Effect of polarization on femtosecond laser pulses structuring silicon surface

Arrays of conical-like spikes can be formed on silicon surface after irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses in ambient of SF₆ or N₂. In this article, we report our observations on how the shape of the spikes formed on silicon surface varies with the polarization of laser beam. The experimental results show that, with circular polarized laser irradiation, the shape of the spikes is conical; however, with linearly polarized laser irradiation, the spikes show elliptic conical shape, and the long-axes are perpendicular to the direction of the polarization of laser beam. The asymmetric shape of spikes produced by linearly polarized laser beam can be explained by considering the polarization dependence of Fresnel-refraction.     

Thermocapillary self-focusing of a laser beam: A theoretical analysis

A gaussian laser beam reflected from a thermocapillary liquid surface self-focuses at a distance L from the sample surface at a time-instant t_s after the beginning of the irradiation. The theoretical relation t_s(L) is calculated as a function of the liquid physical properties and the laser power.     

激光辐照下镀铬介质高吸收镜的热变形

为了分析激光辐照下反射镜热变形对光束质量的影响, 本文建立了激光光束45°角入射时镀铬介质高吸收镜的热固耦合模型, 对不同辐照光束下反射镜的热变形和镜体厚度对热变形的影响进行了分析, 并用哈特曼波前传感器对自由边界条件下的镜面热变形进行了检测。结果表明:吸收功率在0.085~0.185 W时, 镜面热变形随吸收功率的增加近似线性增加, 随辐照光斑的增加而减小;反射镜厚度在1~5 mm范围, 镜面热变形基本不变。在激光照射的初始阶段, 反射镜表面温度和热变形迅速增加, 在激光连续照射20 s后, 镜面温度增加量逐步变缓, 镜面热变形则在1 s以内就上升至0.27 μm, 之后变形量缓慢增加, 在100 s后达到相对稳定状态;关闭激光后, 镜面在120 s后恢复到初始状态。分析表明, 产生误差的因素主要为光斑大小和辐照光束入射角度。     

Formation of periodic surface nanostructures on Ti:Al2O3 crystals using femtosecond laser pulses

Periodic surface nanostructures are observed on Ti³⁺:Al₂O₃ single crystals that have been irradiated by a single focused beam from a femtosecond pulsed laser (wavelength: 800 nm; pulse duration: 130 and 152 fs). Atomic force microscopy images of single-ablated zones and modified structures created by fixing and translating samples through the focal region of a linearly polarized laser beam reveal self-organized periodic surface nanostructures (ripples) with a subwavelength spacing, which are oriented perpendicular to the electric-field vector of the laser beam. The period of the subwavelength ripples obtained by linearly polarized laser irradiation varies from ∼λ/5 to 2λ/5 (λ: incident laser wavelength) depending on the laser pulse energy. This phenomenon can be explained by assuming that the incident light field interferes with the electric field of electron plasma waves propagating inside the material; this interference periodically modulates the electron plasma density and modifies the surface ablation. In addition, for the first time, we observe screw-shaped nanostructures in the focal spot of circularly polarized beam irradiation. The morphology of these nanostructures appears to reflect the circular polarization of the laser light.     

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。     

Infrared laser modulation spectroscopy

The lack of sensitivity in far infrared of conventional modulation techniques can be overcome by the use of a laser beam as a powerful high resolution infrared source. As an illustration of these features we describe a thermoreflectance experiment performed on mercury telluride using a frequency stabilised CO₂ laser. In this experiment a thin slab of HgTe was illuminated by the beam of the laser. A continuous shift of the Γ_6v?Γ_8c energy interval was produced by a slow temperature variation while the sample was submitted to a slight temperature modulation obtained by low frequency Joule heating. Synchronous and direct detection of the reflected beam gave the relative variation of reflectivity as a function of the sample temperature. Several spectra obtained at different emission lines enable us to determine the energy difference (E_g) between Γ_6v and Γ_8c inverted states. As a first approach a qualificative fit has been obtained with a simple model of dielectric constant and its temperature derivative. These results give the first direct determination of E_g near room temperature E_g = ? 117.04 meV at T = 286 ± 2 K.     

双色激光偏振演示实验

利用红色和绿色激光束产生2束偏振方向分别平行及垂直于入射面的偏振光,再混合为1束光.通过缓慢改变光束的偏振结构及其与入射透明介质的夹角,使反射与透射光斑颜色及明暗发生变化,演示了马吕斯定律、菲涅耳关系和布儒斯特定律等光的偏振性质.     

