Mechanism of UV laser-induced absorption in fused silica fibers

Abstract

An alteration of absorption spectra of fused silica fibers under delivery of high-power (ultraviolet) UV laser radiation (4th harmonic of the Nd:YAG laser, wavelength 266 nm) was studied in comparison with their photoluminescent properties. Tested fibers were produced by various technologies based on PMCVD methods. The nature of defects responsible for UV absorption in fibers and the mechanisms of their photogeneration are discussed.     

Ge：SiO2的光敏缺陷的研究

研究了Ｇｅ；ＳｉＯ２光敏缺陷的特性，分别在４８８ｎｍＡｒ离子激光与１９３ｎｍＡｒ准分子激光作用下，由紫外吸收带，激光荧光的测量实验及电子自旋共振实验，发现光纤中５．１ｅＶ锗缺陷吸收带实验上是由５．０６ｅＶ可光致漂白带与５．１７ｅＶ不可漂白带组成；２９５ｎｍ的激发荧光与５．０６ｅＶ的缺氧锗缺陷对应，随５．０６ｅＶ缺陷吸收带的漂白而衰减；     

Enhanced photosensitivity in germanosilicate fibers exposed to CO2 laser radiation

We report a novel method to increase the UV photosensitivity of GeO(2): SiO(2) optical fibers based on exposure to CO(2) laser irradiation before grating writing. Fibers treated with a CO(2) laser can produce gratings with refractive-index modulation two times greater and a Bragg wavelength that can be 2 nm longer than those of untreated fibers. Experiments on GeO(2): SiO(2) preform samples treated with a CO(2) laser in a way similar to the fibers showed a marked increase of the 242-nm absorption band, which is associated with an increase of germanium oxygen-deficient centers and is believed to be responsible for the higher photorefractive response.     

Bragg gratings in defect-free germanium-doped optical fibers

Bragg gratings have been written in germanium-doped optical fibers that have been treated to remove the UV absorption bands associated with oxygen-deficient defects. When one is using high-intensity 193-nm light from an ArF excimer laser to fabricate the gratings, the refractive index increases and the grating transmission spectra are similar to those obtained in standard (untreated) fiber.     

UV-excimer-laser ablation of polymethylmethacrylate at 248 nm: Characterization of incubation sites with Fourier transform IR- and UV-Spectroscopy

Ultraviolet and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic experiments with thin films of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) are reported. During the incubation with 248 nm excimer laser light or continuous (cw) UV light sources PMMA exhibits a rapidly increasing, broad UV absorption. This is caused by the production of unsaturated species, which are detected in the infrared spectrum of irradiated PMMA films. The spectral data explain the incubation process preceding the ablation of PMMA at 248 nm. Taking advantage of the increased UV absorption, cw light incubated PMMA films can be selectively ablated by standard 308 nm excimer laser pulses.     

紫外激光照射引起的硅酸铅玻璃结构的变化

采用紫外-可见吸收光谱和电子自旋共振谱(ESR)对硅酸铅玻璃薄膜和体材料受紫外激光照射前后的结构变化进行了研究。研究发现：266 nm的紫外激光照射硅酸铅玻璃体材料时,能使其Urbach能量增大,即玻璃结构的无序性增大。电子自旋共振谱研究表明,266 nm激光照射不会在硅酸铅玻璃中产生顺磁缺陷中心, 也不会对硅酸铅玻璃薄膜在235 nm附近的吸收峰产生影响,但用248 nm紫外激光照射则观察到了235 nm吸收峰的光漂白现象。     

Measurement of UV absorption of single living cell for cell manipulation using NIR femtosecond laser

Optical UV absorption of single human living cells ranging from 200 nm to 360 nm was measured in situ for the study of cell manipulation using the near-infrared (NIR) femtosecond laser. Human breast living cells of MCF-10A, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 were used in this experiment. The selective photo-disruptions of single living cell and its sub-organelle (nucleus) were also demonstrated using the tightly focused 790 nm wavelength femtosecond laser with pulse duration of 110 fs. It was found that each living cell has its own absorption spectrum in UV wavelength ranges. It was also inferred that intrinsic absorption spectrum is attributed to the amount of DNA and protein of living cell. For the study of photo-disruption of single cell using the multi-photon absorption excited by the NIR femtosecond laser pulse, the origin UV absorption spectrum of targeted living cell is important and fundamental information to understand nonlinear interaction between NIR ultrashort, high-intensity laser light and transparent living cell.     

