Research and application of a pocket CO2 laser in the near field

The axisymmetrical structural traveling wave cavity (ASSC) CO₂ laser is introduced based on the propagation theory of the standing wave cavity CO₂ laser. Then the propagation characteristics of the elliptically polarized Gaussian beam are studied in detail. The transforms of the coordinate were used to solve the near field distributions of the output laser beams. The numerical calculations show that the combination of the output beams in the near field can be fulfilled. The diminutive ASSC CO₂ laser can be applied into the laser gyro and the measure of the angular velocity.     

Optical spectroscopic studies of titanium plasma produced by an Nd : YAG laser

We present optical emission characteristics of the titanium plasma produced by the fundamental (1064 nm) and second (532 nm) harmonics of a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The experimentally observed line profiles of neutral titanium (Ti I) have been used to extract the electron temperature (T _e ) using the Boltzmann plot method. The electron number density (N _e ) is calculated using the Stark broadening profile of 368.73 nm spectral line. Beside we have studied the spatial variation of electron temperature and number density as a function of laser energy for titanium plasma by placing the target material in air (at atmospheric pressure). We have determined the electron temperature and the electron number density along the axial position of the plasma plume.     

Optical emission studies of sulphur plasma using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

We present the optical emission studies of sulphur (S) plasma generated by the first (1064 nm) and second (532 nm) wavelengths of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The target material was placed in front of laser beam in air at atmospheric pressure. The experimentally observed line profiles of neutral sulphur have been used to extract the electron temperature (T _e ) using the Boltzmann plot method, whereas the electron number density (N _e ) has been determined from the Stark broadening. The electron temperature is calculated by varying, distance from, the target surface along the line of propagation of plasma plume and also by varying the laser irradiance. Beside we have studied the variation of number density as a function of laser irradiance as well as its variation with distance from the target surface. It is observed that electron temperature and electron number density increases as laser irradiance is increased.     

Combination of multi-beam in the rectangular slabs discharge CO2 laser array

The rectangular slabs discharge CO₂ laser array is described and the resonator parameters are given. The far field properties of the multi-beams exported from the laser array are studied quantitatively based on the Collins formula and the coordinate transformations. The numerical calculations indicate that the beams will superpose when the distance is very small (about several mm) between each other. The main parameters which influence the beam combination are given. Three methods are used for evaluating the beam quality of the output beam, such as, combination efficiency (CE), M² factor and power in the bucket (PIB). It is shown that the research results are valuable for the laser industrial processing.     

Thermal fields in laser–multi-layer structures interaction

In the present paper, we are dealing with the thermal fields for laser–periodic multilayer structures interaction. Our point of view is originally that we consider any order transverse laser beams, like heating sources. We consider that the laser beam acts in IR (Nd:YAG or CO₂ laser beam) and it is in one transverse mode or in only a few decoupled modes. In order to solve this problem, we will use the Green function method. Specific results are presented for a laser beam (Nd:YAG laser) operating in the mode TEM₀₁ and a two-layer structure.     

Observation of the nonlinear effect in relativistic Thomson scattering of electron and laser beams

Thomson scattering of high-power laser and electron beams is a good test of electrodynamics in the high-field region. We demonstrated production of high-intensity X-rays in the head-on collision of a CO₂ laser and 60-MeV electron beams at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Accelerator Test Facility. The energy of an X-ray photon was limited at 6.5 keV in the linear (lowest order) Thomson scattering, but the nonlinear (higher order) process produces higher energy X-rays. We measured the angular distribution of the high-energy X-rays and confirmed that it agrees with theoretical predictions.     

