Novel concept of electric discharge oxygen-iodine laser

A novel concept of discharge oxygen-iodine laser (DOIL) is presented. The supersonic DOIL includes a discharge singlet oxygen generator (DSOG) and discharge atomic iodine generator (DAIG). The operation of DSOG is based on a fast mixing of hybrid argon plasma jet of DC electric arc and RF discharge with a neutral molecular oxygen stream. The goal of our effort is achievement of DOIL oscillations by this new discharge technique, which should provide the singlet oxygen yields exceeding 30% at the total pressures higher than 10 torr. The DAIG operation is based on a cw/pulse RF discharge dissociation of iodine donors directly inside a laser iodine injector. This method substitutes the classic dissociation of molecular iodine by energy of singlet oxygen, which saves its energy for laser generation and so can increase the laser efficiency. The laser power could be thus enhanced by up to 25% if this method is employed in a chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) operation, and even 3 times in DOIL without increase in the iodine laser pumping by singlet oxygen.     

Laser capabilities of CuBr mixture excited by RF discharge

Our investigations demonstrated that utilizing copper bromide (CuBr) mixture as a source of Cu atoms in a RF-excited discharge can be a promising alternative to the Cu sputtered system, when the development of Cu ion gas laser is considered. Both spectroscopic and laser investigations showed that the threshold input power for lasing was reduced about 5 times using the CuBr-based system instead of the Cu-sputtered system. Pulsed and CW laser oscillation on Cu⁺ transitions in the near IR spectral region was obtained in RF-excited He-CuBr discharge operated at 13.56 MHz and 27.12 MHz. At input RF power of 800 W, a laser output power of 10 mW at the 780.8 nm Cu ion laser line was achieved. An increase of laser output power by a factor of two, as well as better Cu vapour axial distribution and better discharge stability, was attained when DC discharge was superimposed on the RF discharge. Laser gain on 11 UV Cu ion lines was observed in RF-excited Ne-CuBr discharge. basing on the obtained results, we consider the CuBr laser system excited by RF discharge capable of generating UV laser radiation at relatively low input power. Received 4 January 1999     

隔环结构的Ne H2 CuBr激光放电管气体温度径向分布

针对溴化亚铜激光器中放电管径向温度不均匀现象，在工程设计中同时采用隔环结构放电管设计方案和溴化亚铜激光放电管充氢方案。对隔环结构及隔环结构同时充氢的CuBr激光放电管温度场进行了分析。利用简化的热流耗散泊松方程，给出了激光放电管内温度场分布的数学模型，获得了激光放电管气体温度场径向分布的解析表达式，明确了温度分布与输入电功率及缓冲气体热传导系数之间的关系，得到了与实验一致的结果，为该类激光器的实用化提供了理论分析依据。     

紫外预电离TEA CO2激光器放电特性的实验研究

 横向激励大气压（transversely excited atmospheric,TEA）CO₂激光器的放电稳定性是决定该类型激光器应用效果的关键因素。通过对采用电感充放电电路的紫外预电离激光器的实验研究，得到了激光器放电动态过程的规律，并发现残余振荡是主放电后发生弧光放电的主要原因。实验中采用不同配比的气体，并对电感充放电电路与改进后的硅堆充放电电路进行了比较。实验结果表明：增加充电电感值可以降低主放电结束后储能电容上的残余电压；而采用硅堆放电电路在主放电后仅有相对幅值很低的稳定残压，两种方案都大幅度抑制了弧光放电的形成，有效地提高了激光单脉冲能量。     

Influence of multi-photon ionization of Xe on a XeF discharge induced by KrF laser irradiation

Excimer laser preionization induced by an external laser was investigated for XeF excimer laser discharge induced by a KrF laser, paying attention to the ionized species in the gas. Enhancement of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) was observed for XeF gas discharge preionized by a KrF laser with and without its irradiation. In contrast, no ASE enhancement was observed for KrF gas discharge with KrF laser preionization. ASE enhancement was larger for the longer wavelength, which was close to the two-photon resonance of the Xe atom, when tunable KrF laser irradiation was used. These results indicate that multi-photon ionization of Xe atoms supplied the initial electrons to the laser-induced preionization.     

Kinetic modeling of a high power fast-axial-flow CO2 laser with computational fluid dynamics method

A new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for the simulation of fast-axial-flow CO2 laser is developed.The model which is solved by CFD software uses a set of dynamic differential equations to describe the dynamic process in one discharge tube.The velocity,temperature,pressure and turbulence energy distributions in discharge passage are presented.There is a good agreement between the theoretical prediction and the experimental results.This result indicates that the parameters of the laser have significant effect on the flow distribution in the discharge passage.It is helpful to optimize the output of high power CO2 laser by mastering its kinetic characteristics.     

