Non-contact subsurface temperature measurements following mid-infrared laser irradiation

A difficult challenge in laser processing at nanosecond time scales is monitoring substrate temperature in the laser focal volume, particularly for mid-infrared laser irradiation where the absorption depth is relatively large and the attained temperatures are often relatively low. Here, we describe time-dependent measurements of the subsurface temperature of a target material following absorption of pulsed mid-infrared (MIR) laser irradiation, by detecting the luminescence from micron-size ceramic phosphor particles (Gd-doped YAG:Ce) embedded in the target material at a concentration of up to 10 %. Temperature calibrations were obtained by measuring the luminescence decay of the probe particles in an oil-bath heater. A silica-nanoparticle film was irradiated by an Er:YAG laser operating in a free-running mode over a fluence range up to but below the ablation threshold, while the third harmonic of the Nd:YAG laser excited the luminescence of the probe particles. From the temperature calibrations, it was possible to infer the thermal history of the target as a function of time delay between the Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser pulses.     

Non-contact blood flow determination using a laser speckle method

An electro-optical device is described which allows the non-contact determination of the skin blood flow and its temporal course. As the laser light penetrates the skin, it is not only scattered from the epidermis but also from the moving red blood cells in the capillaries. The scattered light is time dependent and can be described in terms of the dynamic laser speckle effect. Measurements at the skin demonstrate that there is a so-called ‘involuntary body movement’ which must be taken into account when the measurement of the blood flow is determined. Theoretical considerations show a way to reduce the influence of this movement. Some measurements demonstrate the response of the device to blood flow variations.     

Non-contact angle measurement based on parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometry

We present a novel precise angle measurement scheme based on parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometry （PLFI）, which outputs two parallel laser beams and thus their displacement difference reflects the angle variation of the target. Due to its ultrahigh sensitivity to the feedback light, PLFI realizes the direct non-contact measurement of non- cooperative targets. Experimental results show that PLFI has an accuracy of 8＂ within a range of 1400＂. The yaw of a guide is also measured and the experimental results agree with those of the dual-frequency laser interferometer Agilent 5529A.     

Non-contact detection of explosives by means of a tunable diode laser spectroscopy

As explosives are unstable, their decay products may be targeted for detection by means of tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS). A model in which an explosive is placed inside an envelope with a hole in it has been studied. It has been shown that outside the envelope the concentration of the decay products may exceed that of the vapors of an explosive, by several orders. Decay products of explosives have been investigated using Fourier-transform spectrometry and TDLS. The following decay products have been identified: NO, N₂O, CO, NH₃. Analysis of the temperature dependencies of their occurrence rates has allowed estimation of the activation energies, which appear to be close to 1 eV. An experimental model of the diode laser spectrometer designed for noncontact detection of explosives has been developed. The possibility of such detection has been demonstrated experimentally. PACS 42.62.Fi; 07.07.Df; 42.55.Px     

Dual femtosecond laser multiheterodyne optical coherence tomography

A time domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) system without moving parts is described, which is based on multiheterodyning utilizing two mode-locked femtosecond lasers. By synchronizing the two lasers to slightly different repetition rates and coupling to an interferometric OCT setup, we obtain amplitude-modulated beat signals representing the structure of the specimen under investigation. Our system is suitable for biological imaging as well as technical applications. We demonstrate high axial imaging depths of 150 mm with up to 5000 axial scans per second, achieving equivalent path scanning velocities of 750 m/s.     

Time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography of inhomogeneous media

The methods of time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography of inhomogeneous media and related problems are reviewed. Time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography allows one to measure the distribution of light absorption in turbid media with depth resolution up to several microns in real time. The theory of laser excitation of acoustic waves by absorbing of light in particles, dispersed in transparent, light-absorbing or scattering media, is developed. The distribution of light absorption can be obtained from the temporal course of acoustic pressure. Two schemes of acoustic wave detection — in the medium under testing (direct detection) and in transparent medium, coupled to the investigated one (indirect detection) — are discussed. In both cases the reconstruction of light absorption can be made by simple calculations. Test experiments with homogeneous and layered media confirm the proposed theoretical models and the possibility of using the proposed experimental schemes. Light absorption in homogeneous, inhomogeneous media and in absorbing particles dispersed in turbid media was investigated. The experimental setup allows one to measure the absorption coefficients over the range 1-500 cm^–1 with the depth resolution 10–15 m over the depth 1–1.5 mm.     

