Stable all-optical formation of Bose–Einstein condensate using pointing-stabilized optical trapping beams

By stabilizing the beam pointing of optical trapping beams, we have succeeded in stable formation of Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) of ⁸⁷Rb with all-optical method. The thermal effect of acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is usually one of the most serious problems to induce beam-pointing instability, especially for high power CO₂ laser. By passing the beam through AOM twice, we have improved the beam pointing from about 4.8 mrad to less than 0.4 mrad, which has been experimentally confirmed to be small enough to stably form BEC at the crossed region of CO₂ lasers as well as to perform experiments using an optical lattice which might have been affected by beam-pointing instability. PACS 32.80.Pj; 42.79.Jq; 03.75.Mn     

激光波长合束精度研究

对双光束波长合束精度进行了研究。用镀有特制光学薄膜的滤光片对波长为532和515 nm的两束激光进行合束,并对合束精度进行检测。基于此系统,建立了对应理论模型,并对合束及检测的误差来源和大小进行全面分析。两光束指向稳定性均为50 μrad时,合束精度理论值为14.69″,指向稳定性所占比例为99.26%,系统对质心定位等不稳定因素（误差变化< 3倍）抗性极好,精度变化< 2.4‰;指向稳定性提高到23.51 μrad时,合束精度理论值为7.09″,指向稳定性所占比例为96.77%,系统仍有较高抗干扰能力,精度变化< 1%。分析表明,影响近场小功率合束精度的因素有激光指向稳定性、机械调节和质心定位误差,其中激光指向稳定性是主要因素。通过调节各因素的比例,可对合束的抗干扰能力进行控制。     

“LPP-EUV”光源中的高功率CO_2激光监测与控制系统

为了满足激光诱导等离子体（LPP）体制下极紫外（EUV）光源对CO2激光器提出的稳定性需求,建立了简化的CO2激光传输系统模型,根据光束稳定性需求对光束功率、指向和位置的监测与控制方法进行了理论和实验研究。根据高功率CO2激光传输系统特点,在实验室内建立了上述光束监测和控制实验系统,包括光束功率控制模块、光束指向控制模块和光束参数监测模块,其中光束参数监测模块可实时测量光束功率、指向、尺寸及发散角等重要参数。仿真与实验结果表明：光束功率控制模块对线偏振激光功率的控制接近1%～100%,光束指向控制模块实现的光束指向稳定度在10μrad以内,可满足CO2激光驱动源的高稳定性要求。     

光束指向稳定性高精度检测方法研究北大核心CSCD

光束指向稳定性是高能激光应用研究中的一项关键指标,光束指向稳定性的检测是高能激光系统性能实现的重要环节。以长焦距聚焦反射镜与高分辨率CCD(charge coupled device)为主要元件,构建高精度的光束指向检测装置。采用灰度重心法定位光斑中心,并以理想光斑与实测光斑为例进行验证,误差小于1个像元。利用CCD高频采样,统计单位时间内光斑中心位移,获得光束指向稳定性指标,检测实例精度可达1.25μrad。该方法简便易行,测量精度高,适用于各种波长的激光光束指向检测以及其他相关参数的测量。     

Role of optical resonator on the pointing stability of copper vapor laser beam

This paper presents a first comprehensive study on the pointing stability of copper vapor laser with an emphasis on bringing out the role of optical resonator. Long term (∼10 min), single pulse, far-field beam pointing stability of a 5.5 kHz repetition rate copper vapor laser (λ = 510 nm) with plane-plane, unstable and filtering resonators, is studied. It is established that the resonator optics largely decides the CVL pointing stability. Minimum beam pointing angle of 8 μrad from generalized diffraction filtered resonator (GDFR) is obtained in contrast to a maximum value of 120 μrad from the plane-plane resonator. The unstable resonators data is in between. The relative trends in CVL pointing stability are discussed in terms of wave-front distortions due to resonator mode build up from optical noise, thermal and mirror misalignment effects. The degree of optical resonator immunity to phase distortions dictates the net pointing stability achieved.     

