Enhancement of waves at rotational oscillations of a liquid

The generation of coherent optical phonons in an antimony film has been directly observed by the femtosecond electron diffraction method. The sample has been excited by a femtosecond laser pulse (λ = 800 nm) and probed with a pulsed photoelectron beam. Oscillations of the intensity corresponding to vibration frequencies of optical phonons excited by the laser have been observed in the obtained diffraction patterns: totally symmetric (A_1g) and twofold degenerate (E_2g) phonon modes of antimony and their combinations.     

Effect of laser radiation parameters on the conductivity of structures produced on the polycrystalline diamond surface

Graphitized structures are fabricated on the polycrystalline diamond surface using an excimer KrF (λ = 248 nm, τ = 20 ns) and a Ti:Al₂O₃ (λ = 400 nm, τ = 120 fs) lasers. It is shown that the conductivity of formed structures is independent of the energy density and the number of pulses per surface point in the case of the excimer laser, whereas such a dependence was observed for femtosecond pulses. The causes of the dependence of the conductivity of surface structures on laser irradiation parameters are discussed.     

Bolometric detector embedded in a polycrystalline diamond grown by chemical vapor deposition

A fast bolometric detector embedded in a plate of chemical-vapor-deposited polycrystalline diamond was developed and fabricated. The working element of the bolometer is a buried graphitized layer (with temperature-sensitive resistance) fabricated in the bulk of a diamond by C⁺ ion implantation followed by annealing. The kinetics of the response of the structure to irradiation with light from an LGI-21 pulsed nitrogen laser (λ = 337 nm, τ_P ～ 8 ns) were studied. The room-temperature response width at half-maximum is ～ 20 ns. Using the space-time distribution of responses of the structure, thermal (bolometric) signals were resolved from signals of different nature (photoconductivity or photovoltage).     

Observation of coherent optical phonons excited by femtosecond laser radiation in Sb films by ultrafast electron diffraction method

The generation of coherent optical phonons in a polycrystalline antimony film sample has been investigated using femtosecond electron diffraction method. Phonon vibrations have been induced in the Sb sample by the main harmonic of a femtosecond Ti:Sa laser (λ = 800 nm) and probed by a pulsed ultrashort photoelectron beam synchronized with the pump laser. The diffraction patterns recorded at different times relative to the pump laser pulse display oscillations of electron diffraction intensity corresponding to the frequencies of vibrations of optical phonons: totally symmetric (A _1g ) and twofold degenerate (E _g ) phonon modes. The frequencies that correspond to combinations of these phonon modes in the Sb sample have also been experimentally observed.     

Nonlocal effects in diffusive propagation of heat pulses in systems with trapping centers of nonequilibrium phonons

The propagation of heat pulses in systems with defects as trapping centers of nonequilibrium phonons is investigated theoretically. Among these defects are point defects involving two-level systems (TLSs) of different nature. It is demonstrated that, in addition to the principal signal, one more signal can be detected by the bolometer due to reemission of the nonequilibrium TLS energy at a certain ratio of relaxation times in the phonon and TLS subsystems. The temperature and concentration dependences of the time of signal arrival at the bolometer are analyzed. The results of theoretical investigations are compared with experimental data on the propagation of weakly nonequilibrium thermal phonons in solid solutions of the Y_3?x Er_xAl₅O₁₂ rare-earth yttrium aluminum garnets.     

Coherent phonons, nanoseismology and THz radiation in InGaN/GaN heterostructures

The ultrafast optical photoexcitation of hot electrons and holes in semiconductors by femtosecond laser pulses can trigger coherent phonon oscillations. We discuss the huge coherent acoustic phonons which have been generated in InGaN/GaN heterostructures and epilayers and how they might be used in imaging of surfaces and interfaces in nanostructures. We also discuss the THz radiation emitted from these phonons.     

