Generation of characteristic x rays by a terawatt femtosecond chromium-forsterite laser

Characteristic K _α x rays arising when a metallic target is irradiated by femtosecond infrared pulses that are generated by a terawatt chromium-forsterite laser system (1240 nm, 90 mJ, 80 fs) are studied. The absolute yield (up to 3 × 10⁸ photons/sr pulse) and the coefficient of the transformation of laser radiation to K _α radiation (maximum value ≈0.03%) are measured for an iron target. The dependence of the radiation intensity on the angle of incidence of p polarized laser radiation is analyzed. The mechanisms of the production of fast electrons responsible for generating characteristic x rays are discussed.     

Oxygen assisted laser cutting mechanism—a laminar boundary layer approach including the combustion process

The present study examines the combined effects of chemical reactions taking place between a gas jet and molten metal, the cooling effect of the jet and the evaporation of metal, during a CO₂ laser cutting process. A laminar boundary layer approach was used to develop a theoretical model for the oxygen gas jet laser cutting mechanism. An experiment was carried out to monitor the keyhole formation using a video recorder and detect the light emitted from the entrance and exist surfaces of the workpiece using a fibre-optic probe during the cutting process. The experimental study was extended to employ two different workpiece materials (stainless steel and mild steel) at two thicknesses, and varying oxygen assisting gas pressures. It is found that the theoretical model developed in the present study is valid for a cutting speed of about 30 mm s⁻¹ and all jet velocities up to sonic, since the effect of shock is excluded in the model.     

Generation regimes of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with transverse LED pumping and multiloop self-pumped phase-conjugate cavity

The generation regimes in a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with transverse LED pumping and multiloop self-pumped phase-conjugate cavity on the gain gratings are studied. The differential efficiency of laser is 27% in the free-running regime at a pulse energy of up to 1 J and quality parameter M ² of no greater than 1.5. The pulse energy under passive Q-switching is no less than 60% of the pulse energy in the free-running regime at the same beam quality. The generation of the narrow-band radiation is demonstrated. A generation band of no greater than 1.2 GHz corresponds to the primary single-frequency high-power laser pulse in the free-running mode under conditions for self-Q-switching on the gain gratings. When additional elements (F ₂ ^? :LiF and Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystals) are introduced in the optical scheme of the phase-conjugate cavity, similar narrowband single-mode generation is observed in the passive Q-switching regime as a pulse train or monopulse. The laser pulse power is up to 2 MW at a pulse duration of 20 ns.     

Photoinduced semiconductor-metal phase transition in a peierls system

The dynamical equation for the order parameter of the metal-semiconductor phase transition, as well as the kinetic equation for the density of nonequilibrium electron-hole pairs of a Peierls system in a light field, has been derived. An expression for the time τ of the nonthermal photoinduced semiconductor-metal phase transition has been obtained from these equations for the case of an ultrashort light pulse. It has been shown that, to initiate the phase transition, the energy density W of the light pulse must be higher than the critical value W _c. The W _c, τ, and optical absorption coefficient γ₀ that are calculated in the framework of the proposed model are in agreement with the experimental data (W _c ≈ 12 mJ/cm², τ ≈ 75 fs, and γ₀ ≈ 10⁵ cm^?1) on the irradiation of a vanadium dioxide film by a laser pulse with a duration of τ_p ≈ 15 fs, a photon energy of ?θ₀ = 1.6 eV, and an energy density of W = 50 mJ/cm².     

Diode laser study of IR multiphoton-induced depletion of rotational sublevels of the ground vibrational state of SF6 molecules cooled in a pulsed free jet

A pulsed frequency tunable diode laser was used to investigate the IR multiphoton-induced depletion of rotational sublevels of the ground vibrational state of SF₆ molecules cooled in a pulsed free jet at exciting energy densities between ≈10^-2 and 2.3 J cm^-2. The depletion of all rotational sublevels was effective at considerable (≈5–11 cm^-1) pumping frequency detunings from the linear absorption spectrum (LAS) of the molecule the width of which under the conditions of experiment (T_rot ≈ 18 K) was ≈2–3 cm^-1. The fraction of molecules excited by a pumping pulse from individual rotational sublevels was measured and its dependence on the exciting pulse frequency and energy density investigated. The effect of collisions on the depletion of the rotational sublevels was studied.     