Dissociative electron attachment to CO2

The 4.4 eV dissociative electron attachment peak in CO₂ was reinvestigated paying particular attention to (i) its structure associated with vibrational excitation and to (ii) the temperature dependence of the onset. For this purpose we have used two specially designed crossed beams machines, one having a trochoidal electron analyzer (TEM) and one with a hemispherical electron analyzer (HEM) for the production of the highly monochromatized electron beams (with FWHM’s down to 5 and 50 meV, respectively). The present results confirm the earlier findings in (i) interpreting the dominant structures of the 4.4 eV peak as being due to vibrationally excited states of CO in the reaction CO₂+e → O⁻+CO and (ii) assigning the much weaker and narrower structures to the intermediate CO ₂ ⁻ . In the temperature range between 300 and 245 K almost no temperature dependence of the onset can be seen in the present study. In comparison to NO and CO where the onset is vertical the CO₂ threshold behavior is less steep indicating that in the CO₂ case a different type of transition must be responsible for the onset of the O⁻ production. Besides DA to CO₂ we have for comparison and calibration purposes investigated also DA to CO and NO. Dedicated to Prof. Jan Janča on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Work was carried out within the Association EURATOM-OEAW and partially supported by the FWF, OENB, and BMWV, Wien, Austria.     

Spectrum of X-ray emission from nsec CO2-laser produced (CH2)n and A1 plasmas

Studies of the X-ray emission from nsec CO₂ laser produced plasmas indicate a stronger deviation of the electron distribution from equilibrium for a (CH₂)_n plasma than for an A1 plasma. The lowest spectral temperature measured is ～ 300 eV at the maximum flux of 5 × 10¹²W·cm^-2.     

Laser-induced cavities and solitons in overcritical hydrogen plasma

A picosecond CO₂ laser was used successfully in a number of experiments exploring advanced methods of particle acceleration [1]. Proton acceleration from gas-jet plasma exemplifies another advantage of employing the increase in laser wavelength from the optical to the mid-IR region. Recent theoretical- and experimental-studies of ion acceleration from laser-generated plasma point to better ways to control the ion beam’s energy when plasma approaches the critical density. Studying this regime with solid-state lasers is problematic due to the dearth of plasma sources at the critical electron density ∼10²¹ cm⁻³, corresponding to laser wavelength λ = 1 μm. CO₂ laser offers a solution. The CO₂ laser’s 10 μm wavelength shifts the critical plasma density to 10¹⁹ cm⁻³, a value attainable with gas jets. Capitalizing on this approach, we focused a circular polarized 1-TW CO₂ laser beam onto a hydrogen gas jet and observed a monoenergetic proton beam in the 1–2 MeV range. Simultaneously, we optically probed the laser/plasma interaction region with visible light, revealing holes bored by radiation pressure, as well as quasi-stationary soliton-like plasma formations. Our findings from 2D PIC simulations agree with experimental results and aid in their interpretation.     

CO2 laser drives extreme ultraviolet nano-lithography — second life of mature laser technology

It was shown both theoretically and experimentally that nanosecond order laser pulses at 10.6 micron wavelength were superior for driving the Sn plasma extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source for nano-lithography for the reasons of higher conversion efficiency, lower production of debris and higher average power levels obtainable in CO₂ media without serious problems of beam distortions and nonlinear effects occurring in competing solid-state lasers at high intensities. The renewed interest in such pulse format, wavelength, repetition rates in excess of 50 kHz and average power levels in excess of 18 kiloWatt has sparked new opportunities for a matured multi-kiloWatt CO₂ laser technology. The power demand of EUV source could be only satisfied by a Master-Oscillator-Power-Amplifier system configuration, leading to a development of a new type of hybrid pulsed CO₂ laser employing a whole spectrum of CO₂ technology, such as fast flow systems and diffusion-cooled planar waveguide lasers, and relatively recent quantum cascade lasers. In this paper we review briefly the history of relevant pulsed CO₂ laser technology and the requirements for multi-kiloWatt CO₂ laser, intended for the laser-produced plasma EUV source, and present our recent advances, such as novel solid-state seeded master oscillator and efficient multi-pass amplifiers built on planar waveguide CO₂ lasers.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of a waveguide CO2 laser with radio-frequency excitation

A comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the optimization of a continuous-wave radiofrequency (rf) excited CO₂ waveguide laser is presented. The numerical simulation includes the modelling of the gas-discharge plasma parameters like the plasma impedance and energy deposition, the laser kinetics and finally the influence of the resonator feedback on the lasing process. Along with this theoretical study, an extensive experimental research program enabled us to optimize the laser performance of the CO₂ waveguide laser. As a result, a total output power of 42 W and a specific output power of 1.1 W/cm were obtained.     

