Development of the 2.8 microm emission doubly shifted Raman laser using stimulated Brillouin scattering in a cascaded cavity

A doubly shifted Raman laser using CH(4) gas has been developed for 2.8 microm generation, pumped by a Nd:YAG laser with 65.5 mJ at 17 ns. A dichroically coated meniscus-type lens is modified to utilize the backward stimulated Brillouin scattering and backward Stokes beams from a previous laser design [Appl. Opt.46, 5516-5521 (2007)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.46.005516]. A maximum output energy of 4.76 mJ at 2.80 microm wavelength has been achieved in the cascaded resonator. A maximum conversion efficiency of 8.9% has been achieved at a CH(4) gas pressure of 600 psi. The obtained spatial beam profile is quite smooth, and its output pulse width is 10 ns.     

Multi-wavelength raman imaging using a small-diameter image guide with a dimension-reduction imaging array

A commercially available fiber-optic Raman probe was modified for high-resolution spectral Raman imaging using a 350 microm diameter optical fiber image guide coupled to a dimension-reduction imaging array (DRIA). The DRIA comprised 672 optical fibers, arranged as a square array (21 x 32 fibers) on one end and a linear array (672 x 1 fibers) on the other. An imaging spectrograph was used with the DRIA to acquire multi-wavelength Raman images from -250 to 1800 cm(-1) at a spectral resolution of approximately 5 cm(-1). The utility of this technique for in situ and remote Raman imaging is demonstrated by monitoring the polymerization of a model polymer, dibromostyrene (DBS), while simultaneously measuring the Raman Stokes/ anti-Stokes ratio as a function of sample heating time, over a sample area of approximately 4 x 1.6 mm.     

Evaluation of Nd:YAG-pumped Raman shifter as a broad-spectrum light source

We have examined the utility of a gas-filled, Nd:YAG-laser-pumped Raman shifter as a possible broad-spectrum light source. Six to nine new output frequencies with pulse energies above 1 μJ are produced when a pure-hydrogen or pure-methane Raman shifter is pumped with 40 mJ of secondharmonic, 20 mJ of third-harmonic, or 11 mJ of fourth-harmonic pump pulse energy. Optimum output occurs at pressures of approximately 10 atm for the pure-gas experiments. We also report the output frequencies and pulse energies of a mixed hydrogen-methane Raman shifter pumped by 20 mJ of the third harmonic of the laser for various proportions of the two gases at pressures up to nearly 20 atm. Depending on composition and pressure, over a dozen new output lines with pulse energies over 1 μJ can be produced. We discuss the nonlinear processes involved, the optimum operating conditions, and the suitability of the source for our application of groundwater monitoring.     

Operation of a Ti:sapphire laser pumped by a 499-nm green laser

We report, for the first time, to our knowledge, the operation of a tunable Ti:sapphire laser pumped by a third-order Raman XeCl-H(2) laser system at 499 nm with a 60-ns pulse duration. The slope efficiency is 59% for this laser, producing pulses of 20-ns duration. The highest conversion-energy efficiency obtained is 41%, with an output energy of 1.2 mJ. The tuning range for a single set of cavity mirrors is 680-834 nm and is limited mainly by the mirror reflectivity. This study shows that a combined laser system based on a XeCl excimer laser can offer wavelength diversity.     

On-line reaction monitoring in the liquid phase using two mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers simultaneously

On-line monitoring of a model reaction was performed by employing two pulsed mid-infrared Fabry-Pérot quantum cascade lasers (QCL). The emission maxima of the QCLs were located at 1393 and 1080 cm(-1). An optical system of parabolic mirrors and a ZnSe beam splitter combined the two laser beams and allowed a transmission cell to be probed with both QCLs simultaneously. The reaction mixture was pumped continuously through a cell that had an optical path of 48 microm. This dual QCL system allowed fast absorption measurements of the reaction mixture at two distinct wavenumbers. The reaction under study was the oxidation of sulfite to sulfate with hydrogen peroxide acting as oxidant. On-line measurements of the chemical reaction allowed direct, real-time monitoring of sulfate formation and hydrogen peroxide depletion.     

Stand-off detection of solid targets with diffuse reflection spectroscopy using a high-power mid-infrared supercontinuum source

We measure the diffuse reflection spectrum of solid samples such as explosives (TNT, RDX, PETN), fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea), and paints (automotive and military grade) at a stand-off distance of 5 m using a mid-infrared supercontinuum light source with 3.9 W average output power. The output spectrum extends from 750-4300 nm, and it is generated by nonlinear spectral broadening in a 9 m long fluoride fiber pumped by high peak power pulses from a dual-stage erbium-ytterbium fiber amplifier operating at 1543 nm. The samples are distinguished using unique spectral signatures that are attributed to the molecular vibrations of the constituents. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) calculations demonstrate the feasibility of increasing the stand-off distance from 5 to ~150 m, with a corresponding drop in SNR from 28 to 10 dB.     

