Actively mode-locked 1.3 and 1.55 μm InGaAsP diode lasers

Active mode-locking of uncoated InGaAsP diode lasers having an external diffraction grating cavity was investigated experimentally. A high frequency r.f. signal and short-duration electrical pulses were used to drive the lasers. The pulse duration was measured by an ultrafast streak camera. Pulses as short as 13 ps at 1.3m and 29 ps at 1.55m were generated at a repetition rate of 1 GHz. The reason for obtaining broader pulses from the 1.55m laser which had the same structure as the 1.3m diode laser is explained.Formerly with GEC Hirst Research Centre, Wembley, Middlesex, UK.     

Time of flight of dual-laser ablation carbon plasmas by optical emission spectroscopy

Plasma emission induced by dual pulse laser ablation on graphite target was analyzed by time resolved optical spectroscopy. Experiments were carried out at a pressure of 10^-5 Torr using two Nd:YAG lasers emitting at 1064 and 532 nm synchronized at up to 100 s delay. Up to fivefold intensification of the C II emission lines was observed, when the delay between lasers was set in the 500–1000 ns range. From the time of flight measurements, the ion energy distribution could be controlled by changing the pulse delay between lasers. PACS 52.38.Mf; 78.47.-p; 52.70.-m     

Diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd : YAG laser at 1123 nm

A diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser at 1123 nm is passively Q-switched by using a low doping concentration Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystal as a saturable absorber. When pumped by a 1.5-W laser diode, the laser produces pulses of 50-ns duration with a pulse energy of as much as 15 J and a peak power of 300 W at a pulse-repetition rate of 10 kHz. PACS 42.60.Gd; 42.55.Rz; 42.55.Xi     

Nonrelativistic Lamb shift for muonic molecules

A recently developed formula [R. Bukowski and B. Jeziorski, Phys. Rev. A46 (1992) 5437]. has been applied to estimate the soft-photon Lamb shift contribution to the energies of the muonic molecules pp, dd, tt, pd, pt and dt. The corresponding corrections to the dissociation energies for the excited P states of dd and dt have been found to be almost identical and equal to 0.048 meV. The magnitude of this stabilizing effect is too small to affect seriously the formation rates predictions.     

Pulsed laser crystallization of hydrogen-free a-Si thin films for high-mobility poly-Si TFT fabrication

The possibility to fabricate high-mobility polysilicon TFTs by nanosecond pulsed laser crystallization of unhydrogenated amorphous Si thin films has been investigated. Two types of lasers have been used: a large area ( 1 cm²) single ArF excimer laser pulse and a small diameter ( 100 m) frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser beam, working in the scanning regime. Processed films have been characterized in detail by different optical and microscopic techniques. Device performances indicate that the best results are achieved with the excimer laser leading to high mobility values (up to 140 cm²/Vs) which are much larger than in polysilicon TFTs fabricated onto the same quartz substrates by low-temperature thermal (630° C) crystallization of amorphous Si films (_fe55 cm²/Vs).     

New cascade laser transitions in CH2F2 pumped with the 9R32 line of a cw CO2 laser

New cascade laser transitions of¹²CH₂F₂ at 172.50m, 208.83m, 220.44m, 223.99m and 250.61m are reported. A waveguide FIR laser was pumped with a quasi cw¹²C¹⁶O₂ laser operating on the 9R32 line. Together with the already known lines at 184.3m, 196.1m and 235.9m, the laser lines can be assigned to rotational transitions in the ₉ vibrational band of¹²CH₂F₂ and to refill transitions of the vibrational ground state ₀.     

Radiation Source in the Ranges 2.1–2.3 and 3.7–4.3 μm for the Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere

To expand the possibilities of spectroscopic systems based on a CO₂ laser, we have mixed the frequencies of its radiation with the radiation of erbium lasers. Simultaneous use of Er³⁺:CaF₂ ( = 2.76 m) and Er³⁺:YAG lasers ( = 2.96 m) makes it possible for the spectrum of generated sum and difference frequencies to overlap the ranges 2.2–2.3 and 3.6–4.3 m that coincide with the atmospheric transparency windows. Generation of the difference frequencies of radiation of erbium lasers and of the 10.6-m radiation of a CO₂ laser were observed in CdSe at a phase-matching angle of 72°40. In a bleached CdSe crystal of length 40 mm the efficiency of transformation has attained 12%. To sum up the frequencies, 4.5-mm ZnGeP₂ crystals were used, with the efficiency of transformation being 3% and the phase-matching angle being equal to 52°.     