VUV luminescence of Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in LiYF<Subscript>4</Subscript> and BaY<Subscript>2</Subscript>F<Subscript>8</Subscript> crystals

Vacuum ultraviolet luminescence of Er³⁺ ions in LiYF4 and BaY₂F₈ crystals has been investigated. It is revealed that under excitation by 193 nm radiation from an ArF excimer laser the interconfigurational 5d–4f radiative transitions in Er³⁺ ions are observed. It is shown that from the LiYF₄:Er crystal only the spin-forbidden luminescence (λ = 165 nm) is detected, whereas both the spin-forbidden (λ = 169 nm) and spin-allowed (λ = 160.5 nm) components are observed from the BaY₂F₈:Er crystal.     

Ultrafast processes of photoinduced charge and energy transfer in nanostructural fullerene-metal films

The primary stages of photoinduced processes in tin-doped C₆₀ fullerene films have been studied using a femtosecond pump-probe technique with 150-fs laser excitation pulses (λ = 400 nm) and differential transmission and reflection probing in the 1100–1700 nm range. The relaxation dynamics strongly depends both on the metal-to-fullerene ratio in the film and on the mutual distribution (packing) of components in the nanocomposite material. The observed response signal dynamics is related to features in the charge carrier generation, energy transfer between fullerene molecules, and charge transport between metal and fullerene.     

Laser vaporisation of absorbing liquid under transparent cover

Vaporization of absorbing liquid (water) under a transparent solid cover upon exposure to nanosecond pulses of a holmium laser (λ = 2920 nm) is studied using acoustic and optical diagnostics. The features of the optical signal reflected from the liquid–cover interface suggest that a vapor cavity appears at a submicrometer distance from this interface and exists for about one hundred microseconds. An additional acoustic signal appearing after returning the light signal to the initial level is caused by known cavitation effects accompanying vapor cavity fracture and collapse in liquid.     

Dependence of the cesium absorption D1 linewidth on the thickness of atomic vapor column

A new nanocell has been elaborated, where the thickness of the atomic vapor column varies smoothly in the range L = 350–5100 nm. The cell allows studying the behavior of the resonance absorption at the D₁ line of cesium atoms by varying the thickness from L = λ / 2 to L = 5 λ with the step λ / 2 (λ being the resonant wavelength of the laser, 894 nm) and the laser intensity. It is shown that at low laser intensities a narrowing of the resonance absorption spectrum is observed for L = (2n + 1)λ/2 (with an integer n) up to L = (7/2)λ, whereas for L = nλ the spectrum broadens. The developed theoretical model well describes the experiment.     

Nonequilibrium phase transition in v-group semimetals,induced by ultrashort laser pulses

Coherent, totally symmetric large-amplitude phonons in bismuth and antimony were investigated by the pump—probe method using femtosecond laser pulses. The obtained results are compared to time-resolved Raman data. It is shown that intense photoexcitation by laser pulses with a duration shorter than the lifetime and reverse phonon frequency in Bi and Sb can lead to a nonequilibrium semimetal—metal phase transition, most likely caused by the instability of the crystal’s electron subsystem.     

Observation of the quasidiffusive propagation of phonons in Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Ho<Superscript>3+</Superscript> using time-resolved photo-phonon spectroscopy

The energy flux of phonons produced due to the nonradiative laser-induced transitions of Ho³⁺ impurity ions in forsterite from the ⁵F₅ states has been measured using a superconductor bolometer at a temperature of 2 K. The dependence of the flux on the laser wavelength, the time elapsed after the action of a laser pulse, and the phonon propagation path length is analyzed. It is found that the excitation of Ho³⁺ to some states leads to the diffusive propagation of emitted phonons in the spontaneous frequency decay mode (quasidiffusive mode of propagation): the time of arrival of a phonon pulse is almost a linear function of the path length, but it is several times longer than the longest ballistic time of flight (for transverse phonons). The diffusion coefficient and the nonradiative relaxation time are determined from the best fit to the experiment.     

Theoretical considerations regarding pulsed CO2 laser annealing of silicon

We present a calculation of the surface temperature and investigate the “thermal runaway” phenomenon during pulsed CO₂ laser (λ = 10.6 μm) annealing of silicon. In calculating the temperature variation of free carrier absorption in n-Si, we have taken into account acoustic deformation potential scattering, optical deformation potential scattering, and ionized impurity scattering. The deformation potentials are adjusted to fit the experimentally observed values at 300°K. Also, we discuss the contribution of free carrier absorption during annealing with a Nd:glass laser (λ = 1.06 μm).     