北京大学DC-SRF-II注入器光阴极驱动激光系统

为满足北京大学新一代超导注入器DC-SRF-II注入器的需求,设计了新的光阴极驱动激光系统。系统采用模块化的布局,可以工作在从单脉冲到81.25 MHz连续波模式,绿光输出功率1.41 W @ 1 MHz。系统实现了激光的纵向和横向整形,纵向整形后的激光脉冲为平顶分布,脉宽约为18 ps,横向则为截断高斯分布。实验结果显示,输出激光的RMS功率波动为1.8%,指向抖动小于1 μrad。     

星间激光通信光束微弧度跟瞄性能检测装置的设计原理

基于矢量折射定理,研究了透射光束通过双棱镜实现微弧度量级偏转的设计原理,解决了星间激光通信精跟瞄检测的难题。推导了正交双棱镜实现光束偏转的精确公式,提出以水平张角和垂直张角表达光束视场,并说明了单棱镜实现光束偏转的一般情况。根据设计指标和计算结果确定了棱镜的主要参量,进而对光束的偏转结果进行了数值模拟。最后的实验结果与模拟结果基本一致。结果表明:取棱镜棱角α为4°时,棱镜每旋转1′,透射光束变化约1μrad;分别控制双棱镜在其最小偏向角一侧小角度偏转,可以实现光束在水平方向和垂直方向500μrad范围内的精确扫描,装置的扫描精度可以达到0.2μrad。     

The national ignition facility: path to ignition in the laboratory

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a 192-beam laser facility presently under construction at LLNL. When completed, NIF will be a 1.8-MJ, 500-TW ultraviolet laser system. Its missions are to obtain fusion ignition and to perform high energy density experiments in support of the US nuclear weapons stockpile. Four of the NIF beams have been commissioned to demonstrate laser performance and to commission the target area including target and beam alignment and laser timing. During this time, NIF demonstrated on a single-beam basis that it will meet its performance goals and demonstrated its precision and flexibility for pulse shaping, pointing, timing and beam conditioning. It also performed four important experiments for Inertial Confinement Fusion and High Energy Density Science. Presently, the project is installing production hardware to complete the project in 2009 with the goal to begin ignition experiments in 2010. An integrated plan has been developed including the NIF operations, user equipment such as diagnostics and cryogenic target capability, and experiments and calculations to meet this goal. This talk will provide NIF status, the plan to complete NIF, and the path to ignition.     

“神光-Ⅱ”装置第九路靶场终端光学组件的研制

 针对“神光-Ⅱ”装置第九路系统主激光瞄准精度小于等于30 μm和大焦斑辐照均匀性优于10％的要求，提出了靶场终端光学组件的设计结构。应用有限元法对组件关键机械元件和ICF靶室整体进行动静态分析，优化了设计参数。同时与聚焦透镜配合进行数值分析列阵透镜，确定了单元数、曲率和厚度以及单元长和宽等参数。经过实验测试，主激光瞄准精度达到28.9 μm，大焦斑辐照的形状为1 000 μm×500 μm，均匀性为12.0％。     

高能激光束自动对准和稳定系统的结构设计

介绍了一种用于两个光学平台之间光轴自动对准和稳定光束的设计方案。以可绕ｘ,ｙ,ｚ三个方向转动的导光管为单元,组成导光臂连接两个光学平台,消除两个平台之间相对运动产生的光轴对接偏差。用压电陶瓷驱动的倾斜镜作光束稳定元件,消除光束自身的漂移和平台间高频振动产生的光轴偏差。     

Generation and characterization of the highest laser intensities (10(22) W/cm2)

We generated a record peak intensity of 0.7 x 10(22) W/cm2 by focusing a 45-TW laser beam with an f/0.6 off-axis paraboloid. The aberrations of the paraboloid and the low-energy reference laser beam were measured and corrected, and a focal spot size of 0.8 microm was achieved. It is shown that the peak intensity can be increased to 1.0 x 10(22) W/cm2 by correction of the wave front of a 45-TW beam relative to the reference beam. The phase and amplitude measurement provides for an efficient full characterization of the focal field.     

