X-ray generation in low-voltage vacuum discharges

The dynamics of x-ray emission from a low-voltage laser-induced discharge was studied with the aid of a picosecond x-ray streak camera. Directed x-ray emission in the spectral range from 100 eV to 10 keV in the form of point sources and thin layers with lifetimes ranging from 30 ps to 1 ns was observed in a low-voltage vacuum discharge (U=150 V) initiated by a picosecond laser beam. X-ray emission from a discharge was detected with a time delay (1–20 ns) relative to ignition by the laser beam in order to prevent the radiation of the laser plasma from entering the detector. Detection of directed x-ray emission in a low-voltage vacuum discharge is demonstrated. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 9, 622–627 (10 May 1998)     

Picosecond X-ray plasma radiation measurements

Direct picosecond measurements of X-ray laser plasma radiation were performed with a high-speed X-ray image-converter camera (ICC). This camera operates in the single-frame mode with an exposure time ranging from 5 ns to 0.5 μs and in the streak mode with 5 × 10⁹ to 5 × 10⁷ cm/s streak velocities. Its temporal resolution in the streak mode was calculated to be about 7 ps. A plasma was created by focussing 10 ps 1 to 2 joule laser pulses onto a titanium target placed in a vacuum chamber. The halfwidth of the recorded X-ray pulses varied from 30 to 60 ps.     

双盘靶X光辐射光谱时空特性

在“星光－Ⅱ”激光装置上，利用三倍频激光辐照金双盘靶，研究Ｘ光辐射光谱时空特性。将４针孔透射光栅阵列和皮秒分幅相机结合，实现了Ｘ光辐射时间、空间、能谱三维联合测量，得到了双盘靶初级和次级辐射光谱结构，观测到Ｘ光辐射弛豫过程，并得到Ｎ带Ｏ带和零级光谱强度随时间和空间的变化特征、等离子体喷射二维空间分布、等离子体膨胀速率等重要结果。     

Diagnostics of laser-induced plasma with soft X-ray (13.9 nm) bi-mirror interference microscopy

X-ray interference microscopy diagnostics of a nanosecond-pulse pumped Al (Z=13) plasma are presented. A transient picosecond Ni-like Ag X-ray laser (13.9 nm) is used as the probe beam and a wavefront division bi-mirror interferometer is adopted as the diagnosis tool. From the fringe shifts, the two-dimensional plasma density profile at 1 ns after the peak of the heating pulse is deduced. Opposite fringe shifts during the plasma development are observed and possible explanations for this behavior are discussed. This study will contribute to the validation of 1D and 2D hydrodynamic codes as well as to the better understanding of the physics during the development of laser produced plasmas. PACS 41.50.+h; 41.85.Ew; 42.55.Vc     

Spectra of electrons and X-ray photons in a diffusive nanosecond discharge in air under atmospheric pressure

The spectra of electrons and X-ray photons generated in nanosecond discharges in air under atmospheric pressure are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Data for the discharge formation dynamics in a nonuniform electric field are gathered. It is confirmed that voltage pulses with an amplitude of more than 100 kV and a rise time of 1 ns or less causing breakdown of an electrode gap with a small-radius cathode generate runaway electrons, which can be divided into three groups in energy (their energy varies from several kiloelectronvolts to several hundreds of kiloelectronvolts). It is also borne out that the formation of the space charge is due to electrons appearing in the gap at the cathode and a major contribution to the electron beam behind the foil comes from electrons of the second group, the maximal energy of which roughly corresponds to the voltage across the gap during electron beam generation. X-ray radiation from the gas-filled diode results from beam electron slowdown both in the anode and in the gap. It is shown that the amount of group-3 electrons with an energy above the energy gained by runaway electrons (in the absence of losses) at a maximal voltage across the gap is much smaller than the amount of group-2 electrons.     