A theory of quasi-channeling for electrons and positions,quasi-channeling radiation in systems of macroscopic extent,and experimental implications for a short wavelength laser

The theory of electron and positron channeling and radiation production in crystals is extended to macroscopic-scale systems. The new theory examines systems that exhibit periodicity along the axis of beam propagation, specifically, periodic electrostatic fields: the dimensions of the field periodicity (l_z) are much greater than typical interatomic lattice spacing (l_L), e.g., l_z≫l_L. The feasibility of a laser based on this predicted new phenomenon is examined. Differences between the properties of the proposed quasi-channeling radiation and radiation produced by wigglers and free electron lasers (FELs) are discussed. System lengths a factor of 10³ shorter than FELs are expected, with favorable scaling for below 500 eV laser photon output energies.     

Weak antilocalization in a three-dimensional topological insulator based on a high-mobility HgTe film

The up-conversion luminescence of Er³⁺ from the ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2, and ⁴F_9/2 levels in nanocrystals of Y_0.95(1?x)Yb_0.95xEr_0.05PO₄ (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1) orthophosphates activated with Er³⁺ ions has been studied under the excitation of Yb³⁺ ions to the ²F_5/2 level by 972-nm cw laser radiation. Broadband radiation in the wavelength range of 370–900 nm has been observed at certain power densities of exciting laser radiation; this broadband radiation is absent in the case of excitation of the powders under study by pulsed laser radiation with a wavelength of 972 nm at a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz and a duration of a pulse of 15 ns. Experimental data indicating that this radiation is thermal in nature have been presented.     

Investigation of optimum condition in oxygen gas-assisted laser cutting

Laser cutting characteristics including power level and cutting gas pressure are investigated in order to obtain an optimum kerf width. The kerf width is investigated for a laser power range of 50–170 W and a gas pressure of 1–6 bar for steel and mild steel materials. Variation of sample thickness, material type, gas pressure and laser power on the average cut width and slot quality are investigated. Optimum conditions for the steel and mild steel materials with a thickness range of 1–2 mm are obtained. The optimum condition for the steel cutting results in a minimum average kerf width of 0.2 mm at a laser power of 67 W, cutting rate of 7.1 mm/s and an oxygen pressure of 4 bar. A similar investigation for the mild steel cutting results in a minimum average kerf width of 0.3 mm at the same laser power of 67 W, cutting rate of 9.5 mm/s, and an oxygen pressure of 1 bar. The experimental average kerf is about 0.3 mm, which is approximately equal to the estimated focused beam diameter of 0.27 mm for our focusing lens (f=4 cm and 100 W power). This beam size leads to a laser intensity of about 1.74×10⁹ W/m² at the workpiece surface. The estimated cutting rate from theoretical calculation is about 8.07 mm/s (1.0 mm thickness and 100 W power), which agrees with the experimental results that is 7.1 mm/s for 1.0 mm thickness of mild steel at the laser power of 88 W.     

Influence of the shape of the exciting laser pulse on fluorescence saturation in the quantitative analysis of dissolved trace organic substances

Theoretical investigations of the influence of the exciting laser pulse shape on fluorescence saturation in the quantitative analysis of a single-component fluorescing solution, when the Raman signal of the solvent is usedas a reference, are carried out. A quantity α is introduced, responsible for the influence of laser pulse shape on the precision of the analysis. The dependences of α on the exciting radiation photon flux density I_m in the range I_m = 10²² ? 10²⁸ photons/cm²?s and on the duration of the exciting pulses τ_p in the range τ_p = 0.6 ? 60 ns are computed for different pulse shapes in the case of rhodamine 6G dissolved in water. Conditions when α is, in practice, independent of τ_p and of the pulse shape are found. A general analytical expression is found for α, which produces errors not greater than several percent when compared to the computed values of α. An experimental verification of the theoretical results in the case of a rectangular-shaped pulse in the spatial domain and a Gaussian-shaped pulse in the temporal domain is realized.     

Interaction between 193-nm pulsed laser radiation and α-alumina

The threshold power density of 15-ns laser pulses with a wavelength 193 nm is determined for basic modes of interaction between the radiation and α-alumina. As power density Q on the target varying in the range 0.001–100 MW/cm² increases, first the interaction mechanism changes from single-photon interaction to two-photon interaction at Q ≈ 0.1 MW/cm². At Q ≈ 5 MW/cm², the material sublimates and then the sublimation products ionize at Q ≈ 15 MW/cm². At Q ≈ 100 MW/cm², the material is removed from the surface at a rate of ≈ 10 nm per pulse.     