产生钠导引星星群的钠信标激光合/分束技术

研究了脉冲光束的偏振和时序非相干合成技术,通过偏振合束器将两路50 W级500 Hz的589 nm钠信标激光在空间上合为一束光线,成功突破了100 W级μs脉冲全固态钠信标激光输出;利用脉冲激光同步延时器控制两路激光脉冲的时序,使其按先后顺序合成一束脉冲激光,重复频率提升到1 kHz。合束后的激光光束质量M²约为1.41,与单光束的光束质量基本保持一致,光斑抖动性约为40μrad,可满足激光钠导引星自适应光学系统的应用需求。与传统的相干合成方法相比,该偏振和时序非相干合成方案具有结构简单、稳定、效率高的优点,且整个系统无需复杂的相位控制机制,为脉冲激光功率扩展提供了新途径。基于上述技术基础,结合自主提出的精密偏振分光专利技术,在丽江天文台通过一台发射望远镜将四束25 W/束的μs脉冲黄激光发射到钠层,成功产生了四颗钠导引星,这一结果将有助于推动大型地基光学望远镜中多层共轭自适应光学技术的发展。     

卫星激光通信跟瞄精度测试方法及其实验研究

卫星激光通信捕获、跟踪、瞄准(ATP)需要端机具备有微弧度(μrad)量级的高精度跟踪能力。如何检验通信端机的这一特性是一个很重要的问题。设计了一套端机跟瞄精度测试装置。装置模拟入射光方向的偏转,端机跟踪从偏转方向发出的回馈信标光。通过测量回馈光远场光斑的位置变化可以得到端机的跟瞄精度。测试实验表明,当入射光方向的变化小于4μrad,测试频率在0~250Hz时,测试系统的精度可达到0.2μrad。此项工作对卫星激光通信的光链路通信的研究以及对端机性能的整体评估具有重要意义。     

SILEX-I: 300-TW Ti:sapphire laser

Based on chirped pulse amplification technology, we have built a Ti:sapphire laser system, called SILEX-I (superintense laser for experiments on extremes), at CAEP, which consists of three stages with 5-, 30-, and 300-TW outputs, respectively. The first and the second stages work at 10 Hz, while the third works at single shot. Pulse durations of 30 fs have been obtained by installing an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF) to compensate for the spectral gain narrowing in the regen. By taking a number of advanced measures for spatial beam control, such as spatial beam shaping, relay-imaged propagation, precise alignment of compressor gratings, and OAP, near-diffraction limited focal spots (FWHM) have been obtained. Focused intensities are calculated at (1–3) × 10²⁰ W/cm² with an f/2.2 OAP.SILEX-I has shown an excellent stability and reliability in operations for applications since its completion and will soon be able to operate at 500 TW.     

A versatile 10-TW laser system with robust passive controls to achieve high stability and spatiotemporal quality

We discuss the design, construction, and output characteristics of a versatile 10-TW Ti:sapphire laser system of high stability and spatiotemporal quality. By pumping the three amplifier stages independently and running at saturation, an energy stability of 1.3% is obtained. Controls over self-phase modulation, high-order dispersion, spatial aberration, and amplified spontaneous emission are done by robust passive methods. A time–bandwidth product of 1.2 times the Fourier-transform limit with a temporal contrast larger than 5×10⁸ in the -10-ns scale, 2×10⁶ in the -100-ps scale, and 10⁴ in the -1-ps scale are achieved. The beam can be focused down to 1.2 times the diffraction limit with 80% of the energy enclosed in the Gaussian focal spot. Beam-pointing stability is <13 rad. Such high stability and spatiotemporal quality have made possible precision control over extremely nonlinear laser–plasma experiments, and the capability of computerized independent control of prepulse, pump pulse, probe pulse, and on-line diagnoses have made this system highly versatile and reliable. PACS 42.60.By; 42.65.Re; 42.60.Jf     

Ionenlaser hoher Leistung

Investigations on ion lasers with large bored tubes (7 ... 15 mm I.D.) without additional axial magnetic field are performed. An axial magnetic field is shown to be not necessary to achieve high laser power. By absence of additional magnetic fields the laser construction is considerably simplified. Experimental criterions for maximum laser power are derived by means of a previously published theoretical paper. 120 W total power summed up over the 4p-4s Argon II transitions in the visible part of the spectrum, and 1.5 W ultraviolet power in Argon (3638 Å, 3511 Å) and Krypton (3507 Å) are obtained in continuous mode operation. High inversion densities of 7 · 10⁹ cm^?3 give rise to non-resonant laser oscillations. By multipass amplification the spontaneous emission is amplified up to 20 W/cm², having a beam divergence of about 10^?4 rad. All results are pointing out the influence of radiation trapping effects on the laser power to be smaller than estimated and measured by other authors using conditions deviating from our optimum conditions for maximum laser power.     