Photodissociation and photoionization of sodium coated C $_\mathsf{60}$ clusters

At the Prague Asterix Laser System Center (PALS) the Asterix iodine laser delivering up to 700 J/0.5 ns is used as a pump source for X-ray laser experiments and applications. The prepulse technique was applied which is known to improve the neon-like X-ray laser output at the J = 0-1 transition dramatically. Since Zn slab targets were used the operating wavelength was 21.2 nm. A prepulse having up to 20 J precedes the main pulse by 10 ns. The main beam and the prepulse beam are focussed by two different optical systems separately and their foci are superimposed at the target surface. By implementing a half-cavity set-up for double-pass amplification using a Mo/Si multilayer mirror - which can be used for more than 100 shots - the X-ray laser output was more than 10 times stronger than at the single pass in a 30 mm long plasma. Double-pass amplification was observed to be most efficient when the pump pulse duration was at least 150 ps longer than the round trip time ( ≈ 260 ps) in the half-cavity. Under this fundamental condition the X-ray laser reached saturation in the double-pass regime containing approx. 4 mJ energy which has been proved to be enough for future applications. In this contribution, the X-ray laser features like divergence in two dimensions, the beam quality (symmetry), the pointing angle and the integrated intensity giving an estimation of the output energy are investigated over 110 shots. To characterize the stability of the X-ray laser the shot distribution, the mean value and the standard deviation for these parameters are evaluated. For 18 shots in a series - what was achievable during one day - the corresponding values are given, and a statistical analysis carrying out a chi-squared test characterize the Zn X-ray laser as a robust tool suitable for applications. In the future it is planned to allocate X-ray laser beam time to external research groups. Received 17 May 2002 / Received in final form 10 September 2002 Published online 6 November 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: praeg@fzu.cz     

不同能量水下激光诱导等离子体的轴向辐射分布特性研究

激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术作为一项新兴的水下原位探测技术,备受海洋探测技术领域的关注。将这项技术推向实用化的关键之一是改善LIBS的远程探测能力,因此需要采用超击穿阈值的高能量探测激光。为观察超击穿阈值情况下的等离子体辐射和动态击穿特性,采用图像与光谱相结合的方法,以KCl溶液为样品进行了系列实验研究。通过对1～20 mJ不同能量激发下的等离子体图像分析,获得了不同激发条件下总辐射的轴向跨度和最亮点位置信息。随激光脉冲能量增大,等离子体长度增加,从1 mJ时的0.49 mm增加到20 mJ时的1.83 mm,同时辐射最亮点位置向激光入射方向移动了0.79 mm。结合光谱探测分析,得出等离子体特征辐射的轴向空间分布也对激光能量有明显的依赖性。虽然不同能量下谱线强度呈相似的轴向空间分布,但钾原子辐射最强处的位置和相应强度均随能量变化,在5 mJ激发下获得最佳辐射强度。实验结果表明,为满足远程LIBS应用需求,提高激光能量时应考虑其对原子辐射的影响。还对不同能量下的谱线的半高宽和信背比进行了观测分析。     

腔靶X射线辐射特性实验研究

在上海“神光”装置上,对柱形腔靶X射线辐射的温度、光谱以及时间特性进行了实验研究,得到内爆区轴向温度随空间位置的变化特征。观测到腔内激光直接烧蚀靶物质产生的第一次X射线辐射和等离子体运动、汇聚形成的第二次X射线辐射,两次辐射的时间间隔为1.2ns。通过测量源区和内爆区X射线辐射空间能谱结构,结果表明源区X射线辐射能谱是非平衡的,而内爆区X射线辐射能谱近似为Planck谱。 关键词：     

On the possibility of obtaining incoherent femtosecond X-ray pulses from a laser plasma

It is proposed to use a high rate of collisional ionization in a superdense laser plasma to generate incoherent femtosecond X-ray pulses. The calculations indicate that the use of picosecond laser pulses with a contrast of about 10¹⁰ will allow the generation of an X-ray pulse with a duration of about 10 fs. The adequacy of the proposed model of the excitation of linear X-ray radiation from the plasma has been tested in the experiments with a picosecond laser of a moderately high contrast.     

Effect of photon density with varying transverse electro-magnetic modes in laser-guided discharges

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the characteristics of a breakdown threshold voltage as a function of various transverse electro-magnetic modes (TEM) in laser-guided discharges (LGD). The electrical breakdown was effectively guided to the location of the laser focal spot on a metallic target by using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser radiation. It is found that the minimum breakdown voltage in LGD depends upon the average density of photons reaching the electrode surface as a function of the mode of the injected laser beam.     

