Picosecond laser for performance of efficient nonlinear spectroscopy from 10 to 21 microm

Laser tunability from 10 to 21 microm is obtained by use of an optical parametric oscillator based on a KTP crystal followed by a difference-frequency stage with a CdSe crystal. An all-solid-state picosecond Nd:YAG oscillator mode locked by a frequency-doubling nonlinear mirror is used for synchronous pumping.     

Picosecond pulse generation by intracavity nonlinear compression in self-injected Nd-YAG laser

A new type of laser which generates pulses with amplification band-limited picosecond duration is presented. 15 ps, 0.9 GW, 3 pps, λ = 1.06 μm in a single pulse are obtained with good stability. Accurate timing of the pulses can be achieved and no external pulse selection is required.     

皮秒激光透射率法表征高分子薄膜双光子吸收截面

为了有效地测量有机薄膜的双光子吸收截面,针对较薄有机薄膜(约60μm)和有限激发光源功率,提出了基于非线性透过率测量法的皮秒激光脉冲激发等效多层膜非线性透过率法来实现双光子吸收截面的测量。首先在PC材料基板上旋涂偶氮染料薄膜,将带有偶氮薄膜的PC基板剪切成小块(20 mm×20 mm),并将5块叠加起来作为测量样品,然后采用LD泵浦的Nd∶YVO4皮秒锁模激光器(脉冲宽度为20 ps、重复频率为56.8 MHz、输出波长为1 064 nm)激发样品。在实验中,通过测量样品的非线性透过率,拟合偶氮样品的透过率曲线,最终得到了双光子吸收截面(634.2 GM)。与其他测量方法相比,此方法简单、有效。     

皮秒激光透射率法表征高分子薄膜双光子吸收截面

为了有效地测量有机薄膜的双光子吸收截面,针对较薄有机薄膜(约60μm)和有限激发光源功率,提出了基于非线性透过率测量法的皮秒激光脉冲激发等效多层膜非线性透过率法来实现双光子吸收截面的测量。首先在PC材料基板上旋涂偶氮染料薄膜,将带有偶氮薄膜的PC基板剪切成小块(20 mm×20 mm),并将5块叠加起来作为测量样品,然后采用LD泵浦的Nd∶YVO4皮秒锁模激光器(脉冲宽度为20 ps、重复频率为56.8 MHz、输出波长为1 064 nm)激发样品。在实验中,通过测量样品的非线性透过率,拟合偶氮样品的透过率曲线,最终得到了双光子吸收截面(634.2 GM)。与其他测量方法相比,此方法简单、有效。     

Picosecond tunable mode locking of a Cr2+:ZnSe laser with a nonlinear mirror

We report on a nonlinear mirror (NLM) scheme that enables, for the first time to the best of our best knowledge, tunable mode locking of a Cr2+:ZnSe laser in the picosecond regime. The NLM-used as the output coupler of the laser cavity-consists of a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal with a fan-out grating coupled with a dichroic mirror and a wedged dispersive YAG plate. The Cr2+:ZnSe laser, pumped by a CW thulium-doped fiber laser, delivers 85?ps pulses at a repetition rate of 220?MHz with a 300?mW average power. Thanks to the use of a fan-out PPLN crystal, we benefit from the wide tunability of the Cr2+:ZnSe laser and achieve mode locking over the whole 2.44-2.55?μm range while maintaining a narrow-linewidth emission suitable for time-resolved nonlinear spectroscopy applications.     

Picosecond laser ablation of thin copper films

The ablation process of thin copper films on fused silica by picosecond laser pulses is investigated. The ablation area is characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The single-shot ablation threshold fluence for 40 ps laser pulses at 1053 nm has been determinated toF _thres = 172 mJ/cm². The ablation rate per pulse is measured as a function of intensity in the range of 5 × 10⁹ to 2 × 10¹¹ W/cm² and changes from 80 to 250 nm with increasing intensity. The experimental ablation rate per pulse is compared to heat-flow calculations based on the two-temperature model for ultrafast laser heating. Possible applications of picosecond laser radiation for microstructuring of different materials are discussed.     

