Dynamic models relating processing parameters and melt track width during laser marking of clay tiles

This paper describes two dynamic models relating processing parameters and melt pool width during laser marking/engraving of clay tiles using a high-power diode laser. The models were determined by process identification techniques and were validated with a PI algorithm. The output variable considered for the laser clay tile marking process was melt pool width, measured by using a fast CCD recording system and analysed with an image-processing software. The input quantities investigated were laser power and traverse speed. Reasonable agreements between the measured data and the model outputs were achieved. Errors less than 1.3 μm of the melt pool width for the operating points were found. On the basis of these models a simple PI-controller was designed and tuned to guarantee zero steady-state error in case of an absorptivity disturbance.     

渡越加宽对非均匀加宽线型和线宽的影响

本文讨论了流动和化学激光器的非均匀加宽介质吸收或发射谱线中的渡越加宽效应;导出了线型函数的积分表示;并在高速流的条件下得到中心频率处线型函数近似表示式;在等效线宽近似下得到渡越加宽使得线宽的增加随流速加快的关系式;并用激光谐振腔菲涅尔数讨论了渡越加宽有意义的条件。     

A numerical procedure for estimation of the melt depth in laser material processing

In this study, an algorithm based on conjugate gradient method (CGM) is applied to estimate the unknown time dependent melt depth during laser material processing in liquid phase. The determination of the melt depth is treated as a one-dimensional, transient, inverse heat conduction problem (IHCP). It is assumed that no prior information is available for the functional form of the unknown melt depth, but it can be estimated by an inverse analysis with temperature measurements near the heated surface. The algorithm has been applied to aluminum, titanium and fused quartz and accurate melting depth and temperature distributions can also be returned. In addition, this methodology can also be applied to solve other problems such as calculating the cutting forces in nanomachining by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and estimating the heat sources in a X-ray lithographic process.     

MODELLING of a two-dimensional photonic crystal with line defect for a laser gas sensor application

We present the results of a numerical analysis of a two-dimensional photonic crystal with line defect for a laser gas sensor working in a slow light regime. The geometrical parameters of photonic crystals with three different line defects were numerically analyzed: a missing row of holes, a row of holes with changed diameter and air channel. Antireflection sections were also analyzed. The simulations were carried out by MEEP and MPB programs, with the aim to get the values of a group refractive index, transmission and a light-gas overlap as high as possible. The effective refractive index method was used to reduce the simulation time and required computing power. We also described numerical simulation details such as required conditions to work in the slow light regime and the analyzed parameters values’ dependency of the simulation resolution that may influence the accuracy of the results.     

Double-clad fiber laser design for particle image velocimetry and material science applications

We have developed models to design actively Q-switched Yb-doped Double-Clad fiber lasers in various configurations. Based on these simulations, we present the design of two specific cavities: the first one is able to emit a pair of sub-nanosecond pulses separated by more than 500 ns for Particle Imagery Velocimetry applications. The time delay between the pulses can be adjusted by proper choice of the length of an un-doped fiber inserted in the cavity. The second cavity designed allows to emit long 150 ns pulses exceeding a few millijoules per pulse. Applications concern in this case materials science and combustion. In all cases, the rise time of the EOM is an essential parameter.     

Characterization of a nano line width reference material based on metrological scanning electron microscope

The line width (often synonymously used for critical dimension, CD) is a crucial parameter in integrated circuits. To accurately control CD values in manufacturing, a reasonable CD reference material is required to calibrate the corresponding instruments. We develop a new reference material with nominal CDs of 160 nm, 80 nm, and 40 nm. The line features are investigated based on the metrological scanning electron microscope which is developed by the National Institute of Metrology (NIM) in China. Also, we propose a new characterization method for the precise measurement of CD values. After filtering and leveling the intensity profiles, the line features are characterized by the combination model of the Gaussian and Lorentz functions. The left and right edges of CD are automatically extracted with the profile decomposition and k-means algorithm. Then the width of the two edges at the half intensity position is regarded as the standard CD value. Finally, the measurement results are evaluated in terms of the sample, instrument, algorithm, and repeatability. The experiments indicate efficiency of the proposed method which can be easily applied in practice to accurately characterize CDs.     