Generation of fast ions in femto-and picosecond laser plasmas at low intensities of the heating radiation

X-ray spectra from Teflon targets irradiated by laser pulses with a duration of 60 fs to 1 ps have been investigated experimentally. It is shown that, when the contrast of the laser pulse is sufficiently low, the effect of self-focusing of the main laser pulse in the plasma produced by the prepulse can significantly enhance the generation efficiency of fast particles. In this case, ions with energies as high as ～1 MeV are observed at relatively low laser intensities, q _las ≈ (4–6) × 10¹⁶ W/cm².     

Modelling and optimization of cut quality during pulsed Nd:YAG laser cutting of thin Al-alloy sheet for straight profile

Thin sheets of aluminium alloys are widely used in aerospace and automotive industries for specific applications. Nd:YAG laser beam cutting is one of the most promising sheetmetal cutting process for cutting sheets for any profile. Al-alloy sheets are difficult to cut by laser beam because of its highly reflective nature. This paper presents modelling and optimization of cut quality during pulsed Nd:YAG laser cutting of thin Al-alloy sheet for straight profile. In the present study, four input process parameters such as oxygen pressure, pulse width, pulse frequency, and cutting speed and two output parameters such as average kerf taper (T_a) and average surface roughness (R_a) are considered. The hybrid approach comprising of Taguchi methodology (TM) and response surface methodology (RSM) is used for modelling whereas multi-objective optimization is performed using hybrid approach of TM and grey relational analysis (GRA) coupled with entropy measurement methodology. The entropy measurement methodology is employed for the calculation of weight corresponding to each quality characteristic. The results indicate that the hybrid approaches applied for modelling and optimization of the LBC process are reasonable.     

Selective Reflection of Potassium Vapor Nanolayers in a Magnetic Field

The selective reflection of laser radiation from the interface between a dielectric window and the atomic vapors confined in a nanocell of thickness L ≈ 350 nm is used to develop effective Doppler-broadening- free spectroscopy of potassium atoms. A small atomic line width and a relation between the signal intensity and the transition probability allowed us to resolve four lines of atomic transitions responsible for the D1 lines of the ³⁹K and ⁴¹K isotopes. Two groups containing four atomic transitions form in an applied magnetic field upon pumping by radiation with circular polarization σ⁺ or σ^–. Different intensities (probabilities) of transitions for the σ⁺ and σ^– excitations are detected in magnetic field B₀ ≈ A _hfs /μ_B ≈ 165 G (A _hfs is the magnetic dipole constant for the ground state and μ_B is the Bohr magneton). A substantially different situation is observed at B ? B₀, since high symmetry appears for the two groups formed by radiation with circular polarization σ⁺ or σ^–. Each group is the mirror image of the other group with respect to the frequency of the 4²S_1/2–4²P_1/2 transition, which additionally proves the occurrence of the complete Paschen–Back regime of the hyperfine structure at B ≈ 2.5 kG. A developed theoretical model well reproduces the experimental results. Possible practical applications are described. The results obtained can also be applied to the D₁ lines of ⁸⁷Rb and ²³Na.     

An investigation of phase transformation and crystallinity in laser surface modified H13 steel

This paper presents a laser surface modification process of AISI H13 tool steel using 0.09, 0.2 and 0.4 mm size of laser spot with an aim to increase hardness properties. A Rofin DC-015 diffusion-cooled CO₂ slab laser was used to process AISI H13 tool steel samples. Samples of 10 mm diameter were sectioned to 100 mm length in order to process a predefined circumferential area. The parameters selected for examination were laser peak power, overlap percentage and pulse repetition frequency (PRF). X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) was conducted to measure crystallinity of the laser-modified surface. X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples were recorded using a Bruker D8 XRD system with Cu?K _α (λ=1.5405 Å) radiation. The diffraction patterns were recorded in the 2θ range of 20 to 80°. The hardness properties were tested at 981 mN force. The laser-modified surface exhibited reduced crystallinity compared to the un-processed samples. The presence of martensitic phase was detected in the samples processed using 0.4 mm spot size. Though there was reduced crystallinity, a high hardness was measured in the laser-modified surface. Hardness was increased more than 2.5 times compared to the as-received samples. These findings reveal the phase source of the hardening mechanism and grain composition in the laser-modified surface.     