Characterization of the 46.9-nm soft X-ray laser beam from a capillary discharge

Intense lasing had been obtained from argon plasma in the soft X-ray region from a capillary discharge plasma system. Different diagnostics have been used to characterize the lasing properties by recording the temporal, spatial, and spectral profiles of the emission. The divergence measurement indicates that the soft X-ray laser beam has good directionality with a divergence of 3.5 mrad. The spectrum of the laser beam measured using a transmission grating showed intense lasing line at 46.9 nm. Diffraction orders as high as 10th orders were observed. The temporal profile recorded with a vacuum diode showed a distinct laser peak with a pulse width ~1.2 ns (FWHM). In addition, the coherence of the X-ray laser beam was also confirmed from the high-contrast interference fringes (visibility ~85 %) recorded using double slits.     

Specific features of generation of the quasi-Schrödinger soliton in the CW mode-locked solid-state laser with a semiconductor saturable absorber

The mechanism of mode-locking in the cw solid-state laser with the saturable semiconductor switch caused by the formation of the quasi-Schrödinger soliton is investigated on the basis of the self-consistent laser field theory. The possible regimes of the quasi-soliton destabilization are studied: the sharp transition from the femtosecond to picosecond generation (“the picosecond collapse”), the self-oscillation instability, as well as the breakdown of the pulsed generation. The existence of multistable states and hysteresis phenomena upon the variation in the group-velocity dispersion and the pump power are shown.     

用大芯径石英玻璃光纤传输兆瓦级高能激光脉冲及其在双波长LA-LIBS技术中的应用

为了解决单脉冲激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术在元素分析时空间分辨本领与分析灵敏度之间的矛盾,本文利用一台双波长输出的Nd∶YAG激光器开展了双波长激光剥离-激光诱导击穿光谱(LA-LIBS)技术的研究。其中532 nm的二倍频激光用于剥离样品;1 064 nm的基频激光通过大芯径石英玻璃光纤传输并实现一定的延时后用于击穿被剥离的样品。两束激光采用正交几何配置以实现高空间分辨高灵敏的元素分析。实验研究了1 064 nm激光到光纤的耦合、光纤输出后的准直以及再聚焦时的一些关键技术问题。研究并得出了四种不同光纤对激光能量的传输能力。选择利用芯径为800 μm,数值孔径为0.39、长50 m的石英玻璃光纤成功传输了15 mJ的调Q激光脉冲并实现了250 ns的延时。并在此基础上开展了铜合金样品的双波长LA-LIBS分析,实验验证了基于一台Nd∶YAG激光器开展双波长LA-LIBS研究的可行性。该技术只需要一台激光器就可以完成相应的光谱分析,具有系统结构简单,便于小型化等优点,适合对不同样品开展原位的高空间分辨高灵敏的元素显微分析。     

Effect of counterintuitive time delays in nonlinear mixing

The effect of varying the relative arrival time of the two laser pulses employed in doubly resonant four-wave sum mixing, enhanced by induced transparency, is studied with the aim of optimizing the efficiency of vacuum-ultraviolet generation. With atomic hydrogen as the nonlinear medium, pulsed radiation with wavelengths of 243 and 656 nm and durations of 8 and 14 ns, respectively, is mixed to generate 103-nm coherent radiation. It is shown that by delaying the arrival time of the ground-state pump beam (243 nm) by 2.5-3.5 ns relative to the arrival of the upper-state coupling beam (656 nm), it is possible to enhance the generated intensity by a factor of 2 or more.     

基于探针光调制的皮秒分辨X-ray探测方法与实验

高能密度物理研究中涉及许多单次皮秒现象的诊断测量, 然而对单次X-ray脉冲形状、X-ray与激光脉冲的皮秒精度同步依然是极具挑战的课题. 传统行波选通分幅相机受电子渡越时间限制, 难以突破40 ps时间分辨极限. 本文围绕半导体中光学探针光的全光调制效应, 提出一种以低温GaAs材料为基础, 实现皮秒时间分辨X-ray探测的新方法, 详细阐述了该探测器的工作机理、器件参数设计和时间分辨能力. 通过飞秒激光打靶实验, 验证了其概念设计的正确性. 结果表明该探测器具有约1.5 ps时间响应和10 ps时间分辨能力, 通过材料优化可将时间分辨提升 至1 ps以内.     

