBS制备的高反射膜的损伤阈值和照射次数的关系式,并用实验结果进行验证,发现具有很好的一致性.实验过程中样品的损伤形貌通过Nomarski偏光显微镜进行了观察,发现是典型的缺陷损伤.     

脉冲压缩光栅的激光损伤机理及阈值提升技术研究进展

总结了激光辐射条件下脉冲压缩光栅的激光诱导损伤机理,探究了表面形貌、加工方式、结构缺陷以及表面污染等因素对光栅损伤造成的影响,从微观损伤机理的角度阐释了产生损伤的内在原因。在脉冲压缩光栅的激光预处理、加工工艺及表面污染物的去除等方面,分析了实现光栅损伤阈值提升的内在因素,给出了提升光栅损伤阈值的技术措施。根据影响光栅损伤阈值的因素,提出在光栅运行过程中采用多种措施组合的方式来提升光栅的激光诱导损伤阈值。脉冲压缩光栅激光损伤机理和阈值的研究对脉冲压缩光栅系统的稳定运行具有实践意义,为激光装置高能量密度的输出奠定基础。最后,提出了光栅激光诱导损伤研究的科学与技术问题,为脉冲压缩光栅激光诱导损伤阈值的提升提供新的思路,服务于重大科学装置和重要技术领域的发展。     

预处理对355nm激光作用下熔石英损伤增长的影响

测试了经化学蚀刻、紫外激光预处理及其共同处理后的熔石英355 nm激光损伤阈值;研究了处理前后其损伤斑面积随激光辐照脉冲数的增长情况。结果表明,处理后熔石英355 nm激光损伤阈值得到了提高,且损伤斑面积增长变慢。利用CO2激光对熔石英表面损伤点进行了修复处理,修复后的损伤点R-on-1抗损伤阈值和基底阈值相当,损伤增长得到有效抑制。     

Characteristics of nodular defect in HfO2/SiO2 multilayer optical coatings

Laser-induced damage is associated with nodular defects in HfO₂/SiO₂ multilayer films. In order to investigate the damage characteristics of HfO₂/SiO₂ multilayer mirrors and find the information of improving laser-induced damage threshold, nodular defects are characterized by multiple analytical techniques; the damage morphologies induced by nodular-ejections are presented; the depths of nodular-ejection pits are investigated; the laser-induced damage threshold of zero probability and the stabilities of nodular-ejection pits exposed to repetitive illuminations are studied. Results show that domes in the film surface are nodular defects. Reliable depth information of nodular-ejection pits is obtained by counting layers from the damage edge. The depth statistical result implies nodular defects in these samples are usually originated from deep seeds. Some process optimizations suggestions are given based on the depth information. A simple tractable method is proposed to determine the functional damage threshold of these HfO₂/SiO₂ multilayer films basing on the damage experiments.     

He-Ne散射光检测光学薄膜激光损伤阈值

准确测定光学薄膜的激光损伤阈值可以衡量光学薄膜的抗激光损伤能力,测定损伤阈值的关键是准确地判定损伤的发生与否。建立了He-Ne散射光检测光学薄膜激光损伤阈值系统。通过测量同一样品点的He-Ne散射光能量变化来判断薄膜表面发生的损伤,并对制备的类金刚石薄膜与HfO₂/SiO₂反射膜进行了阈值测试。与等离子体闪光法的阈值测试结果进行比较,具有较好的一致性。分析表明：He-Ne散射光测试系统能有效地判断出激光诱导损伤,易于实现在线检测。     

一种激光损伤阈值测试新方法

随着激光器朝向大功率、高能量的方向发展,激光损伤阈值成为了衡量光学元件抗激光损伤能力的重要参数之一,因此,能否准确地测量出光学元件的激光损伤阈值成为研究的重点。而光学元件激光损伤阈值测试的关键是能否准确地判别光学元件是否发生激光损伤。为解决目前常见的损伤判别方法存在的精度低、识别时间长、适用材料范围窄、操作复杂等不足,提出了一种新的激光损伤的判别方法,即等离子体诊断法。以K9玻璃为例,搭建激光损伤阈值的测试平台,利用光纤光谱仪采集强激光辐照K9玻璃时所产生的激光等离子体闪光光谱,并对该光谱进行诊断分析,将该光谱中是否含有待测试光学元件材料中特征元素的光谱峰作为其是否收到激光损伤的标准。同时,对K9玻璃进行了激光损伤阈值的测试,并将测试结果与等离子体闪光法和显微镜法所测的激光损伤阈值进行了对比分析。实验表明,提出的等离子体诊断方法的判别精度高、速度快、测试装置结构简单,易实现在线测量,可以大大地提高光学元件激光损伤阈值测试工作的效率。     

Nanosecond laser damage resistance of differently prepared semi-finished parts of optical multimode fibers

Optical multimode fibers are applied in materials processing (e.g. automotive industry), defense, aviation technology, medicine and biotechnology. One challenging task concerning the production of multimode fibers is the enhancement of laser-induced damage thresholds. A higher damage threshold enables a higher transmitted average power at a given fiber diameter or the same power inside a thinner fiber to obtain smaller focus spots.In principle, different material parameters affect the damage threshold. Besides the quality of the preform bulk material itself, the drawing process during the production of the fiber and the preparation of the fiber end surfaces influence the resistance. Therefore, the change of the laser-induced damage threshold of preform materials was investigated in dependence on a varying thermal treatment and preparation procedure.Single and multi-pulse laser-induced damage thresholds of preforms (F300, Heraeus) were measured using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm wavelength emitting pulses with a duration of 15 ns, a pulse energy of 12 mJ and a repetition rate of 10 Hz. The temporal and spatial shape of the laser pulses were controlled accurately.Laser-induced damage thresholds in a range from 150 J cm⁻² to 350 J cm⁻² were determined depending on the number of pulses applied to the same spot, the thermal history and the polishing quality of the samples, respectively.     