Lepton pair production in high-frequency laser fields

The production of electron-positron and muon-antimuon pairs in high-frequency laser fields via few-photon absorption is considered. It is assumed that an intense X-ray laser beam collides either with a relativistic ion beam or with a second, equally intense laser beam. We study the generation of free e ⁺ e ^? pairs, free μ⁺μ^? pairs, and bound-free e ⁺ e ^? pairs where in the latter case the electron is born in a low-lying atomic orbit of the projectile nucleus. Effects resulting from the finite nuclear size, the laser’s polarization state, and its magnetic field component are examined, which are testable experimentally by virtue of upcoming X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) devices.     

Degradation of beam quality and depolarization of the laser beam in a step-index multimode optical fiber

The characteristics of a laser beam are altered during propagating through large-core multimode optical fibers. The distribution of modes excited by the input laser beam is modified by means of mode coupling on transmission through the fiber, leading to the degradation of beam quality and the depolarization of the delivered beam. The relationship between the beam quality factor (M²) of output beam from a large-core multimode fiber and the fiber length, as well as the relationship between the degree of polarization (V) of output beam from such a fiber and the fiber length, are introduced in this paper. When a laser beam was well launched into a large-core step-index multimode fiber, M² of the output beam was a compound tanh function of the fiber length. A linear polarization beam that well launched into such fiber suffered depolarization. The V of the output beam was an exponent function of fiber length. And the misalignment between beam axis and fiber axis made the beam quality degrade faster but made no difference of the utmost M² in the aligned and misaligned conditions. Also, the misalignment condition made the polarization of output beam degrade faster.     

一种激光平行分束器的设计

为满足波面剪切干涉和双细光束干涉曲反射表面非接触精密测量、台阶高度测量以及其他平行分光需要,利用双折射晶体特性,研究并设计了一种单一平板激光平行分束器。当一束激光入射到双折射晶体时,它的2个相互正交的的偏振分量将有不同的折射特性,因此特定晶轴方向和厚度的晶体平行平板可以实现入射光束的平行分束。描述了双折射晶体平行平板的分束原理,推导了分束距离与光轴方向、晶体厚度、入射角的关系,分析了分束距离随主要设计参数的变化规律。采用设计的晶体激光分束器进行了实验测试,验证了分析与实测结果的一致性。     

Recording of domains by an electron beam on the surface of +Z cuts of lithium niobate

Using an electron beam, spontaneous polarization on the surface of +Z cuts of lithium niobate crystals of various compositions is switched. Domains 100–200 nm in size are formed in a thin surface layer, with the thickness dependent on the primary-electron energy. The sizes of segments, on which submicron domains are formed, exceed the sizes of the irradiation region. The distributions of domains on the surface in crystals of various compositions are different and depend on the method of moving the electron beam and irradiation conditions. The results are discussed in the context of notions on the charging of dielectric materials by the electron beam. It is assumed that the spontaneous polarization in the surface layer of +Z cuts of lithium niobates is switched by the field of a double layer of charges formed as a result of the charging process near the surface.     

The discovery of nanometer fringes in laser self-mixing interference

We demonstrate the influences of optical feedback from an external mirror with high reflectivity in a He-Ne laser on self-mixing interference fringes and laser polarization states. When the external mirror is tilted to a certain level, the stable and uniform nanometer resolution fringes are generated. The fringe density is 40 times than that of the conventional self-mixing interference or two beam interference, and has still potential to be improved. Each self-mixing interference fringe corresponds to λ/80 displacement of the external mirror, i.e. 7.91 nm displacement of the external mirror. Moreover, when the movement direction of the external mirror is changed, the polarization flipping between two eigenstates will happen. The potential applications of the results are also discussed.     

Analysis of beam quality for the laser beams after spectral beam combining

The beam quality of the laser beams after spectral beam combining (SBC) has been analyzed in this paper. Based on the propagation model of the spectral beam combining system, the expression for the output field of an individual beam passing through the spectral beam combining system with lens aberration has been given and the intensity distribution of the combined beam has been studied by the principle of incoherent superposition. Consequently, according to the intensity second-order moments method, the M²-factor of the combined beam has been calculated and the effect of lens aberration on the characteristics of the combined beam has been analyzed quantitatively. It can be shown that the SBC system can improve the beam quality of laser array significantly, and the M²-factor of the combined beam passing through the ideal spectral beam combining system is almost the same as that of an individual beam. For the spectral beam combining system with lens aberration, the spherical aberration has greater effect on the off-axis beam than on the on-axis beam, and the beam quality of combined beam degrades with increase in lens aberration.     