Transient measurements of the composition of evaporating droplets by fiber optic absorption spectroscopy

Fiber optic UV absorption spectroscopy was investigated as a methodology to measure time-dependent compositions within fiber-supported droplets initially in the mm size range. The droplets, which were composed of mixtures of 1-propanol and acetone or methanol and acetone, evaporated in room air. The experiments employed thin (50 μm) optical fibers to carry light from a UV–VIS light source into and out of a droplet. The time-dependent UV absorption spectrum of the liquid between the fibers was measured using a spectrometer coupled to one of the fibers. This spectrum yielded real-time information on the transient composition of the liquid. The measurements showed that acetone concentrations decreased with time and that the methanol/acetone droplets absorbed significant amounts of water from the environment.     

Transient colour centre in YAG : Nd

Formation of a transient absorption centre is demonstrated in YAG : Nd monocrystals on intensive irradiation in the near UV spectrum region. Spectral distribution has been studied of their absorption coefficient, their decay kinetics was also followed. Activation energy of the decay process was determined from the temperature dependence. The transient absorption centre possessing the character of V-centres exsrcise, in view of the spectral course of their absorption coefficient, a certain amount of influence upon the efficiency of the YAG : Nd laser.     

Research on the resolution of micro stereo lithography

Micro stereo lithography is a kind of technology utilizing the solidified effect that photo curable polymer will appear under ultraviolet （UV） laser exposure. It is widely used in three-dimensional （3D） micro fabrication. We get the experimental values of a pair of UV laser curing coefficients, absorption coefficient and critical curing energy, of curable resin by fitting the calculation results of the Gaussian beam theory and experimental curing results. The theoretical relation between the curing unit＇s shape and the exposure features of time and intensity of convergent Gaussian beam is presented. The calculation and experimental results of curing unit under different conditions agree well with each other. This research offers a steady base for further research about the improvement of resolution.     

掺Er3+光纤的γ射线辐射特性

本文研究掺Er³⁺光纤的γ射线辐射特性,发现在800到1600nm之间损耗都有显著的增加,有的增加800倍之多。光纤的γ射线辐照损耗特性具有β射线辐照类似的规律性。用γ射线的康普顿效应半定量地解释了这种类似性。对γ射线辐照损耗进行紫外线UV漂白,表明比热退火有更好的效果,能使损耗恢复50%。指出选用原子序数小的元素作光纤掺杂剂会有利于光纤抗辐照性能的提高。 关键词：     

4.7-W, 255-nm source based on second-harmonic generation of a copper-vapor laser in cesium lithium borate

We have generated 4.7 W of UV (255-nm) radiation with wall plug efficiency of 0.12% by frequency doubling the green (511-nm) output of a kinetically enhanced medium-scale copper-vapor laser (CVL) in cesium lithium borate (CLBO). Frequency doubling in beta -barium borate produced 3.9 W of UV radiation with wall plug efficiency of 0.1%. We found that conversion was better with CLBO because of the reduced constraints on CVL beam quality, less UV absorption, and smaller UV walk-off.     

Sensitive detection of optical discrete absorption and lasing of fused silica by the depopulation of the ground state

Ultraviolet light induced high resolution optical absorption spectra and resonance coherent fluorescence of spectroscopically pure fused silica have been studied, due to their potential applications in optoelectronics and laser flash spectroscopy for laboratory use, for optical fibers and for power optics for lasers. Ultraviolet discrete absorption spectra and resonance coherent fluorescence were recorded photographically between 200 and 260 nm. Resonance discrete and coherent fluorescence (i.e. lasing effect) were observed in the 250–255 nm band at room temperature by high photon flux excitation spectroscopy.     