Rocketborne cryogenic (10 K) high-resolution interferometer spectrometer flight HIRIS: auroral and atmospheric IR emission spectra

A Michelson interferometer spectrometer cooled to 10 degrees by liquid helium was flown into an IBC class III aurora on 1 April 1976 from Poker Flat, Alas. The sensor, HIRIS, covered the spectral range 455-2500 wave numbers (4-22 microm) with a spectral resolution of 1.8 cm(-1) and an NESR of 5 x 10-12 W/cm2 scrm(-1) at 1000 cm(-1). An atmospheric emission spectrum was obtained every 0.7 sec over an altitude range of 70-125 km. Atmospheric spectra were obtained of CO2 (nu3), NO (Deltanu = 1), O3 (nu3) and CO2 (nu2). Auroral produced excitations were observed for each band, this being the first known measurement of auroral enhancements of O3 (nu3), 9.6 microm, and CO2 (nu2), 15 microm, emissions.     

Mid-infrared emission from laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a powerful analytical technique for detecting and identifying trace elemental contaminants by monitoring the visible atomic emission from small plasmas. However, mid-infrared (MIR), generally referring to the wavelength range between 2.5 to 25 microm, molecular vibrational and rotational emissions generated by a sample during a LIBS event has not been reported. The LIBS investigations reported in the literature largely involve spectral analysis in the ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-VIS-NIR) region (less than 1 microm) to probe elemental composition and profiles. Measurements were made to probe the MIR emission from a LIBS event between 3 and 5.75 microm. Oxidation of the sputtered carbon atoms and/or carbon-containing fragments from the sample and atmospheric oxygen produced CO(2) and CO vibrational emission features from 4.2 to 4.8 microm. The LIBS MIR emission has the potential to augment the conventional UV-VIS electronic emission information with that in the MIR region.     

Parametric down-conversion devices: The coverage of the mid-infrared spectral range by solid-state laser sources

The development of parametric down-conversion devices operating in the mid-infrared, from 3 μm to about 20 μm, based on non-oxide nonlinear optical crystals is reviewed. Such devices, pumped by solid-state laser systems operating in the near-infrared, fill in this spectral gap where no solid-state laser technology exists, on practically all time scales, from continuous-wave to femtosecond regime. The vital element in any frequency-conversion process is the nonlinear optical crystal and this represents one of the major limitations with respect to achieving high energies and average powers in the mid-infrared although the broad spectral tunability seems not to be a problem. Hence, an overview of the available mid-infrared nonlinear optical materials, emphasizing new developments like wide band-gap, engineered (mixed), and quasi-phase-matched crystals, is also included.     

High-energy hybrid Raman optical parametric amplifier eye safe laser source

A high-energy eye safe laser source at 1.54 μm is demonstrated experimentally by using a hybrid system of stimulated Raman scattering and optical parametric amplification pumped by a single 1.06-μm Nd:YAG laser source. This system overcomes some of the technical problems that occur in conventional eye safe lasers, such as optical breakdown and thermal blooming in the Raman laser, and thermal conduction problems in the erbium-doped glass solid-state laser that limit the repetition rate when high-energy output is sought. Thus this hybrid design provides a simple system that could provide a high pulse energy output (> 50 mJ) at a repetition rate of greater than 10 Hz.     

常温黑体光谱发射率校准技术研究

为了能够实现常温状态下的黑体光谱发射率的准确测量,基于连续可调激光器,搭建了一套中红外波段黑体光谱发射率测量装置。采用自行设计10 mA恒流源对MCT探测器进行驱动,测量结果的动态范围从7.29×10⁴提高到4.32×10⁵,有效提升了探测系统的动态范围。该装置实现了覆盖光谱范围7.5～10.6μm,发射率测量量值范围0.01～0.999 9的高精度测量,最优不确定度为4.0×10^-5(k=2)。     

Efficient Raman laser system using stimulated Brillouin scattering with different confocal parameters for CH(4)

We report the efficient Raman laser system with the wavelength of 1.54 microm from a passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with high-pressure methane gas. It has been known that the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) prevents the Raman conversion. The efficiency of the Raman conversion, however, has been greatly enhanced with a specially designed lens to use a backward-stimulated Brillouin in our scheme. The special lens has a focal length of 12 cm, and a maximum conversion efficiency of 51% has been obtained with the first-Stokes energy of 32 mJ and the residual pump energy of 30 mJ at 1,400 psi. Comparing two resonators with different focal lengths of the lenses, we have found that backward-SBS can be greatly enhanced by use of the shorter focal length of 12 cm, and the enhanced backward-SBS helps to increase the conversion efficiency.     