基于原向反射式激光光幕厚度一致性研究

在原向反射式激光光幕测速技术中,针对半导体激光光源产生的激光光束散射角使得出射光幕厚度不一致、原向反射屏产生的反射光幕剩余发散角使反射光幕厚度不一致这两方面导致弹丸穿过光幕不同位置触发光幕响应时间不一致的问题,根据几何光学原理,对半导体激光器弧矢与子午方向建立数学模型,设计了具有不同面型的非球面准直透镜组,将出射光斑尺寸控制在1 mm之内且子午和弧矢方向发散角分别为0.13 mrad、0.46 mrad。出射光束经过Powell透镜一维扩束后,形成厚度为1 mm、均匀度达到85.7%的扇形出射光幕,经过原向反射后,配合狭缝光阑使反射光幕有效厚度控制在1 mm。使用Zemax软件模拟弹丸过靶仿真,弹丸不遮挡系统光幕时探测器接收到原向反射光强1.54 mW,弹丸遮挡系统光幕时探测器接收到原向反射光强为1.03 mW。当弹丸紧贴出射光幕侧面边缘(即1 mm光幕边缘),分别距离光源100 mm、300 mm、500 mm处的弹丸触发探测器接收到的光强大小均为1.54 mW,显然,光强相对于无弹丸遮挡光幕情况下没有产生变化,证明系统有效可探测光幕厚度一致且为1 mm。该结果表明,本研究方案具有可行性。     

Single-frequency polarized eye-safe all-fiber laser with peak power over kilowatt

An all-fiber, single-frequency, linearly polarized, high peak-power, pulsed laser at 1,540 nm for Doppler wind lidar is presented. This laser is composed of a single-frequency, narrow-linewidth external cavity diode laser, and multistage fiber amplifiers. A peak power of 1.08 kW and a pulse width of 500 ns at 10 kHz repetition rate are achieved, which is the highest peak power with a linewidth of 800 kHz in erbium-doped silica fiber to our knowledge. The beam quality of M ² < 1.3 and a polarization extinction ratio over 16 dB are obtained. This laser will be employed in a compact long-range coherent Doppler wind lidar.     

Control parameters in pattern formation upon femtosecond laser ablation

Femtosecond laser ablation experiments on different materials have revealed a great diversity of self-organized nano-structures on the bottom of the ablated area. They range from arrays of nano-spheres to bifurcating longer lines, with size and shape depending on the irradiation dose and number of laser pulses. In this contribution, laser beam polarization and surface charge distribution, following surface relaxation, are investigated as control parameters for this nano-structures formation. Experiments with linear, circular and, for the first time, elliptical polarized light indicate that the laser polarization has a great influence on the orientation of the ripples. Investigations with laser beams of elliptical polarization show that, whereas the ripples orientation is defined by the major axis of the polarization ellipse, the ripple morphology is sensitive to the ellipticity. For silicon samples electrical measurements with a scanning-probe microscope on the ablated area reveal a spatial variation of the surface potential, possibly generated by a local change in dopant density, correlated with the patterns’ modulation on the crater bottom.     

非相干光纤激光组束中光栅衍射效率的研究

提高非相干光纤激光组束的组束功率,需要增大光栅对组束激光的衍射效率。通过理论分析和数值仿真,结果表明对中心激光入射角偏移及组束光角偏移的精确控制是提高光栅衍射效率的光健,高的衍射效率对应较大的光栅周期和较小的光栅厚度。对于中心激光入射波长1060nm,应选择光栅频率200~400mm-1,对应的光栅厚度2~4mm。     

Elliptic incoherent solitons in strongly nonlocal media with anisotropic Kerr nonlinearity

The propagation of elliptic incoherent beam in strongly nonlocal media with noninstantaneous anisotropic Kerr nonlinearity is systematically investigated. Using the mutual coherence function approach, we obtain the existence curve of such solitons and an interesting outcome: correlation characteristics of the elliptic incoherent solitons can be anisotropic as well as isotropic. When the existence conditions of solitons are not satisfied, the elliptic incoherent beam will undergo periodic oscillation. Nonstationary evolution behaviors of the elliptic beam are shown in detail by numerical calculation. It is also obtained that the oscillation periods of the beam in x and y direction are different and the elliptic beam will become circular at some propagation distance under special conditions.     

Measuring the thickness and refractive index of a thick transparent plate by an unexpanded laser beam

The thickness and refractive index of a thick transparent plate are measured by using an unexpanded HeNe laser beam. The laser beam is incident at different angles onto the plate; and then two reflected beams; from the front and back surfaces; are received on a distant screen: the corresponding separations between them are measured. A theoretical relation between the refractive index; thickness; angle of incidence and separation is derived. This relation is experimentally verified and shows good agreement. The errors in the measured thickness and refractive index are analysed. The method is non-contact; non-destructive and low cost.