烟雾激光透过率测试系统关键技术研究

为准确评估0.808μm、1.06μm、10.6μm激光对于推进剂包覆层烟雾的透过率,研制了激光烟雾透过率测试系统。国内首创10.6μm CO2激光器烟雾透过率测试系统,方案新颖,测试结果准确。经现场测试,该系统的精度、稳定度等指标均达到了设计要求。     

激光测距仪的点源透过率

 通过分析柱形腔结构的激光接收机的点源透过率,论证了视场外利用杂散光干扰激光测距仪的可行性和对干扰光功率的相对需求。按照干扰光入射角度由小到大的顺序,提出了漫反射 镜面反射干扰、二次漫反射干扰和一次漫反射干扰的杂散光干扰机制,推导出了相应的点源透过率公式,并利用Tracepro软件进行了仿真验证。理论分析和仿真结果表明：在典型条件下为了确保在30°内可靠干扰激光测距仪,对干扰光功率的需求相对于视场内干扰时要高出5×10⁶倍,确保80°内可靠干扰则需提高10⁸倍。从提高光电接收系统抗干扰能力的角度指出：降低滤光片镜面反射率并使其远离探测器,可以减小漫反射-镜面反射干扰;降低接收光学系统腔内壁漫反射率,可以减小二次漫反射和一次漫反射干扰。     

Measurement of laser beam transmittance through laser produced vapour plume

Laser produced plume, consisting of vapor front and ejected substrate on the workpiece surface, is an intermediate between the incident laser beam and the workpiece on which the beam is directed. It partially blocks, defocuses, absorbs, scatters, and deflects the incident beam and thereby reduces the laser energy reaching the workpiece. However, plume additionally acts as a heat source enhancing the machining. Consequently, laser induced plume plays an important role in laser machining process. The present study investigates the transmittance of a reference beam by the plume generated during the laser-workpiece interaction. To achieve the transmittance measurements, a Nd:YAG laser was used and four different materials were employed in the experiment. To obtain realistic values of the plume transmittance in relation to the laser machining process, the reference beam was sampled from the incident laser beam. The study was extended to include the effect of the laser pulse parameters on the transmission process. It is found that about 10–30% of the transmittance of the reference beam through a vapor plume, produced due to laser ablation, occurs close to the workpiece surface.     

Picosecond x-ray laser interferometry of dense plasmas

We present the first results from picosecond interferometry of dense laser-produced plasmas using a soft x-ray laser. The picosecond duration and short wavelength of the 14.7 nm Ni-like Pd laser mitigates effects associated with motion blurring and refraction through millimeter-scale plasmas. This enables direct measurement of the electron-density profile to within 10 microm of the target surface. A series of high-quality two-dimensional (2D) density measurements provide unambiguous characterization of the time evolution in a fast-evolving plasma suitable for validation of existing 1D and 2D hydrodynamic codes.     

Dielectric coatings for optimized low-loss saturable absorbers for high-power ultrafast laser

With the development of high power ultrafast laser passively mode-locked by a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror （SESAM）, the damage threshold and degeneration mechanism of the SESAM become more and more important. One way to reduce the maximum electric field inside the active part of the SESAM is the use of a dielectric coating on the top of the semiconductor structure. With Presnel formula, optical transfer matrix, and optical thin film theory, the electric field distribution and reflectance spectrum can be simulated. We introduce the design principles of SESAM including the dependence of reflectance spectrum on dielectric function of absorber, and investigate the dependences of the electric field distribution, modulation depth, reflectance spectrum, and the relative value of incident light power at the top quantum well of SESAM on the number of SiO2/Ta2O5 layers.     

类氖锗等离子体中软X激光饱和增益实验研究

进入“冰窗”波段和获得饱和增益输出是当前实验室研究X激光的目标。考察X激光输出的强度随靶长的变化规律,是判断是否达到饱和增益的重要依据,但必须排除折射等因素造成的假像。为了校正折射等的影响,我们曾经提出并实施了“双靶对接”方案,在功率为10~(12)W的LF-12~#钕玻璃激光装置上,获得了高增益的类氖锗等离子体中软X激光输出。最近,在饱和增益研究实验中,我们发展了双靶对接的概念。设计了“多靶串接”方案,获得了趋于饱和的类氖锗等离子体中软X激光输出。     

透明陶瓷透光性能的影响因素

 研究了影响激光透明陶瓷透光性能的主要因素,讨论了陶瓷内部气孔和杂质颗粒等散射粒子、晶界结构中晶界折射率与晶粒折射率的差异以及晶界表面粗糙度等因素对陶瓷透光性能的影响,并定量分析了激光陶瓷透过率随气孔尺寸、气孔率、晶粒相对晶界折射率以及晶界表面粗糙度的变化关系。结果表明： 陶瓷的透过率随着气孔率的减小而增大,但透过率随气孔尺寸的增大而呈现出周期性振荡,且当气孔尺寸与入射光波长可比拟时,陶瓷的透过率会明显降低;在晶界结构中,晶界的折射率与晶粒的折射率相差越小,陶瓷的透过率就越高;晶界表面粗糙度越大,透过率越低。然而,晶界折射率不同于晶粒折射率,这使得其陶瓷透过率降低的程度比对晶界表面粗糙度的影响明显得多。在陶瓷制备过程中,需要重点排除尺寸与入射波长可比拟的气孔, 以抑制晶界结构中第二相的产生。     

