1D-photonic crystals prepared from the amorphous chalcogenide films

We describe the preparation and optical properties of the 15-layer chalcogenide dielectric mirrors with the first order stop bands in near infrared range. The high refractive index Sb–Se and low refractive index Ge–S layers were deposited on silicon and glass substrates using thermal evaporation method. To centre the stop bands of the prepared chalcogenide mirrors at 1.55 μm, the layer thicknesses, d(Sb–Se) = 117 and d(Ge–S) = 183 nm, were calculated from the quarter wave stack condition. The optical reflectivity measurements revealed the total reflection from the 15-layer chalcogenide mirrors in the range of 1,400–1,600 nm for the unpolarized light with normal incidence. The effect of annealing on the optical properties of the prepared chalcogenide mirrors was studied as well. Using spectral ellipsometry, we examined the angular dependence of the multilayers reflectivity for the light with s- and p-polarization. The preparation of the dielectric mirrors for near infrared region from chalcogenide films seems to be possible exploiting good optical quality of chalcogenide films and their simple deposition.     

Diagnostic techniques and UV-induced degradation of the mirrors used in the Orsay storage ring free-electron laser

Due to its low gain, the Orsay storage ring free-electron laser necessitates the use of high reflectivity mirrors. Three techniques for measuring the mirror losses are presented, based on cavity decay time measurements using either an external laser, the synchrotron radiation stored in the cavity, or the free-electron laser itself. The high signal-to-noise ratio allowed the detection of loss variations as low as 10(-7)/sec(1/2). From these diagnostics three distinct processes of UV-induced degradation of TiO2/SiO2 dielectric mirrors were identified. One was a surface absorption of the upper SiO2-air interface; it was not affected by annealing. The other two corresponded to a volume absorption of the layers which completely recovered after annealing.     

Chromium-scandium multilayer mirrors for the nitrogen K(alpha) line in the water window region

Chromium-scandium (Cr-Sc) is a promising material combination for multilayer mirrors in the water window region. A possible x-ray source for laboratory use in this wavelength range is the nitrogen K(alpha) line at 3.16 nm. High reflectivities at this wavelength can be achieved with Cr-Sc multilayer mirrors if the interfaces between adjacent layers are smooth. The growth parameters of the magnetron sputtering process for these materials have been optimized. It is shown that the reflectivity of such mirrors can be considerably improved by the application of a proper bias voltage during film growth. The high quality of the multilayer films is demonstrated with copper K(alpha) x-ray reflection and transmission electron microscopy. The reflective properties of the multilayers close to the nitrogen K(alpha) line were measured with synchrotron radiation for different angles of incidence. Reflectivities between R = 5.9% for near-normal incidence (theta = 1.5 degrees) and R = 29.6% for theta = 59.9 degrees were measured.     

基于量子级联激光器的中远红外高反射率测量

利用光腔衰荡技术开展了中远红外波段的高反镜反射率测量研究.以中心波长9.7μm附近的脉冲量子级联激光器为光源,构建了高反射率测量实验装置.利用该装置对不同腔长下腔镜的反射率进行了测量,最终测定其反射率为99.9464%,测量重复性误差优于0.0014%.实验表明该测量装置重复性精度高,可用于中远红外高反镜反射率的精确测量.     

Interference-induced enhancement in the reflectivity of three-component X-ray mirrors

The possibility of enhancing the peak reflectivity of binary multilayer periodic structures by introducing additional layers, that is, by creating three-component mirrors, is considered. The parameters of substances, for which the three-component mirrors are advantageous to the traditional binary mirrors, are determined.     

Phase Multiplication

A new multiple-beam interference microscope is described. This makes use of very sensitive sharp fringes of equal thickness. These fringes can be produced in the double-layer interferometer with white, quasi-monochromatic or laser beams. The microscope consists of two inverted microscopes with conjugate mirrors such that the length of the first microscope is a multiple of that of the second one. The first microscope can be replaced by a multi-mode laser and the microscope with conjugate mirrors forms the image of the object either in transmission or at reflection. A high axial resolution can be obtained without reducing the transverse resolution. The volume resolution of the microscope with conjugate mirrors is increased pN times over that of the single-layer interference microscope, where p is the interference order and N is the reflectivity finesse.     