Mode-locking of neodymium lasers by glasses doped with PbS nanocrystals

Nonlinear optical absorption properties of silicate glasses doped by the PbS nanocrystals were investigated by means of the picosecond pump-probe absorption spectroscopy and absorption bleaching technique. The glass samples were used as saturable absorbers for passive mode-locking of Nd:YAG and Nd:glass lasers. Application of the PbS doped glass together with the active mode-locking and laser cavity quality control enabled the stable of generation of 28 ps and 5 ps duration pulses in Nd:YAG and Nd:glass lasers respectively. PACS 42.60.Fc; 42.70.Hj; 78.47.+p     

Experimental investigation of the 2.1-μm single-mode Tm-Ho:KYF laser

We report on the development and comprehensive characterization of a room-temperature single-mode 2-m Tm-Ho:KYF laser. A maximum CW output power of 70 mW at the central wavelength of 2.078 m has been obtained. Using a 5-mm long intracavity birefringent filter the single-mode emission wavelength can be tuned over a range of 40 nm. Both frequency and relative intensity noise have been investigated showing a 1-ms emission linewidth of 600 kHz and an intensity noise spectrum that is quantum-noise limited for Fourier frequencies higher than 1 MHz. PACS 42.55Xi; 42.55Rz; 42.60Pk; 42.70Hj; 42.60Lh     

Q-switched mode-locking with Cr4+ : YAG in a diode pumped Nd : GdVO4 laser

We have demonstrated passively Q-switched mode-locking in a laser-diode-pumped Nd:GdVO₄ laser with an intracavity Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber. At a pump power of 19.4 W, the Q-switched mode-locked laser produced an average output power of 3.22 W, and the repetition rates of the Q-switched envelope and the mode-locked laser pulse were 227 kHz and 144 MHz, respectively. The duration of the mode-locked pulse was within the sub-nanosecond range. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Gd; 42.55.Rz     

Surface topology investigation for ancient coinage assessment using optical interferometry

In order to demonstrate the capabilities of white-light interferometry depth profiling (WLI-DP) for ancient coinage assessment, we investigated a series of notorious 1786 gold coins, bearing Louis XVIs horned effigy, and allegedly minted in Strasbourg. Scanning electron microscopy as well as WLI-DP observations unambiguously indicate that both previously differentiated single- and double-horned varieties originated from a unique minting tool. Moreover, from topological measurements, we infer that single-horned coins, rather than wearing out into double-horned coins, proceeded from the latter variety during minting by progressive failure of an already altered die. Whereas present observations do not exclude initial forgery, they suggest that protrusions resulted from progressive incidental in-service die deterioration. PACS 81.70.Fy; 07.60.Ly; 61.16.Bg; 81.40.Pq     

Experimental survey of the sticking problem in muon catalyzed dt fusion

The sticking process dt + n, which constitutes the most severe limit to the number of fusions which a muon can catalyze, is reviewed. Many attempts were made to determine by calculations and measurements the probability for initial sticking _s ⁰ (immediately after dt fusion) and for final sticking _s (after the came to rest). Previous results based on neutron disappearance rates and on the observation of -X-rays were controversial and also in some disagreement with theory. New data are reported from PSI on direct observation of final sticking, using a setup with the St. Petersburg ionization chamber. These data mark a significant improvement in reliability and may clarify questions concerning previous discrepancies. The new results is _s(0.56±0.04)%, lower than the theory prediction _s=(0.65±0.03)%, at medium density.     

Singularity theorems and the [General Relativity + additional matter fields] formulation of metric theories of gravitation

By using the [General Relativity + additional matter fields] formulation (which depends on a redefined metrich ) of metric theories of gravitation, the study of singularities characterized by incomplete nonspacelike geodesics is simplified, but may be used only if (at least) the non-spacelike geodesics of the original metricg are conserved under the transformation betweeng and the new metrich . In order that every class of geodesies of a diagonal Bianchi I metric correspond to the same class of geodesies of a diagonal metrich , it is necessary that the transformation between these two metrics be a constant (positive) conformal transformation. We analyse the implications of the previous results for the singularitiesg when the latter is a solution of theories with a quadratic or polynomial Lagrangian.     

Self pulsing properties of optically pumped FIR NH3 lasers

We report on measurements of periodic and chaotic self-pulsing beyond the second threshold of far-infrared NH₃ lasers. While the instabilities of the 81 m¹⁴NH₃ laser follow a simple pattern, for the 374 m¹⁵NH₃ laser different pulsing properties are found in different parameter ranges.Pulses under conditions of high pumping power are measured in detail, in view of possible applications of these coherent, high-repetition rate far-infrared pulsed lasers.     