Study of third-and fifth-order nonlinear optical processes in thin C<Subscript>60</Subscript> films

The nonlinear refraction in thin films of fullerene C₆₀ (100 nm) is studied by the Z-and RZ-scan methods using the second harmonic of a picosecond Nd:YAG laser (λ = 532 nm, τ = 55 ps). The combined effect of n₂ (self-focusing of laser radiation) and n₄ (self-defocusing) is analyzed. Mechanisms responsible for the nonlinear refraction in films are discussed.     

Effects of the agglomeration state on the Raman properties of Co3O4 nanoparticles

The features of the Raman spectra of Co₃O₄ 30‐nm nanoparticles depend strongly on their agglomeration state. When measured at low incident laser power, the spectrum of isolated nanoparticles corresponds to that found in bulk materials, whereas the agglomerated nanoparticles present a clear red‐shift and broadening of the Raman bands. On the other hand, when measured at even lower power, both agglomerated and isolated nanoparticles show the same spectrum of microscopic particles. These effects have been studied by variations of the 532‐nm laser power and the environmental temperature. The thermal dependence of Raman spectra of agglomerated nanoparticles is different to that of isolated nanoparticles but is comparable to the one of bulk material. The different behaviour of the nanoparticles at different agglomeration state is associated to the transmission of phonons among the particles. On the other hand, an increase of the laser power causes a larger number of acoustic phonons, producing a variation of the vibration anharmonicity of the nanoparticles. This increase is more pronounced in the agglomerated nanoparticles, due to the transmission of phonons, causing a much intense modification of the Raman spectrum produced by the laser power. These results clearly indicate that the agglomeration state of the nanoparticles affects their Raman properties. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear lattice dynamics of bismuth as a means of clarifying the nature of coherent phonons

The nonlinear regime of generation of coherent phonons in bismuth single crystals irradiated by ultrashort high-energy laser pulses has been investigated. In this regime, autoecho phenomenon is implemented at a low (helium) crystal temperature, manifesting itself as a collapse and revival of reflection oscillations generated by coherent A _1g phonons. Different mechanisms of the observed phenomena are considered.     

Nonequilibrium phonon propagation in high-purity CdTe

Propagation of nonequilibrium acoustic phonons in samples of high-purity CdTe (impurity content ～10¹⁶ cm^?3) was studied using the heat pulse technique under pulsed photoexcitation. An analysis of nonequilibrium phonon propagation made by comparing the experimental response with Monte Carlo calculations assuming samples to be without twins provided an estimate for the spontaneous anharmonic phonon decay constant A_L=2×10^?52 s^?1 Hz^?5. The probability of free phonon transit through a twin boundary in a sample with twin structure was estimated as A_C=0.96.     

Picosecond ultrasonics time resolved spectroscopy using a photonic crystal fiber

We present a broadband picosecond ultrasonics time resolved spectroscopy. Detection of picosecond coherent acoustic phonons using a wavelength continuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with femtosecond laser pulses is developed. Measurements are performed for selected wavelengths of a broad wavelength probe pulse within a bandwidth of 250 nm with an 825 nm center wavelength on two samples made of tungsten and of gallium arsenide.     

Anti-stokes self-shift and broadening of the femtosecond laser emission spectrum in a strongly absorbing medium

Optics and Spectroscopy - We have experimentally found a self-shift of the emission spectrum center of gravity for 35-fs output pulses of a Ti:sapphire laser system (λ c = 800 nm) by 75 nm...     

Effect of anisotropy on the kinetics and acoustic characteristics of phonons in YAG-, Y2O3-, and Lu2O3-based ceramics

Comparative analysis of the effect of the cubic anisotropy factor on the acoustic and transport characteristics of phonons in laser ceramics based on YAG and Y₂O₃ and Lu₂O₃ sesquioxides is performed. The acoustic characteristics (velocity and absorption of acoustic waves) in YAG ceramic samples are measured.