Axially magnetized electron–positron and electron plasma competition on the self focusing of intense laser beam

The spot-size evolution of circularly polarized intense laser beam propagating through the axially magnetized electron–positron (EP) and electron plasmas is discussed, in mildly relativistic and weakly non-linear (a² ? 1) regime. The non-linear current density source terms are obtained by making used of the perturbative technique. The variational principle approach method is applied to the solution of the non-linear Schrodinger wave equation. It is shown that the laser beam spot size decreases for the left and increases for the right handed polarized beams with increasing the external magnetic field, owing to the beam passages inside the electron plasma. Furthermore, it is revealed that the self focusing property strongly enhanced in the EP plasma in comparison to the electron plasma. Moreover, self focusing of linearly polarized laser beam is investigated for EP plasma by superposition of the right and left circularly polarized beams.     

Electron acceleration below quarter-critical density in CO2 laser-produced plasmas

We present detailed characteristics of heated electron distributions in long-scale-length underdense plasmas irradiated by intense nanosecond CO₂ laser radiation. Below n_c/4, the heated electron distributions are consistent with heating by Raman instability.     

Mid-infrared heterodyne phase-sensitive dispersion spectroscopy in flame measurements

We present the first demonstration of heterodyne phase-sensitive dispersion spectroscopy (HPSDS) for in situ, non-intrusive and quantitative CO₂ concentration measurements in flames. Dispersion spectroscopy retrieves gas properties by measuring the refractive index in the vicinity of a molecular resonance. The HPSDS scheme features a significant diagnostic advantage of the intrinsic immunity to laser power fluctuations caused by beam steering, thermal radiation and soot scattering in combustion environments, and thus no extra calibration process is required. In this work, we described the spectroscopic fundamentals for measuring heterodyne phase signals in flames. As a proof of principle, we used a mid-infrared interband cascade laser (ICL) near 4183?nm to exploit the strong CO₂ transitions in the R-branch of the v₃ fundamental band. The HPSDS signals of four CO₂ lines, R(76), R(78), R(80) and R(82), were measured in CH₄/air flames to obtain CO₂ concentrations at different equivalence ratios (Φ?=?0.8–1.2), yielding a good agreement with the simultaneous laser absorption measurements using the same ICL. With its immunity to laser power fluctuations verified experimentally, the HPSDS sensor was successfully implemented to measure CO₂ concentrations in C₂H₄/air sooting flames (Φ?=?1.78–2.38). Laser dispersion spectroscopy proves to be a promising and alternative diagnostic tool for combustion measurements.     

Decay and recondensation of electron-hole liquid in germanium under CO2 laser pulse irradiation: Investigation by microwave conductivity measurements

In microwave conductivity investigations of photoexcited germanium at low temperatures under CO₂ laser pulse irradiation the evaporation of EHL and e-h plasma formation have been observed. This plasma irreversibly vanishes at high CO₂ laser intensities I_CO2 >4 × 10⁵ W cm^?2 but recondenses at low intensities. It was found that complete and irreversible disappearance of EHL is due to the e-h plasma throw out to the crystal boundaries by phonon wind, generated in 10.6 μm radiation absorption whereas at I_CO2 > 10⁶ W cm^?2 it is connected with the crystal lattice heating over the condensation critical temperature. A theoretical analysis of the CO₂ laser produced phonon wind interaction with e-h plasma is briefly presented. By comparing with experimental data on recondensation process the phonon wind efficiency is estimated.     