Improvement in semiconductor laser printing using a sacrificial protecting layer for organic thin-film transistors fabrication

Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) has been used to deposit pixels of an organic semiconductor, distyryl-quaterthiophenes (DS4T). The dynamics of the process have been investigated by shadowgraphic imaging for the nanosecond (ns) and picosecond (ps) regime on a time-scale from the laser iradiation to 1.5 μs. The morphology of the deposit has been studied for different conditions. Intermediate sacrificial layer of gold or triazene polymer has been used to trap the incident radiation. Its role is to protect the layer to be transferred from direct irradiation and to provide a mechanical impulse strong enough to eject the material.     

不同宽度脉冲激光对白宝石损伤的结构特征

研究了白宝石（〈0001〉切割）晶体在800nm ns、ps和fs激光脉冲作用下的损伤形态.实验发现,在纳秒脉冲作用下,损伤外型与晶体的结构参量一致,呈“米”字形;在皮秒激光脉冲作用下,损伤外型呈“十”字形;而在飞秒激光脉冲作用下,损伤外形呈“一”字形;说明白宝石晶体结构损伤与应力作用下晶体缺陷的择优取向有关.     

Ultrafast time-resolved photography of femtosecond laser induced modifications in BK7 glass and fused silica

The dynamics of absorption after excitation of fused silica and BK7 glass with femtosecond laser radiation are visualized by transient absorption spectroscopy. Focusing laser radiation with pulse durations in the picosecond time regime in BK7 glass generates free electrons with relaxation by emission of radiation or by formation of defects. The temporal and spatial emission characteristics are observed by high-speed photography in the streak mode. The beam waist moves within the pulse duration towards the incoming laser radiation by self-focusing and with the laser radiation absorbed by multi-photon processes. The dynamics of the long lasting stress formation is visualized by time-resolved Nomarski-Photography. The modification of the glass is investigated during and after irradiation with ultra-short pulsed laser radiation (100 fs<t_p<3 ps) at the wavelength =810 nm. The formation of a sound wave in fused silica and BK7 glass is observed and the mechanical stress, depending on the excitation pulse duration, is measured. PACS 06.60.Jn; 42.50.Md; 78.47.-p; 81.16.-c; 82.53.-k     

基频光腔靶辐射温度定标

研究腔靶辐射温度和X光耦合效率与靶结构及激光辐照条件的依赖关系。利用神光-Ⅱ基频光(波长1．053μm,能量3～5kJ／8束,脉宽0．6～0．9ns)辐照金腔靶。采用软X光能谱仪及平响应探测器分别测量腔靶诊断口辐射X光功率谱及其能量角分布。同时,利用五针孔时、空分辨成像技术对腔靶诊断口发射软X光进行实验观测,给出辐射温度推算中需要的等效诊断口面积修正因子。在北京同步辐射软X光标定站,对上述诊断用软X光探测元器件进行了全谱范围(0．05～1．5kev)的绝对标定,以提高X光辐射功率和黑腔辐射温度的诊断精度．     

Time-resolved impact ionization in ZnSe high-voltage switches

Fast electrical streamer and glow avalanches in ZnSe semiconductors are investigated, for applications in fast spontaneous or triggered switches. We present time-resolved observations of these self-sustained, impact ionization events in bulk polycrystalline ZnSe at room temperature. Under high voltages (~20 kV) short-current pulse (~3 ns) electrical excitation, the 1 ns risetime current pulses cause the emission of the bandgap radiation, which in turn is used to characterize the role of the plasma during the switching interval. Using a picosecond resolution streak camera, plasma streamers were recorded, in undoped ZnSe, and a uniform glow was observed in n-doped samples for the duration of the 3 ns, 1 kA current pulse. This paper concerns the behavior of the avalanche breakdown mechanism, which is relevant for applications in high energy switches, and we will discuss the possibility of using the avalanche process to pump high-power light-emitting semiconductor devices