Laser-Induced Current Switching Observed in the Discharge Media of CF2Cl2-N2 and CH3Cl-N2

Switchings of discharge current induced by ArF and KrF laser pulses in the discharge media of CF2Cl2-N2 and CH3Cl-N2 were investigated using a negative point-to-plane discharge apparatus. The electron attachment rate constants of CF2Cl2 in buffer gases of N2 and Ar were measured by a parallel-plate drift-tube apparatus at various E/N, from which the dominant negative ions in the discharge media were inferred. The conductivity of the discharge medium is enhanced upon laser irradiation due to conduction electrons being produced from photoelectron-detachment of Cl-. From the dependence of the enhanced current on laser power, the photodetachment cross sections of Cl- in a given discharge condition were derived to be 2.5 × 10-17 cm2 at 193 nm and 1.0 × 10-17 cm2 at 248 nm. After the current enhancement, the current was greatly reduced as was observed in the discharge medium of CF2Cl2-N2, but not in CH3Cl-N2. The mechanism for the optically induced reduction of discharge current is discussed.     

非链式脉冲氟化氘激光器的放电特性

为了提升非链式DF激光器输出能量与电光转换效率, 使用有限元分析法, 分别计算了Chang氏电极和粗糙阴极与光滑阳极组成的平板电极间的静电场分布。对于Chang氏电极, 引入了火花针尖端强电场, 计算了火花针紫外预电离放电的电场分布。对于平板电极, 计算了阴极表面毛刺尖端的静电场分布, 发现毛刺会在阴极表面形成一系列较高强度的电场区域而不会导致平板电极间电场均匀性恶化。进而对两种电极进行了脉冲放电实验, 获得了非链式脉冲DF激光器的放电特性和输出参数。实验结果表明:均匀电场分布有利于提高非链式脉冲DF激光器的输出能量;自引发DF激光器阴极毛刺尖端强电场有利于实现体放电;自引发放电更适用于大体积均匀放电。     

Arc-discharge monitoring system of a high-power repetitively-pulsed TEA CO2 laser

High-power repetitively-pulsed TEA CO₂ lasers are excited by a glow discharge, and it turns out to be the arc discharge under some conditions. The arc-discharge is a disadvantageous condition and must be avoided. According to the Faraday electromagnetism induction principle, the arc-discharge monitoring system with a magnetic-field probe is designed for high-power repetitively-pulsed TEA CO₂ lasers. The magnetic-field variation induced by the discharge current can be tested, and the discharge state can be distinguished according to the output induction voltage. Experimental results show that the magnetic-field induction voltages generated by a glow discharge and an arc discharge are very different ones. The maximum induction voltage of the glow discharge is 2.0?V, while the minimum induction voltage of the arc discharge is 2.5?C4?V. Three alarm levels are set by measuring the arc-discharge intensities. At the first level, automatic filling?Cexhausting equipment starts to refresh the gas media, at the second level, the laser repetition rate is reduced, and at the third level the laser operation stops immediately. As a result, the working reliability of a high-power repetitively-pulsed TEA CO₂ laser system can be improved significantly by using the arc-discharge monitoring system.     

Micro-pinch formation and extreme ultraviolet emission of laser-induced discharge plasma

Extreme ultraviolet(EUV) source produced by laser-induced discharge plasma(LDP) is a potential technical means in inspection and metrology. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser is focused on a tin plate to produce an initial plasma thereby triggering a discharge between high-voltage electrodes in a vacuum system. The process of micro-pinch formation during the current rising is recorded by a time-resolved intensified charge couple device camera. The evolution of electron temperature and density of LDP are obtained by optical emission spectrometry. An extreme ultraviolet spectrometer is built up to investigate the EUV spectrum of Sn LDP at 13.5 nm. The laser and discharge parameters such as laser energy, voltage, gap distance,and anode shape can influence the EUV emission.     

折叠式长脉冲XeCl准分子激光器

本文报道一台新颖的双通道放电泵浦的准分子激光器,采用折叠式光路构成一个较长的激光腔(2m),同时适当拉长放电时间,获得了150ns、150mJ的激光输出。     

Generation of a uniform high-density microwave plasma for CO2 lasers using orthogonal electric fields

To realize a CO₂ laser using a fast-axial-flow high-output-power microwave discharge excitation, we devised a technology for making the microwave discharge uniform by varying the oscillation direction of an electric field with time. We also verified the effectiveness of this technology. As a result, we succeeded in increasing the discharge uniformity to 70% of the laser-tube cross-sectional area and realized a high laser output power and a high laser efficiency. In the case of a microwave input power of 1450 W, a maximum laser output power of 273 W and a laser efficiency of 18.8% were achieved; in the case of a microwave input power of 1070 W, a laser output power of 214 W and a laser efficiency of 20.0% were achieved. At the time of maximum output power, a high input power density of 280 W/cm³, which is approximately 20 times that in a dc discharge method, was achieved. Thus, a high-output-power microwave-discharge-excited CO₂ laser has become feasible. PACS 42.60.By; 52.80.Pi     

Triggering and guiding of high voltage discharge by using femtosecond laser filaments with different parameters

This paper demonstrates the triggering and guiding of the stationary high voltage (HV) discharges at 5--40 kV by using plasma filaments generated by femtosecond laser pulses in air. A significant reduction of the breakdown voltage threshold due to the pre-ionization of the air gap by laser filamentation is observed. The discharge experiments are performed by using laser pulses with different energy from 15--60 mJ. The electron density of filaments is detected by sonography method. The influence of the electron density of laser filaments on the triggering and guiding HV discharge is experimentally investigated. The results have shown that the behaviour of plasma filaments can strongly affect the efficiency of triggering and guiding HV discharge.     