Experimental mathematical model of nanosecond laser interaction with material

Interaction of nanosecond pulsed lasers with material was studied from thermal point of view using experimental techniques and theoretical approach of dimensional analysis. Experimental data of laser heating, melting and plasma formation on metallic samples and silicon, presented mainly in previous publication and partly in this paper, were used for formation of experimental mathematical model in the form of criteria equations of laser-material interaction process. Four different criteria equations were created: for maximum surface temperature increase, melting threshold, melting duration and plasma formation threshold. Two equations account for changes of thermal properties with temperature. The value of latent heat of fusion was found to have almost no influence on melting duration. The presented model showed good agreement with the measured results. The criteria equations can be used for approximate prediction of laser pulse effects on materials without creating an exact mathematical or numerical model and for control of technological processes.     

Analysis of the impact of laser line width over RIN, power penalty and bit rate including higher-order dispersion in WDM systems

This paper investigated the effect of laser line width over relative intensity noise (RIN), power penalty and bit rate at optical distances in the range of 100-10,000 km both analytically and graphically. It is also proposed and analyzed that by reducing the laser line width to the range of KHz, we can minimize the impact of RIN and power penalty under the individual and combined impact of higher-order dispersion parameters.     

Comparison of laser Doppler and laser speckle contrast imaging using a concurrent processing system

Full field laser Doppler imaging (LDI) and single exposure laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) are directly compared using a novel instrument which can concurrently image blood flow using both LDI and LSCI signal processing. Incorporating a commercial CMOS camera chip and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) the flow images of LDI and the contrast maps of LSCI are simultaneously processed by utilizing the same detected optical signals. The comparison was carried out by imaging a rotating diffuser. LDI has a linear response to the velocity. In contrast, LSCI is exposure time dependent and does not provide a linear response in the presence of static speckle. It is also demonstrated that the relationship between LDI and LSCI can be related through a power law which depends on the exposure time of LSCI.     

Low threshold laser cavities of two-dimensional photonic crystal line defect mode

Two-dimensional (2D) rod-type photonic crystal (PC) line defect waveguide (LDW) laser cavities based on three types of line defect modes with zero group velocity are studied by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. These laser cavities have high quality (Q) factor, better localization of light, non-uniform gain distribution and small overlap between gain medium and light field. Therefore, they have the advantages over conventional and air-bridge PC cavities with uniform gain, such as low threshold, single mode lasing and effectively avoiding thermal effect. From their comparison, one can find the mode at middle Brillouin zones (BZ) is the best one to be used as lasing mode. Its dynamic lasing process and lasing features are demonstrated by the numerical experiment where the FDTD method coupling Maxwell's equations with the rate equations of electronic population is used.     

Line width analysis of a tunable optical filter based on free-space optics

The line width of a tunable optical filter based on free-space optics was analyzed. The relationship between the line width and the Gaussian beam waist was theoretically derived and experimentally verified. The experimental results meet the theoretical analysis well, which is beneficial for the design of a tunable optical filter based on free-space optics.     

Calibration procedure for 3D measurement systems using two cameras and a laser line

In order to ensure the precision of the measurement of complex 3D object surfaces using non-contact laser scanning systems, a novel stereo vision calibration procedure based on a laser line projection plane is presented. This calibration procedure can also be used in measurement systems based on a single camera and a laser line projection. This procedure, while using only laser-coplanar points, is oriented towards laser line detection and allows the matching of two images on the laser projection plane without the use of a rigid motion equation. These features make this procedure very precise, simple and, consequently, easier to implement.     

Improved measurements of thermally induced birefringence effects in a laser material using a half-wave plate

The polarization dependence of a probe beam for use in measuring thermally induced birefringence effects in a laser-diode end-pumped Nd:YAG ceramic laser has been investigated. The variation in intensity of the probe beam was found to be 10.2% for a linearly polarized probe beam, 20.6% for a circularly polarized probe beam, and 31.4% for a circularly polarized probe beam using a half-wave plate with a pump power of 12 W. The angle between the analyzer and the inclination of the major axis of the elliptical polarization with respect to the x axis was controlled using a half-wave plate. By combining a half-wave plate with a circularly polarized probe beam, the variation in intensity increased compared with conventional methods.     