Retrieval of stratospheric aerosol size and composition information from solar infrared transmission spectra

Infrared transmission spectra were recorded by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory MkIV interferometer during flights aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft as part of the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition II (AASE II) mission in the early months of 1992. In our research, we infer the properties of the stratospheric aerosols from these spectra. The instrument employs two different detectors, a HgCdTe photoconductor for 650-1850 cm(-1) and an InSb photodiode for 1850-5650 cm(-1), to simultaneously record the solar intensity throughout the mid-infrared. These spectra have been used to retrieve the concentrations of a large number of gases, including chlorofluorocarbons, NOy species, O3, and ozone-depleting gases. We demonstrate how the residual continua spectra, obtained after accounting for the absorbing gases, can be used to obtain information about the stratospheric aerosols. Infrared extinction spectra are calculated for a range of modeled aerosol size distributions and compositions with Mie theory and fitted to the measured residual spectra. By varying the size distribution parameters and sulfate weight percent, we obtain the microphysical properties of the aerosols that best fit the observations. The effective radius of the aerosols is found to be between 0.4 and 0.6 microm, consistent with that derived from a large number of instruments in this post-Pinatubo period. We demonstrate how different parts of the spectral range can be used to constrain the range of possible values of this size parameter and show how the broad spectral bandpass of the MkIV instrument presents a great advantage for retrieval ofboth aerosol size a nd composition over instruments with a more limited spectral range. The aerosol composition that provides the best fit to the measured spectra is a 70-75% sulfuric acid solution, in good agreement with that obtained from thermodynamic considerations.     

Mid-Infrared-Wavelength Generation in 2-mum Pumped Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate

A periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric oscillator pumped by a Tm:YAG laser at 2.0124-mum wavelength has been demonstrated. A pump pulse energy of 5.1 mJ generated 0.65 mJ of signal and idler pulse energy at a 50-Hz repetition frequency with a 27.8-mum domain-period-length grating. The lithium niobate crystal at a temperature of 180 degrees C yielded 3.61- and 4.55-mum signal and idler wavelengths, respectively. Wavelength tuning over a wide range was achieved with domain-period lengths from 25.5 to 28.2 mum and crystal temperature tuning from 50 to 180 degrees C. Signal wavelengths of 3.26-3.76 mum and idler wavelengths of 4.33-5.34 mum were generated.     

YAG Laser End and Side Pumped by a Laser Diode

A combined end and side pump approach for a YAG laser pumped by a laser diode is proposed. The theoretical analysis of the total pump efficiency of the end and side pump module is presented. A laser-diode-pumped YAG laser is successfully demonstrated by use of this pump configuration. The experimental pump threshold is 81.2 mJ, the maximum output is 4.4 mJ, and the optical efficiency is approximately 3.1% for Q-switched operation of the YAG laser.     

In-line broadband 270 degrees (3lambda/4) chevron four-reflection wave retarders

The net differential phase shift Delta(t) introduced between the orthogonal p and s linear polarizations after four successive total internal reflections inside an in-line chevron dual-Fresnel-rhomb retarder is a function of the first internal angle of incidence phi and prism refractive index n. Retardance of 3lambda/4 (i.e., Delta(t)=270 degrees) is achieved with minimum angular sensitivity when phi=45 degrees and n=1.900822. Several optical glasses with this refractive index are identified. For Schott glass SF66 the deviation of Delta(t) from 270 degrees is < or = 4 degrees over a wavelength range of 0.55 < or = lambda < or = 1.1 microm in the visible and near-IR spectrum. For a SiC prism, whose totally reflecting surfaces are coated with an optically thick MgF(2) film, Delta(t)=270 degrees at two wavelengths: lambda(1)=0.707 microm and lambda(2)=4.129 microm. This coated prism has a maximum retardance error of approximately 5 degrees over > three octaves (0.5 to 4.5 microm) in the visible, near-, and mid-IR spectral range. Another mid-IR 3lambda/4 retarder uses a Si prism, which is coated by an optically thick silicon oxynitride film of the proper composition, to achieve retardance that differs from 270 degrees by < 0.5 degrees over the 3-5 microm spectral range.     