Statistical investigations of the beam stability of the double-pass amplified zinc soft X-ray laser at 21.2 nm

At the Prague asterix laser system (PALS) of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic the 1-TW asterix iodine laser is used as a pump source for soft X-ray laser experiments. The prepulse technique was applied which is known to enhance the X-ray laser output at the J=0-1 transition dramatically. Since Zn slab targets were used the laser wavelength was 21.2 nm. A prepulse beam having 1.6 J was preceding the main pulse by 10 ns. The main and the prepulse beam are focused by two different optical systems separately. Implementing a half-cavity set-up for double-pass amplification using a Mo/Si multilayer mirror the X-ray laser output was 10 times stronger than at single pass amplification in a 3-cm long plasma. Double-pass amplification was observed to be most efficient when the pump pulse duration was at least 120 ps longer than the round trip time in the half-cavity. Under this fundamental condition the X-ray laser reached saturation in the double-pass regime containing 4 mJ energy what is proved to be enough for applications. In this contribution the X-ray laser features like divergence in two dimensions, the beam quality (symmetry), the pointing angle and the time-integrated output energy are investigated over more than 100 shots. To characterize the stability of the X-ray laser the shot distribution, the mean value and the standard deviation for these parameters are evaluated. For 18 shots in a series -- achieved during one single day -- the corresponding values are given and detailed chi-squared tests characterize the Zn X-ray laser as a robust tool suitable for applications. At PALS soft X-ray laser beam time can be reserved for external research groups.Received: 16 April 2003, Published online: 5 August 2003PACS: 42.55.Vc X- and -ray lasers - 42.60.Da Resonators, cavities, amplifiers, arrays, and rings - 42.60.Jf Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation     

漂移量反馈控制式激光准直方法

提出一种集光纤准直与光束漂移量反馈控制准直技术于一体的激光光束准直方法 ,它是在单模光纤对激光器出射光束漂移量进行初级准直的基础上 ,进一步对光束的漂移量进行反馈控制 ,进而提高出射光束的方向稳定性。准直系统中利用漂移量分离光路和光电检测系统对光束的平漂量和角漂量进行了分离检测 ,并各自构成相应的光束空间平漂量反馈控制系统和光束空间角漂量反馈控制系统 ,减小了平漂量和角漂量反馈控制中的相互耦合。引入单模光纤使激光器与光束漂移量反馈控制准直系统相隔离 ,减小了激光管热源温度变化等因素对准直系统的影响 ,同时还便于准直系统使用中的安装布置。上述方法的应用 ,提高了准直精度及准直效率。实验表明目前该方法准直精度可达 0 .7× 10 -7rad。     

Controlling high harmonics generation by spatial shaping of high-energy femtosecond beam

We demonstrate controlled high-order harmonic generation in gas using high-energy femtosecond pulses (50 fs-50 mJ on target) by performing spatial shaping of the terrawatt fundamental laser beam. We have developed a two optical paths mirror that can withstand high power and shape the pump beam into a quasi-flat-top profile (super Gaussian) near focus. We observe clear signatures of the spatial shaping on the harmonic beam in terms of profile, divergence, level of signal, and spectrum. The harmonic generation in neon with a quasi-flat-top beam results in a broadband extreme UV beam with extremely low divergence (~340 μrad).     

Energy scaling of quasi-monoenergetic electron beams from laser wakefields driven by 40-TW ultra-short pulses

By focusing 40-TW, 30-fs laser pulses to the peak intensity of 10¹⁹ W/cm² onto a supersonic He gas jet, we generate quasi-monoenergetic electron beams for plasma density in the specific range 1.5×10¹⁹ cm^-3≤n_e≤3.5×10¹⁹ cm^-3. We show that the energy, charge, divergence and pointing stability of the beam can be controlled by changing n_e, and that higher electron energies and more stable beams are produced for lower densities. The observed variations are explained physically by the interplay among pump depletion and dephasing between accelerated electrons and plasma wave. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations support the explanation by showing the evolution of the laser pulse in plasma and the specifics of electron injection and acceleration. An optimized quasi-monoenergetic beam of over 300 MeV and 10 mrad angular divergence is demonstrated at a plasma density of n_e≃1.5×10¹⁹ cm^-3. PACS 52.35.-g; 52.38.Hb; 52.38.Kd; 52.65.-y