Effect of Vacuum on the Laser-Induced Damage of Anti-Reflection Coatings

In the comparison of damage modifications, absorption measurement and energy dispersive x-ray analysis, the effect of vacuum on the laser-induced damage of anti-reflection coatings is analyzed. It is found that vacuum decreases the laser-induced damage threshold of the films. The low laser-induced damage threshold in vacuum environments as opposed to air environments is attributed to water absorption and the formation of the O/Si, O/Zr sub-stoichiometry in the course of laser irradiation.     

Influence of Vacuum Organic Contaminations on Laser-Induced Damage of 1064 nm Anti-Reflective Coatings

We investigate the influence of vacuum organic contaminations on laser-induced damage threshold （LIDT） of optical coatings. Anti-reflective （AIR） coatings at 1064 nm made by Ta2 O5/SiO2 are deposited by the ion beam sputtering method. The LIDTs of AR coatings are measured in vacuum and in atmosphere, respectively. It is exhibited that contaminations in vacuum are easily to be absorbed onto optical surface because of lower pressure, and they become origins of damage, resulting in the decrease of LIDT from 24.5J/cm^2 in air to 15.TJ/cm^2 in vacuum. The LIDT of coatings in vacuum has is slightly changed compared with the value in atmosphere after the organic contaminations are wiped off. These results indicate that organic contaminations are the main reason of the LIDT decrease in vacuum. Additionally, damage morphologies have distinct changes from vacuum to atmosphere because of the differences between the residual stress and thermal decomposability of filmy materials.     

清洗对偏振分光膜损伤阈值的影响

采用微分干涉显微镜、扫描电镜和聚焦离子束观察了偏振分光膜损伤的形貌,从损伤机理出发,研究了清洗对偏振分光膜损伤阈值的影响。结果表明:清洗能有效去除表面杂质,清洗质量越好,基板上的杂质尺寸越小,杂质密度也越小,相应的偏振分光膜S光的损伤阈值越高;清洗能有效去除基板表面的纳米吸收中心,吸收性杂质分布密度越小,吸收峰越低,P光的损伤阈值越高。     

大气常压等离子射流清洗溶胶-凝胶SiO_2膜表面油脂污染物

采用大气常压等离子射流技术对溶胶-凝胶SiO2膜表面的油脂污染物进行清洗。利用分光光度计、扫描电子显微镜、红外光谱仪对溶胶-凝胶SiO2膜透过率、表面形貌、化学结构进行表征,并分析清洗前后溶胶-凝胶SiO2膜的激光损伤阈值变化。损伤阈值测试表明,1064nm波长的激光损伤阈值由污染后的16.08J/cm2上升到24.41J/cm2,与污染前24.72J/cm2的损伤阈值相当。同时还获取清洗的最佳时间为10s。清洗前后,溶胶-凝胶SiO2膜保持完好,且未产生新的有机污染物。研究结果表明:大气常压等离子射流技术可对溶胶-凝胶SiO2膜表面的油脂污染物进行有效地清洗,从而提高溶胶-凝胶SiO2膜的透过率和激光损伤阈值,为高功率激光装置的稳定运行提供保障。     

Damage characteristics of dual-band high reflectors affected by nodule defects in the femtosecond regime

The influence of nodule defects on the characteristics of femtosecond laser-induced damage has not been fully investigated. In this study, two types of 800 nm/1064 nm dual-band HfO_2=Si O_2 high-reflection films with different configurations were analyzed. Combined with finite-difference time-domain electric field simulation and focused ion beam analysis, the initial state and growth process of femtosecond laser damage of nodules were explored. In particular, the sequence of blister damage determined by the film design and the inner damage caused by nodules were clarified. The rule of the laser-induced damage threshold of different size nodules was obtained. The difference in the damage behavior of nodules in the two types of films was elucidated.     

钛酸镧薄膜的制备及工艺优化

为了获得制备钛酸镧（LaTiO3）薄膜的最优工艺条件,采用电子束热蒸发技术在K9基底上制备了单层LaTiO3激光薄膜。研究了不同工艺条件对LaTiO3薄膜激光损伤特性的影响。研究结果表明,对LaTiO3薄膜激光损伤阈值（laser-induced damage threshold, LIDT）影响最大的工艺条件是沉积温度,其次是工作真空度,最后是蒸发束流。获得了制备单层LaTiO3激光薄膜的最优工艺条件:沉积温度175 ℃、工作真空度2.010-2 Pa、蒸发束流120 mA（8 keV）;证明了最优工艺下制备的LaTiO3薄膜具有良好的激光损伤特性、稳定性以及重复性,所制备LaTiO3薄膜的激光损伤阈值为16.9 J/cm2（1 064 nm,10 ns）。     

多功能抗激光损伤高反射膜

为了能同时满足半导体激光器和YAG激光器对薄膜的特殊要求,在分析高反射膜理论的基础上,选取TiO2和SiO2为高、低折射率材料镀制了周期性多层介质高反射膜。研究了材料的光学及机械特性,重点解决了薄膜的消偏振和抗激光损伤问题。实验采用电子束真空镀膜并加以考夫曼离子源辅助沉积,利用TFC软件进行膜系设计,通过调整镀膜工艺参数和监控方法,在10mm×1．8mm的K9基底上镀制了符合要求的高反射膜,结果表明,当激光以45°入射时,薄膜在900～1100nm的P光与s光的反射率均大于99．95％。所制备的高反射膜性能稳定,抗激光损伤阈值高,能同时满足两种激光器的使用要求。