Polarization properties of retroreflecting right-angle prisms

The cumulative retardance Delta(t) introduced between the p and the s orthogonal linear polarizations after two successive total internal reflections (TIRs) inside a right-angle prism at complementary angles phi and 90 degrees - phi is calculated as a function of phi and prism refractive index n. Quarter-wave retardation (QWR) is obtained on retroreflection with minimum angular sensitivity when n=(sqr rt 2+1)(1/2)=1.55377 and phi =45 degrees. A QWR prism made of N-BAK4 Schott glass (n=1.55377 at lambda=1303.5 nm) has good spectral response (<5 degrees retardance error) over the 0.5-2 microm visible and near-IR spectral range. A ZnS-coated right-angle Si prism achieves QWR with an error of < +/- 2.5 degrees in the 9-11 microm (CO(2) laser) IR spectral range. This device functions as a linear-to-circular polarization transformer and can be tuned to exact QWR at any desired wavelength (within a given range) by tilting the prism by a small angle around phi =45 degrees. A PbTe right-angle prism introduces near-half-wave retardation (near-HWR) with a < or =2% error over a broad (4< or =lambda< or =12.5 microm) IR spectral range. This device also has a wide field of view and its interesting polarization properties are discussed. A compact (aspect ratio of 2), in-line, HWR is described that uses a chevron dual Fresnel rhomb with four TIRs at the same angle phi =45 degrees. Finally, a useful algorithm is presented that transforms a three-term Sellmeier dispersion relation of a transparent optical material to an equivalent cubic equation that can be solved for the wavelengths at which the refractive index assumes any desired value.     

Nd:YAG-pumped periodically poled LiNbO3 optical parametric generator seeded with the narrowband output of a 532-nm pumped optical parametric generator

We present a simple scheme to generate a continuously tunable pulsed narrow-bandwidth infrared wave. An Nd:YAG-pumped periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric generator (OPG) is seeded with the output of another OPG pumped by the second harmonic (0.532 microm) of the Nd:YAG laser. A tunable idler wave from the 0.532-microm pumped OPG, operated away from the degenerate point, provides a narrow linewidth seed source for the 1.064-microm pumped broadband OPG. Seeding forces the second OPG to operate in a narrowband operation comparable with that of the seed source. Linewidth of the YAG-pumped OPG is 5-25 nm, in the tuning range of 1.61-1.83 microm (signal), narrowed to 1.48-1.05 nm. Methods of further reduction of linewidth also have been discussed.     

End-pumped 1.5 microm monoblock laser for broad temperature operation

We describe a next-generation monoblock laser capable of a greater than 10 mJ, 1.5 microm output at 10 pulses/s (pps) over broad ambient temperature extremes with no active temperature control. The transmitter design is based on a Nd:YAG laser with a Cr4+ passive Q switch and intracavity potassium titanyl phosphate optical parametric oscillator. To achieve the repetition rate and efficiency goals of this effort, but still have wide temperature capability, the Nd:YAG slab is end pumped with a 12-bar stack of 100 W (each) diode bars. Different techniques for focusing the pump radiation into the 4.25 mmx4.25 mm end of the slab are compared, including a lensed design, a reflective concentrator, and a lens duct. A wide temperature operation (-20 degrees C to 50 degrees C) for each end-pumped configuration is demonstrated.     

Raman spectroscopic investigation of solid samples using a low-repetition-rate pulsed Nd:YAG laser as the excitation source

We tried to investigate the possibility of using a low-repetition-rate pulsed Nd:YAG laser as an excitation source in Raman measurements for solid samples. Based on the results from the Raman spectra excited by continuous wave (CW) 532 and 325 nm lasers, we studied the influence of laser energy and irradiation time of 532 and 355 nm pulsed Nd:YAG lasers (10 Hz repetition rate) on the thermal stability of (NH4)6Mo7O(24).4H2O, NH4VO3, and Ce(NO3)(3).6H2O samples, which usually decompose at relatively low temperatures. It is observed that the heating temperature estimated at these samples caused by the irradiation of 532 nm pulsed laser with 22 mJ is no higher than 100 degrees C even for 60 min exposure. The 355 nm pulsed laser with energies below 8.0 mJ hardly causes thermal damage to hydrated (NH4)6Mo7O24 and hydrated Ce(NO3)3 SAMPLES: However, a 355 nm pulsed laser with only 2.2 mJ causes heating temperatures as high as 200 degrees C in the NH4VO3 SAMPLE: These great differences should be attributed to the electronic absorbance of the above three samples at 355 nm. We also found that a 532 nm pulsed laser with even 22 mJ and a 355 nm pulsed laser with even 8.0 mJ do not cause the phase transition of TiO2 and ZrO2, whose phase transformation easily takes place at elevated temperatures, but pulsed lasers could remove some oxygen atoms from these samples. In addition, for L-alanine and DL-beta-phenylalanine biological samples, it is surprisingly found that they are not damaged by the 355 nm pulsed laser even when the laser energy is increased to 8.0 mJ, possibly because they do not absorb the 355 nm laser. Based on these results, it is demonstrated that low-repetition-rate pulsed lasers with appropriate wavelength and energy can be employed as the excitation sources of Raman spectroscopy for characterizing some solid samples, even the thermally unstable samples.