对倾斜物体宽度的图像检测技术研究

为了快速、高效地检测物体的尺度,对光电图像检测与处理技术进行了研究。针对倾斜对称物体的宽度测量,提出了一种新的尺度测量算法——环形扫描法。环形扫描法主要通过圆环形搜索方式来确定点与物体的关系。详细叙述了此算法的由来、原理和具体的使用方法。     

Precise measurement of the line width of the photoassociation spectra of ultracold molecules by using a frequency shifter

We propose a technique to precisely measure the line width of the photoassociation spectra of the excited cesium molecule by using a frequency shifter to generate two laser beams with a precise frequency difference. A series of photoassociation (PA) spectra are recorded with two laser beam induced molecular lines, whose peak separation serves as an accurate frequency ruler to measure the line width of the PA spectra. The full width half maximum line width was studied as a function of PA laser intensity. The extrapolated value at zero laser intensity is (34.84 ± 0.22) MHz. By analyzing other broadening mechanisms, a value of (32.02 ± 0.70) MHz was deduced. It is shown that this scheme is inexpensive, simple, robust, and is promising for applications in a variety of other atomic species.     

High precision line profile measurements on C acetylene using a near infrared frequency comb spectrometer

Line profiles of a rovibrational transition of ¹³C acetylene have been measured for various pressures in the near infrared region. In order to accomplish high precision in frequency, we have employed a diode-laser, the frequency of which is locked to an optical comb. By tuning the comb frequency we have achieved a continuous frequency tuning over 2 GHz for the measurement of Doppler broadened line profiles spread over 2 GHz. In addition we have stabilized the incident power of the laser on the sample cell by adjusting the gain of a fiber amplifier via a feed-back loop. Observed profile data have been analyzed by the generalized Voigt function to determine the Gaussian width precisely: at the present we realized a precision of 10^-3. The zero pressure line center position was determined with a precision of 10^-9.     

Analysis of laser micro drilled holes through aluminium for micro-manufacturing applications

Conventional laser machining of aluminium with long wavelength lasers has its inherent problems due to the high reflectivity of aluminium to laser radiation (Handbook of Optics, vol 1, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1995). Laser processing at shorter wavelengths reduces the reflectivity of the workpiece to the incident laser radiation and can also reduce the dimensions of the obtainable machining geometries. This paper reviews the limiting factors in the micro machining of aluminium using a diode pumped solid state (DPSS) Nd:YAG laser operated at 1064, 532, and 355 nm. The geometries of the laser-machined samples were investigated using interferometric, and optical methods to assess how the processing fluence and wavelength will affect the obtainable precision for successful integration of the laser in a micromachining CAD/CAM system.     

Prediction of weld strength and seam width for laser transmission welding of thermoplastic using response surface methodology

In the present work, a study is made to investigate the effects of process parameters, namely, laser power, welding speed, size of the laser beam and clamp pressure, on the lap-shear strength and weld-seam width for laser transmission welding of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate), using a diode laser system. Response surface methodology (RSM) is employed to develop mathematical relationships between the welding process parameters and the output variables of the weld joint to determine the welding input parameters that lead to the desired weld quality. In addition, using response surface plots, the interaction effects of process parameters on the responses are analyzed and discussed. The statistical software Design-Expert v7 is used to establish the design matrix and to obtain the regression equations. The developed mathematical models are tested by analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) method to check their adequacy. Finally, a comparison is made between measured and calculated results, which are in good agreement. This indicates that the developed models can predict the responses adequately within the limits of welding parameters being used.     

Precise determination of the Doppler width of a rovibrational absorption line using a comb-locked diode laser

We had reported in a previous paper the precision measurement of line profiles of a transition of ¹³C acetylene in the near-infrared region, employing a tunable diode-laser spectrometer, the frequency of which is locked to an optical-comb signal [K.M.T. Yamada et al., J. Mol. Spectrosc. 249 (2008) 95–99]. In the present article we review the methodology for the experiment and the analysis in determining the Boltzmann constant from the Doppler width of a rovibrational transition on the basis of our experiences. Problems to be surmounted for further improvement in accuracy are discussed. To cite this article: K.M.T. Yamada et al., C. R. Physique 10 (2009).