Strong selective excitation of Raman-active vibrations and energy transfer between low-lying vibrational states of a CO2 molecule studied by PARS and CARS

We experimentally demonstrate the novel technique of inducing the highly nonequilibrium distribution of molecules over vibrational states by two-frequency coherent Raman excitation. The technique can be used for selective excitation of totally symmetric and other Raman-active molecular transitions. Two counter propagating focused laser beams (second harmonic of Nd: YAG and dye laser) were used to induce population difference changes at the 00⁰0–10⁰0 transition in CO₂ molecules. The excitation and relaxation kinetics of this and neighbours vibrational modes of CO₂ were studied both by CARS and PARS. Vibrational excitation of up to 20% of the total number of irradiated molecules is measured; previously unknown desactivation constant of CO₂ (10⁰0) and CO₂ (02⁰0) states via CO₂ (01¹0) state is estimated to be K = (3±1) × 1 ⁵s^-1torr^-1.     

Nonclassical hydrodynamic behavior of Sn plasma irradiated with a long duration CO2 laser pulse

It was found that the electron density scale length of Sn plasma irradiated with a long duration CO₂ laser pulse is much shorter than that predicted by the classical isothermal model. The experimentally observed small dominant region of in-band (2% bandwidth) 13.5-nm extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission coincides with this constrained hydrodynamic behavior. The lower hydrodynamic efficiency may come from the strongly inhibited ablation mass and makes a CO₂-laser-produced Sn plasma suitable as an EUV radiation source.     

Generation of tunable 16 μm radiation from CO2 by cascade lasing

In this paper we propose a scheme to generate tunable 16 μm radiation from CO₂ molecules by cascade lasing. The stimulating 9.5 μm radiation is generated internally by the fast rotating mirror Q-switching technique. The optical scheme proposed by us uses an intracavity prism to separate the 9.5 μm and the 16 μm beams. This facilitates independent tuning of the two beams if required. In the present configuration, only the 16 μm cavity is dispersive. The 9.5 μm beam grows spontaneously in a stable semiconfocal resonator. We have developed a theoretical model to simulate the proposed scheme. The model predicts the energy and power of 16 μm radiation. The calculated values are much higher than the previously obtained experimental values. The results point out the feasibility of developing a laser system based on the theoretical design parameters presented in this paper. Such laser systems can find application in uranium isotope separation studies.     

Energy scaling of quasi-monoenergetic electron beams from laser wakefields driven by 40-TW ultra-short pulses

By focusing 40-TW, 30-fs laser pulses to the peak intensity of 10¹⁹ W/cm² onto a supersonic He gas jet, we generate quasi-monoenergetic electron beams for plasma density in the specific range 1.5×10¹⁹ cm^-3≤n_e≤3.5×10¹⁹ cm^-3. We show that the energy, charge, divergence and pointing stability of the beam can be controlled by changing n_e, and that higher electron energies and more stable beams are produced for lower densities. The observed variations are explained physically by the interplay among pump depletion and dephasing between accelerated electrons and plasma wave. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations support the explanation by showing the evolution of the laser pulse in plasma and the specifics of electron injection and acceleration. An optimized quasi-monoenergetic beam of over 300 MeV and 10 mrad angular divergence is demonstrated at a plasma density of n_e≃1.5×10¹⁹ cm^-3. PACS 52.35.-g; 52.38.Hb; 52.38.Kd; 52.65.-y     

High frequency Brillouin scattering in metals and gaseous plasmas

Spontaneous and stimulated Brillouin scattering are studied in metals and gaseous plasmas, for an incident laser frequencyω ₁ greater than the corresponding plasma frequencyω _plin the medium. The calculation of threshold powers for the stimulated scattering in aluminium metal and non-degenerate Al-plasmas shows that their values become quite small asω ₁ approachesω _plFor the case of backward wave scattering we also estimate the critical power above which a temporal instability sets in such media. It is argued that this instability may be one of the factors for anomalously large absorption of high power laser beams in laser-induced plasmas.