Experimental study of nuclear processes in the presence of superstrong fields of a picosecond laser plasma

Nuclear processes in the presence of the superstrong laser fields of a picosecond laser plasma are experimentally studied at a radiation intensity of 2 × 10¹⁸ W/cm² on a Neodim laser setup with a power of 10 TW. Experimental data regarding neutron generation on the surface of a deuterated target (CD₂)_n owing to the thermonuclear fusion ²H(d,n)³He and the neutron generation on the Be target due to the photonuclear reaction ⁹Be(γ,n)2α are presented. Neutron yields Y _n of 10⁶ and 10³ per 4π sr per laser pulse are obtained for the (CD₂)_n and Be targets, respectively. The alpha-particle yield is measured for the first time in the neutron-free thermonuclear reactions ¹¹B + H → 3⁴He in the laser plasma on the surface of the composite B + (CH₂)_n targets. The alpha-particle yield is 10³ per 4π sr per laser pulse.     

Role of the wall ablation in the operation of a 46.9 nmAr capillary discharge soft x‐ray laser

A capillary discharge pumped soft x‐ray laser operating at 46.9 nm on the 3p–3s transition of the Ne‐like Ar has been realized by pumping the active medium with a relatively slow current pulse (dI/dt ≈ 6 · 10¹¹ A/s). In order to study the role of the ablation in the production of the laser effect, the intensity of the amplified 46.9 nm line has been investigated using the same pumping current pulses in the plastic (polyacetal) and ceramic (Al₂O₃). We showed that the ablation of the capillary walls is unfavorable both for the compression and stability of the plasma and consequently for the soft x‐ray laser production. The amplification and lasing effects are observed only in the ceramic channel. The measurements of the line intensity at 46.9 nm showed the lasing with a gain‐length product of ≈ 9, a laser pulse energy of ≈ 5 μJ, a pulse duration of 1.3 ns and a beam divergence of ≈ 3.5 mrad. In addition, effect of the scaling of the time of lasing with the initial plasma diameter was demonstrated experimentally and compared with a one‐dimensional MHD model.     

Photoreduction processes and nanocluster formation induced by a CO2 laser on silicate surfaces

The photoreduction processes stimulated either the cw (power density 10⁵–10⁶ W/cm²) or pulsed (pulse energy 3–4 J, pulse duration 200 ns, effective laser spot diameter 1 mm) radiation of a CO₂ laser on the surfaces of fused and crystalline quartz, as well as of natural silicates (nepheline KNa₃[AlSiO₄]₄, rhodonite CaMn₄[Si₅O₁₅], and zircon ZrSiO₄), are studied. The X-ray emission analysis of irradiated surfaces showed that the laser irradiation of these materials leads to the sublimation of silicon oxides and the enrichment of surfaces with constituent metal elements. Laser radiation also stimulates the formation of silicon and metal nanoclusters on irradiated surfaces. The appearance of these nanoclusters is confirmed by both photoluminescence and X-ray emission studies of irradiated surfaces.     

Mode selection in an unstable-resonator TEA CO2 laser by injection from a waveguide laser

The effect of injecting radiation from a cw waveguide CO₂ laser into a TEA laser through a hole in one mirror of its unstable resonator has been studied experimentally. High-power single longitudinal mode operation of the TEA laser is achieved over a wide but finite range of injection frequencies, the frequency of the single-mode pulse being that of the TEA laser cavity mode lying closest to the injected frequency. Although a simple theoretical model shows good qualitative agreement with observations it underestimates the range of injection frequencies which result in single-mode pulses unless a fast chirping of the cavity mode frequency is postulated.     

Laser cutting of thick ceramic tile

This paper details developments in the CO₂ laser cutting of thick ceramic tiles, that is thicknesses of 8.5 mm and 9.2 mm. These tiles were cut at a combination of different cutting speeds to determine the necessary cutting parameters for various tile geometries. Different cutting modes were used in conjunction with different cutting speeds to investigate cut quality after laser processing. The work also looked into the effects on cutting through using various shield gases. Multipass cutting and underwater cutting were performed to examine their effects on thermal load during processing.     

Narrow-band UV radiation (250–260 nm) from intracavity doubling a single-mode ring dye laser

Generation of continuous-wave, tunable UV radiation (250–260 nm) by intracavity doubling a coumarin-515 ring dye laser is described. A cooled (200–280 K) ADP crystal with end faces cut at Brester's angle is placed inside the laser ring cavity which has been compensated for astigmatism and coma. UV output powers at 254 nm of 120 μW and 60 μW are achieved with the laser operating multimode (bandwidth ? 20 GHz) and single-mode (bandwidth ? 50 MHz), respectively. Continuous single-mode scans over the 253.7 nm mercury profile demonstrate sub-Doppler resolution of the Hg 6s6p ³P^O₁ - 6s²¹S₀ transition.