Poincaré Algebra and Space-Time Critical Dimensions for Paraspinnings Strings

In this paper, we paraquantize the spinning string theory in the Neveu-Shwarz model. Unlike the Ardalan and Mansouri work [Phys. Rev. D, Vol. 9, (1974) 3341], the paraquantum system is such that both the center of mass variables and the excitation modes of the string verify paracommutation relations. The commutators of the Poincaré algebra are satisfied, except the [p ,p ] one, since one can only write [p ,p ]= 0, for Q1. Because of the relation [x ,x ] =,0 and with the sole use of the trilinear relations, we find existence possibilities of spinning strings defined in a noncommutative space-time at space-time dimensions other than D=10.     

The Q-switched Nd : YAG and Yb : YAG microchip lasers optimization and comparative analysis

The microchip lasers based on the neodymium or the ytterbium doped yttrium-aluminium garnet crystal and Q-sw itched by the Cr⁴⁺:YAG film are considered. The optimal (maximizing of energy) values of the pumping beam radius, the absorber parameters (the thickness and tetravalent chromium ion concentration), and the output mirror reflectivity are determined. The possibility of higher values of energy in the Yb:YAG laser pulse, in comparison with a more traditional Nd:YAG laser, is also substantiated. PACS 42.60.Gd     

Width reduction of laser microdrillings by subsequent mechanically induced plastic deformation

This work reports a novel process combination, which is capable of forming large hole matrices (100 pores/mm²) in thin stainless steel foils (10 mfoil<300 m) maintaining high processing rates and pore widths smaller than 5 m. This technique perforates stainless steel foils with high-speed on-the-fly laser perforation (60000 drillings/min) followed by a cold-roll forming of the laser-treated foil. The cold-roll forming leads to a pore-size reduction (in one dimension) perpendicular to the rolling direction. For the laser processing a diode-pumped, q-switched and frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser (=355 nm, =30 ns), and a flashlamp-pumped Nd:YAG laser (=1064 nm, =57 s) were applied. Using this process combination, minimum pore sizes of 3.5 m have been achieved. At present, the processing efficiency of cold-rolled percussion drillings inserted with nanosecond pulse durations is lower in comparison with single-pulse on-the-fly perforation, but in terms of quality (straight pore channel, low standard deviation of pore widths and pore widths smaller than 5 m) well suited for various fields in filtration (e.g. particle removal) . PACS  81.20.Hy; 42.62.Cf; 81.40.Ef     

Dynamics of the Emission of Light by C2 and C3 Molecules in a Laser Plasma Produced by Two-Pulse Irradiation of the Target

The laser plasma produced by irradiation of a graphite target simultaneously by the first and second harmonics of two Nd³⁺:YAG lasers has been studied by emission spectroscopy methods. The delay between radiation pulses () varied from 0 to 700 sec. It is established that in the absence of a delay between pulses ( = 0) the increase in the intensity of plasma emission at the wavelengths corresponding to the radiative transitions of the C₂ and C₃ molecules is of nonradiative character. The plasma produced by laser radiation at the wavelength = 1064 nm exerts its influence on the radiation spectrum of the plasma produced by laser radiation at the wavelength = 532 nm, if the magnitude of the delay between laser pulses does not exceed 30 sec. The most probable reason for this character of influence of the prepulse on the laser plasma radiation spectrum is sublimation of soot particles caused by laser radiation at = 532 nm.     

Systematic study of muon transfer to sulphur dioxide

In a systematic study of the transfer process to sulphur dioxide, in seven different H₂ + SO₂ gas mixtures, the time spectra of the muonic sulphur X-rays yield muon transfer rates to the SO₂ molecule, deduced from the lifetimes of the p atoms, which agree all well with each other. The muonic oxygen time spectra show an additional structure as if p atoms of another kind were present. Reduced transfer rates_O are reproducible if one uses the model of ephemeral p atoms. The intensity ratios between the different kinds of p atoms are also discussed in the framework of this model and the one of black and white p atoms.     

New FIR Laser Lines and Frequency Measurements of CD3OD

The isotopomer of methanol, CD₃OD, was optically pumped by a cw CO₂ laser resulting in 53 new far-infrared (FIR) laser lines. The wavelengths are in the range 42.9 m to 189.9 m with the majority below 100 m. Ten different CO₂ lines were used for the first time to pump CD₃OD yielding new FIR laser lines. Some of the CO₂ pump lines belong to the hot-bands and sequence-bands of CO₂ in the 10 m region. The frequency was measured for 40 FIR laser lines in the range 1.5 THz to 6.9 THz, 32 of which were new laser lines.