脉冲CO2激光烧蚀锡靶等离子体的数值研究

使用一维辐射流体力学程序MULTI模拟了脉冲CO2激光烧蚀平面锡靶的过程,研究了脉冲宽度、峰值功率密度、靶材初始密度对锡等离子体电子密度、电子温度的时空分布的影响,并结合统计分析得到最有利于产生13.5 nm 极紫外光的激光脉冲宽度。模拟结果表明,脉冲宽度为100~200 ns的长脉冲激光产生的等离子体有利于实现极紫外输出的最佳条件,通过分析等离子体的电子密度、电子温度的分布对这一结论进行了解释。临界电子密度区域有效吸收了脉冲能量,而低密度的羽辉对激光与极紫外辐射的吸收很少。采用长脉冲激光,使得辐射极紫外等离子体持续时间更长,是提高极紫外辐射效率的有效手段。同时模拟还发现,靶材初始密度对等离子体参数的影响不大。     

Time-dependent interaction of pulsed CO2 laser radiation with liquids

Many industrial applications of high-power lasers involve the creation by vaporization of a keyhole in a solid target. This structure is unstable with respect to collapse and can be maintained only by achieving a balance between pressure terms from laser vaporization and those of surface tension and hydrostatics. In addition, liquid flow and plasma effects also modulate the laser beam intensity resulting in a complex feedback system in coupling laser radiation into the target. In this paper, we report data obtained on the time dependence of structures associated with laser drilling of an absorbing liquid. These data, obtained at low incident laser intensities in the absence of plasma effects, show the complex nature of the laser-keyhole interaction even in a two-phase system. Some results of experiments carried out in low gravity are also presented.     

Short single-mode CO2 laser pulse generation by pulsed Q-switching

A simple method for the generation of short, single-mode CO₂ laser pulses produced by applying two voltage gates (of amplitude 3U_λ/4 and U_λ/4) to an electro-optic Q-switch placed in a three-mirror cavity is proposed. Single, single-mode, well-synchronizable pulses of 3 ns duration and of 3 mJ energy have been experimentally achieved from a TEA CO₂ laser with an intracavity Pockels cell with 3 ns switching time. Using a numerical simulation it is shown that with shorter switching time (≈1 ns) the method enables one to obtain, from such a laser, a single, megawatt pulse of 1 ns duration.     

Active long pulse shaping technique of pulsed CO2 laser using multi-pulse discharge control

We describe the pulse forming of pulsed CO₂ laser using multi-pulse superposition technique. Various pulse shapes, high duty cycle pulse forming network (PFN) are constructed by time sequence. This study shows a technology that makes it possible to make various long pulse shapes by activating SCRs of three PFN modules consecutively at a desirable delay time with the aid of a PIC one-chip microprocessor. The power supply for this experiment consists of three PFN modules. Each PFN module uses a capacitor, a pulse forming inductor, a SCR, a high voltage pulse transformer, and a bridge rectifier on each transformer secondary. The PFN modules operate at low voltage by driving the primary of HV pulse transformer. The secondary of the transformer has a full-wave rectifier, which passes the pulse energy to the load in a continuous sequence.We investigated various long pulse shapes as different trigger time intervals of SCRs among three PFN modules. As a result, we could obtain laser beam with various pulse shapes and durations from about 250 to 1000 μs.     

Optically pumped NH3 laser using a continuously tunable CO2 laser

The use of a continuously tunable CO₂ laser to optically pump the NH₃ laser via previously inaccessible absorption lines is described. Efficient laser action has thus been achieved in the 11–13 μm region on transitions formerly only obtained in buffered mixtures.     

管状预电离可调谐TEA CO2激光器

研制了一种新型的预电离结构——管状预电离器,并将其应用于可调谐TEA CO2激光器。利用光栅选线方案,采用光栅谐振腔,实现了激光的调谐输出。在输出耦合率为50%、气压为40 kPa的条件下,10P(20),10R(20),9P(20),9R(20)四条谱线获得的最高电光转换效率,分别为9.5%,9.7%,9.8%,9.8%。实现了激光器的高重复频率可调谐输出运转,测量了上述4条谱线激光输出的脉冲能量及平均功率,在输出耦合率为50%、气压为30 kPa的条件下,重复频率最高可达190 Hz, 此时的10P(20),10R(20),9P(20),9R(20)四线的平均功率分别为322,321,340,338 W。     

Cutting and welding using a CO2 laser

Of all the types of lasers now available, the CO₂ laser is particularly suitable for materials working. It has a very high efficiency (15–20%) and a high out-put power (up to several kW). When the laser light is focused by means of a lens or a mirror, a c.w. power density of more than 10⁹ W cm^-2 can be attained. The laser need not be used in vacuum.

The CO₂ laser is a suitable cutting tool for numerous materials. These include metals such as titanium or steel; combustible materials such as paper, textiles and wood; and plastics. The CO₂ laser can also cut hard and brittle materials such as aluminum oxide and silicon carbide. If metals are cut in an oxidizing atmosphere, the cutting speed may be increased. The cutting width, however, is determined by the size of the laser spot. Another important field of application is the growth of single crystals.

Experiments are reported in which the CO₂ laser was used for welding steel, titanium, plastics, quartz, and glass. The advantages of the laser for this application are discussed. A comparative study of laser and electron beam techniques is included.     