放电引发的非链式高功率重复频率HF/DF激光器

高功率重频HF/DF激光因其具有的波长和功率优势成为当前中红外激光技术发展的热点之一。介绍了利用紫外预电离横向放电结构和工作气体循环系统建立的放电引发高功率重频HF/DF激光装置。在对激光工作介质SF6/C2H6混合气体放电特性和激光输出特性研究的基础上,开展了强电负性气体的重频均匀体放电技术和气体快速循环置换技术研究,解决了泵浦源重频放电能量在气体介质中的有效沉积和提取问题,实现了激光器50Hz的重频稳定运行和能量稳定输出,HF激光的平均功率达到28W,脉宽100ns,峰值功率5.6 MW。     

Untersuchungen zur Laserfähigkeit eines Kr-Hg-Gemisches

A gas discharge containing a krypton-mercury mixture is investigated with respect to laser oscillation in the ultraviolet spectral range (280–390 nm). Several spectral lines of the mercury singlet- and triplet system are intensified by selective population of the upper levels as a result of collisions with metastable krypton-atoms. As well in a continuous as in a pulsed discharge the best conditions are found for maximal pump rate and maximal gain. Some transitions show gain factors approaching Γ=1; their possible use for laser oscillation is discussed. In a discharge of 800 mm active length and with external concave mirrors laser action could not be observed.     

Effect of gas convection induced by cross-field discharge in a copper vapor laser

Magnetic field has been applied to a copper vapor laser with an intention of improving the laser characteristics by inner gas convection. The convection induced by the J×B cross-field discharge (the Lorentz force) is used for partially replacing or mixing the laser medium in a highly heated discharged region with relatively cold gas surrounding the region. It is observed that the output power increases with the increase of the magnetic field. A 23% increase in the output power is obtained with a magnetic field of 150 gauss. The cross-field discharge causes an increase in the peak discharge voltage and a reduction in the initial part of discharge current (Phantom current). Based on the results observed, the possible mechanisms for increasing the power are discussed.     

放电激励重复频率非链式HF激光器

 利用紫外预电离横向放电和气体循环结构建立了一套放电激励重复频率HF激光装置。研究了激光器工作介质SF6/C2H6混合气体放电特性和激光输出特性,获得激光器单次运行的最佳输出参数;通过对激光器重复频率运行时不同气体流速、充电电压与气体总压条件下的放电状态和输出能量的比较,分析了激光器重复频率稳定运行的必要条件。结果表明：所研制的激光器最大单脉冲能量0.6 J,峰值功率3 MW,电光转换效率2.4%;当混合气体工作介质以3.5 m/s的流速循环时,激光器稳定运行的最高工作频率可达50 Hz,脉冲输出能量稳定在0.26 J,平均功率达到13 W。     

Visible iodine and bromine laser,and coaxial discharge excited strong UV iodine laser

Nine new Br and I ion laser lines in the visible and the UV regions were observed by ordinary longitudinal pulsed discharge or coaxial pulsed discharge. This is the first time that the UV I ion laser was obtained with an output much stronger than that of ordinary pulsed ion lasers. The characteristics of the laser output were investigated in the case of coaxial discharge.     

Laser plasmatron for diamond coating deposition

An experimental installation with a laser plasmatron based on a continuous wave CO₂ laser with a radiation power of up to 3.5 kW has been created. The plasmatron design makes it possible to bring out the plasma jet into atmospheric air both along and across the laser beam direction. The spatial temperature distributions on the metal substrate surface heated by the plasma jet are measured. The threshold power for optical discharge maintenance as a function of the gas flow rate and the focal length of the focusing lens are obtained for an Ar and Ar/CH₄/H₂ gas mixture under atmospheric pressure; the radiation spectrum of the discharge plasma is measured. A one-dimensional model of the discharge for estimation of its geometrical parameters in a convergent laser beam with consideration of radiation refraction on the discharge is given.     

A digital intensity stabilization system for HeNe laser

A digital intensity stabilization system for HeNe laser is developed. Based on a switching power IC to design laser power supply and a general purpose microcontroller to realize digital PID control, the system constructs a closed loop to stabilize the laser intensity by regulating its discharge current. The laser tube is made of glass ceramics and its integrated structure is steady enough to eliminate intensity fluctuations at high frequency and attenuates all intensity fluctuations, and this makes it easy to tune the control loop. The control loop between discharge current and photodiode voltage eliminates the long-term drifts. The intensity stability of the HeNe laser with this system is 0.014% over 12 h.