High-power ultraviolet 278-nm laser from fourth-harmonic generation of an Nd:YAG amplifier in CsB_3O_5 crystal

We report on the experimental investigation and theoretical analysis of a nanosecond pulse high power ultraviolet(UV) 278 nm laser by fourth-harmonic generation(FHG) of a 1112-nm Nd:YAG amplifier in LiB_3O_5(LBO) and CsB_3O_5(CBO) crystals. The UV laser delivers a maximum average power of 10.3 W at 278 nm with peak power of 36.8 k W under input pump power of 41 W at 556 nm. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest output power at the specific UV wavelength of 278 nm. We also performed the theoretical investigation on the FHG with a model in the Gaussian approximation of both spatial and temporal profiles, especially accounting for the two-photon absorption effect in CBO crystal for the first time. The average output power, pulse width, and beam spatial distribution of the UV laser were simulated. The theoretical calculations are in close agreement with the experimental results.     

Improved thermal model and its application in UV high-power pulsed laser ablation of metal target

An improved thermal model describing UV high-power nanosecond laser ablation of metal target is presented. The vaporization effect, the plasma shielding effect, as well as the absorption coefficient and absorptivity dependence of temperature are considered in this model. Take iron target as an example, the numerical solutions are obtained from the heat flow equations (before and after melting) using a finite difference method. The space and time dependence of temperature of the target, the time dependence of temperature at two different positions for a certain laser fluence, and the ablation rate as a function of laser fluence are also presented. The numerical results that agreed well with the experimental data are much better than the one without, which indicates that the above two effects and the temperature dependence of absorption coefficient and absorptivity in UV high-power laser ablation of metal target should not be neglected. We hope the present model will be useful for further experimental investigation of metal thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition.     

All-photonic-crystal-fiber coherent black-light source

Photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs) are widely recognized as efficient sources of white-light supercontinuum. Here, we show that a combination of an ultrashort-pulse ytterbium PCF laser with a highly nonlinear PCF enables all-fiber generation of ultrashort pulses of coherent UV radiation in the black-light spectral region with all the key processes, such as lasing, amplification, and conversion of the amplified PCF-laser output to the UV range, taking place in specifically designed fiber components.     

High-average-power (15-W) 255-nm source based on second-harmonic generation of a copper laser master oscillator power amplifier system in cesium lithium borate

We have generated 15 W of UV (255-nm) radiation with an optical conversion efficiency of 28% by frequency doubling the 510.6-nm output of a high-beam-quality, high-power copper laser system in cesium borate lithium (CLBO). We found that the superior performance of CLBO relative to beta-barium borate is attributable largely to the small UV absorption and wide temperature acceptance bandwidth of CLBO, which reduces thermal dephasing during high-power UV generation.     

Determination of the debris produced from poly(ethylene terephthalate) during KrF excimer laser ablation

Pulsed UV laser beams, which are widely used in the processing of polymers, have many advantages because their photon energy is higher than the binding energy of polymers. Fabricating polymers with a UV laser process is faster, cleaner, and more convenient than with other processes. Nevertheless, some problems occur in the precision microprocessing of polymers. For example, the formation and deposition of surface debris, which is produced from the breakdown of either polymer chains or radical bonds.To determine the formation and origin of surface debris, a KrF excimer laser beam (248 nm) was used in the processing of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The investigation of the debris formation was facilitated by UV-vis spectroscopy, ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. The UV-vis absorption peak indicates that the primary chromophore in the PET is benzoate. Furthermore, because benzoate causes the primary absorption, the absorbed energy is transferred by heat generation to an unsaturated ester. The ATR FT-IR spectrometer measurements show that the phenyl systems in the benzoate are demolished by ablation. This phenomenon indicates that the photochemical reaction causes the benzoate bonds to break down, and this breakdown in turn causes the carbonization to leave debris on the PET.     

Alleviation of thermally induced phase mismatch in CsLiB6O10 crystal by means of temperature-profile compensation

A new mechanism was found to alleviate the thermally induced phase mismatch of nonlinear optical crystals. By cooling CsLiB>(6)O(10) at an elevated crystal temperature with gas, we improved laser conversion efficiency from green (532 nm) to UV (266 nm) 2.3 times compared with that without cooling. In situ observation of the temperature profile on the output surface revealed that such cooling initiates a negative temperature profile that compensates for the positive profile generated from laser absorption. A 10.6-W UV output with excellent stability was generated. The optimum crystal length was substantially extended.