Current CO2 laser surgery

With the development of suitable instrumentation, human-engineered to fulfil the requirements of the clinical surgeon and designed to fit in with the physical conditions prevailing in the operating theatre, laser surgery has advanced rapidly in the past few years. It shows signs of even more rapid progress and general acceptance as its application and advantages in more and more fields of surgery are demonstrated.     

Absolute frequencies of CO2 laser transitions by multiplication of CO2 laser difference frequencies

Frequencies of CO₂ laser transitions have been compared to the Cs standard by a four-step frequency chain using difference-frequencies from five CO₂ isotope lasers. A tungsten-nickel diode generates the differences and their harmonics. Measurement of the 10.71 μm R(6) transition of ¹³C¹⁸O₂ is described. The absolute frequency was found to be 27 979 469.512(65) MHz. Simultaneously, the four other CO₂ frequencies in the chain were also determined.     

Advanced CO2 laser rangefinders

Factors affecting the design of compact heterodyne- and direct-detection systems are contrasted. Recent UK achievements are placed in context: a TEA laser direct-detection rangefinder and a chirp-pulse-comparison rangefinder-velocimeter are described.     

The use of discharge electric field variations to CO2 laser stabilization

A method is described for detection of CO₂ laser power variations which requires no optical detector. It is based on electric field changes near the laser tube induced by the laser power fluctuations within the optical cavity. This phenomenon called by us “antenna effect” is used for laser stabilization. A simple and inexpensive technique for CO₂ laser power measurements, resonator adjustment, and for observation of the laser signature is described.     

Inert gas cutting of titanium sheet with pulsed mode CO2 laser

The present work aimed at studying the dynamic behavior of melt ejection in laser cutting of 1 mm thick titanium sheet and to obtain dross-free cuts with minimum heat affected zone (HAZ). CO₂ laser cutting of titanium sheet was carried out with continuous wave (CW) and pulsed mode laser operation with different shear gases namely argon, helium and nitrogen. Laser cutting with high frequency and low-duty cycle pulse mode operation produced dross-free cuts with no noticeable HAZ. Helium, because of its high heat convection and ability to generate high shear stress, produced laser-cuts with narrow HAZ and low dross, as compared to those produced with argon as the shear gas. Microscopic features of laser cut surfaces were analyzed and correlated with dynamic mechanism involved in laser cutting process. Process parameters for laser piercing, required for the initiation of fusion cut within the sheet, were also studied. Laser piercing requires either CW or high-duty cycle (>80%) pulse mode operation.     

Electronic speckle pattern interferometry using a CO2 laser

The advantages and problems of using electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) at longer (infra-red) wavelengths are discussed. The adjustment and use of an ESPI set-up with a CO₂ laser and pyroelectric vidicon are described and illustrated by some experimental results.     

High energy density NH3 laser using an unstable resonator CO2 laser pump

The design and operation of a novel optically pumped molecular gas laser cell, which uses geometrical coupling and is compatible with high energy unstable resonator CO₂ laser pump beams, is described. The attainment of high energy output densities (>0.5J$\text{e}$?1>^-1) from the 12.08 μm and 12.81 μm NH₃ laser transitions using this pumping arrangement is reported.     

CO2 laser cutting of slate

Slate is a natural stone which has the characteristic that shows a well-developed defoliation plane, allowing to easily split it in plates parallel to that plane which are particularly used as tiles for roof building. At present, the manufacturing of slate is mostly manual, being noisy, powdery and unsafe for the worker. Thus, there is a need to introduce new processing methods in order to improve both the working conditions and the quality of the products made of slate.Following the previous work focused on the drilling and cutting of slate tiles using a Nd : YAG laser, we present in this paper the results of the work carried out to explore the possibilities to cut slate plates by using a CO₂ laser. A 1.5 kW CO₂ laser was used to perform different experiments in which, the influence of some processing parameters (average power, assist gas pressure) on the geometry and quality of the cut was studied. The results obtained show that the CO₂ laser is a feasible tool for a successful cutting of slate.     

Optically pumped submillimeter laser lines from CD2Cl2 using a large tunability CW CO2 laser

Twenty-five new laser lines have been obtained in the wavelength region from 155 to 830 μm by optically pumping the CD₂Cl₂ (deuterated dichloromethane) molecule with a CW CO₂ laser having a tunability range of 300 MHz. The wavelength, polarization relative to that of CO₂ pumping radiation, and offset relative to the CO₂ center frequency were determined for all of the new lines and some other already known laser emissions. For all of them we give also the relative intensity and the optimum pressure of operation. Permanent address: Depto de Física e Química da FEIS — UNESP 15.378-000 Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil     

An investigation of the spectral content of a mode-locked pulsed CO2 laser

The frequency width of a pulse train in a pulsed mode-locked CO₂ laser has been accurately measured by means of a Fabry-Perot interferometer. We succeeded in resolving the longitudinal mode structure. The results are in excellent agreement with the results of previous measurements of the line width under lasing conditions.     

Studies on CO2 laser marking

The nature of CO₂ laser marking was studied with a view to putting these lasers to practical use in the semiconductor industry. The marking is found to be due to surface spattering rather than burning, which is the main factor in YAG laser marking. The visibility greatly increases by the application of a surface treatment such as marker ink, varnish or poster color. The CO₂ laser may therefore be used in place of the YAG laser, now widely used for marking, with some merits: CO₂ laser marking is cheaper and faster, and in addition there is no danger of injury from irradiating laser light.