Non-contact ultrasonic techniques

Non-contact generation and detection of acoustic and ultrasound waveforms is of practical importance, since it permits making acoustic and ultrasonic measurements at elevated temperatures, in corrosive and other hostile environments, in geometrically difficult to reach locations, in outer space and doing this at relatively large distances from the test structure. Non-contact acoustical and ultrasonic techniques currently available are laser generation, optical interferometric detection, electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs), air(gas)-coupled systems and hybrid combinations of the above. The present paper will describe how several such systems have been used in unique materials characterization applications.     

Limited projections laser speckle tomography of complex flows

Different approaches are discussed applied to reconstruction of local flow parameters using line-of-sight laser probing. The first one is based on single projection measurement and detailed numerical simulation of flow pattern. The second one is based on multi-projectional line-of-sight measurement and reconstructing local flow parameters by solving inverse integral transforms. Holographic interferometry (HI) and speckle photography (SP) are used for laser probing of complex 3D media under study. Computer-assisted tomography (CAT) approach based on Radon integral transform is described and examples of reconstructed flowfields are given including compressible flows with shock waves. Statistical information about flow studied is extracted as well, and maps of local statistical turbulence parameters are quantitatively determined by using obtained SP-data and a new Erbeck–Merzkirch integral transform.     

In vivo three-dimensional photoacoustic tomography of a whole mouse head

An in vivo photoacoustic imaging system was designed and implemented to image the entire small animal head. A special scanning gantry was designed to enable in vivo imaging in coronal cross sections with high contrast and good spatial resolution for the first time to our knowledge. By use of a 2.25 MHz ultrasonic transducer with a 6 mm diameter active element, an in-plane radial resolution of approximately 312 microm was achieved. Deeply seated arterial and venous vessels in the head measuring up to 1.7 cm in diameter were simultaneously imaged in vivo with 804 nm wavelength laser excitation of photoacoustic waves.     

Principles of fluorescence laser tomography of strongly scattering media

The propagation of laser radiation and fluorescence excited by it in a strongly scattering medium are analyzed in the diffusion equation approximation. The possibility of applying efficient algorithms of the tomographic reconstruction with the use of mean paths of photons in biotissues to fluorescence laser tomography is substantiated.     

Coherent range-gated laser displacement metrology with compact optical head

We describe a new architecture for laser displacement metrology with a drastic reduction in the size and complexity of the optical head. Connected by a single optical fiber, the compact heads are easy to integrate and readily multiplexed to support applications requiring large numbers of sensors. The approach is made possible by modulating the outgoing laser light with a binary random noise code, allowing the detected signals to be discriminated based on their propagation delay. We demonstrate a displacement resolution of 1.1 nm rms.     

Measurement of the laser beam intensity distribution using optical tomography

Optical tomography is proposed as a method for studying the intensity distribution in the laser beam cross section. The tomographic projection of the beam cross section is obtained with the help of an optical fiber possessing a high radiation resistance, which makes it possible to employ this technique for studying high-power laser radiation. The results of tomographic reconstruction of the bean cross section from experimental projections are compared with the results of reconstruction from model projections.     

掺镱双包层光纤激光器典型参数对斜线效率的影响

分析了双包层光纤激光器(DCFL)耦合方程的解析解，并对信号光散射损耗、后腔镜泵浦反射率等影响掺镱DCFL斜线效率的典型参数进行了理论研究。结果表明，斜线效率并不是随着后腔镜泵浦反射率的升高而单调增大，因为泵浦反射率的升高会影响光纤的最佳长度，从而降低斜线效率。所以在优化斜线效率时应该考虑到泵浦反射率和光纤最佳长度之间的匹配。同时，提高纤芯掺杂浓度、减小信号光散射损耗也能增大斜线效率。