Picosecond laser ablation of nano-sized WTi thin film

Interaction of an Nd:YAG laser, operating at 532 nm wavelength and pulse duration of 40 ps, with tungsten-titanium (WTi) thin film (thickness, 190 nm) deposited on single silicon (100) substrate was studied. Laser fluences of 10.5 and 13.4 J/cm² were found to be sufficient for modification of the WTi/silicon target system. The energy absorbed from the Nd:YAG laser beam is partially converted to thermal energy, which generates a series of effects, such as melting, vaporization of the molten material, shock waves, etc. The following WTi/silicon surface morphological changes were observed: (i) ablation of the thin film during the first laser pulse. The boundary of damage area was relatively sharp after action of one pulse whereas it was quite diffuse after irradiation with more than 10 pulses; (ii) appearance of some nano-structures (e.g., nano-ripples) in the irradiated region; (iii) appearance of the micro-cracking. The process of the laser interaction with WTi/silicon target was accompanied by formation of plasma.     

Picosecond X-ray radiography of superdense high-temperature laser plasma

The layout of an X-ray source for diagnostics of the compressed state of laser plasma is proposed, and its optimal parameters are calculated under the conditions required for nuclear fusion. Such a source operating in a pulsed regime is intended to be used for determining the spatial distribution of laser-plasma density with high temporal resolution by means of multiframe (pulses follow with a specified time interval) backlight imaging of the main target by X-ray pulses obtained by irradiation of a secondary target by picosecond laser pulses.     

Shortening of excimer laser pulses with saturable absorbers

Shortening by a factor of more than five of XeCl laser pulses by a single pass saturable absorber is recorded. The pulse shortening is attributed to the combined action of both nonlinear absorption and stimulated emission from the dye solution.     

透明陶瓷透光性能的影响因素

研究了影响激光透明陶瓷透光性能的主要因素,讨论了陶瓷内部气孔和杂质颗粒等散射粒子、晶界结构中晶界折射率与晶粒折射率的差异以及晶界表面粗糙度等因素对陶瓷透光性能的影响,并定量分析了激光陶瓷透过率随气孔尺寸、气孔率、晶粒相对晶界折射率以及晶界表面粗糙度的变化关系。结果表明： 陶瓷的透过率随着气孔率的减小而增大,但透过率随气孔尺寸的增大而呈现出周期性振荡,且当气孔尺寸与入射光波长可比拟时,陶瓷的透过率会明显降低;在晶界结构中,晶界的折射率与晶粒的折射率相差越小,陶瓷的透过率就越高;晶界表面粗糙度越大,透过率越低。然而,晶界折射率不同于晶粒折射率,这使得其陶瓷透过率降低的程度比对晶界表面粗糙度的影响明显得多。在陶瓷制备过程中,需要重点排除尺寸与入射波长可比拟的气孔, 以抑制晶界结构中第二相的产生。     

Picosecond laser ablation of nickel-based superalloy C263

Picosecond laser (10.4 ps, 1064 nm) ablation of the nickel-based superalloy C263 is investigated at different pulse repetition rates (5, 10, 20, and 50 kHz). The two ablation regimes corresponding to ablation dominated by the optical penetration depth at low fluences and of the electron thermal diffusion length at high fluences are clearly identified from the change of the surface morphology of single pulse ablated craters (dimples) with fluence. The two corresponding thresholds were measured as F _th(D1)¹=0.68±0.02 J/cm² and F _th(D2)¹=2.64±0.27 J/cm² from data of the crater diameters D _1,2 versus peak fluence. The surface morphology of macroscopic areas processed with a scanning laser beam at different fluences is characterised by ripples at low fluences. As the fluence increases, randomly distributed areas among the ripples are formed which appear featureless due to melting and joining of the ripples while at high fluences the whole irradiated surface becomes grainy due to melting, splashing of the melt and subsequent resolidification. The throughput of ablation becomes maximal when machining at high pulse repetition rates and with a relatively low fluence, while at the same time the surface roughness is kept low.