Interface engineered ultrashort period Cr-Ti multilayers as high reflectance mirrors and polarizers for soft x rays of lambda = 2.74 nm wavelength

Cr-Ti multilayers with ultrashort periods of 1.39-2.04 nm have been grown for the first time as highly reflective, soft-x-ray multilayer, near-normal incidence mirrors for transition radiation and Cherenkov radiation x-ray sources based on the Ti-2p absorption edge at E = 452 eV (lambda = 2.74 nm). Hard, as well as soft, x-ay reflectivity and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the nanostructure of the mirrors. To achieve minimal accumulated roughness, improved interface flatness, and to avoid intermixing at the interfaces, each individual layer was engineered by use of a two-stage ion assistance process during magnetron sputter deposition: The first 0.3 nm of each Ti and Cr layer was grown without ion assistance, and the remaining 0.39-0.72 nm of the layers were grown with high ion-neutral flux ratios phi (phiTi = 3.3, phiCr = 2.2) and a low energy Eion (ETi = 23.7 and ECr = 21.2), ion assistance. A maximum soft-x-ray reflectivity of R = 2.1% at near-normal incidence (approximately 78.8 degrees) was achieved for a multilayer mirror containing 100 bilayers with a modulation period of 1.379 nm and a layer thickness ratio of tau = 0.5. For a polarizing multilayer mirror with 150 bilayers designed for operation at the Brewster angle, 45 degrees, an extinction ratio, Rs/Rp, of 266 was achieved with an absolute reflectivity of R = 4.3%.     

Optimization of multilayer mirrors at 13.4 nm with more than two materials

The design of multilayer mirrors with more than two materials is one of the key technologies for investigating lithography. We study a new procedure for optimizing multilayer mirrors of different combinations of materials at a wavelength of 13.4 nm. By adding Be and C layers in different orders to a Si/Mo stack, we have observed enhancement of the reflectivity and a reduction in the number of layers. The Luus-Jaakola optimization procedure has been implemented for the global optimization of the multilayer mirrors. With this algorithm it is not necessary to specify initially the number of layers present in a given design.     

Experimental method for high-accuracy reflectivity-spectrum measurements

An experimental method for accurate measurements of the reflectivity spectrum of mirrors is presented. It combines the noise reduction obtained with multiple beam reflections on two identical mirrors; high-beam quality, owing to the use of single-mode optical fibers; and high immunity against intensity variations of the beam. This method is demonstrated for characterizing a 30-period GaAs/Al(0.65)Ga(0.35)As distributed Bragg reflector designed for long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. Its peak reflectivity is found to be 99.43 ? 0.04% at 1.562 mum, and an optical absorption coefficient of alpha = 36 ? 6 cm(-1) is derived. The peak internal reflectivity of this distributed Bragg reflector used as the top mirror in a wafer-fused vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser is calculated to be 98.87 ? 0.12%, and the transmission is 0.28%.     

Generation of microstripe cylindrical and toroidal mirrors by localized laser evaporation of fused silica

We report a new technique for the rapid fabrication of microstripe cylindrical and toroidal mirrors with a high ratio (>10) of the two principal radii of curvature (RoC₁/RoC₂), and demonstrate their effectiveness as mode-selecting resonator mirrors for high-power planar waveguide lasers. In this process, the larger radius of curvature (RoC₁) is determined by the planar or cylindrical shape of the fused silica substrate selected for laser processing, whilst the other (RoC₂) is produced by controlled CO₂ laser-induced vaporization of the glass. The narrow stripe mirror aperture is achieved by applying a set of partially overlapped laser scans, with the incident laser power, the number of laser scans, and their spacing being used to control the curvature produced by laser evaporation. In this work, a 1?mm diameter laser spot is used to produce grooves of cylindrical/toroidal shape with 240?μm width and 16?mm length. After high reflectance coating, these grooves are found to provide excellent mode selectivity as resonator mirrors for a 150?μm core Yb:YAG planar waveguide laser, producing high brightness output at more than 300?W. The results show clearly that the laser-generated microstripe mirrors can improve the optical performance of high-power planar waveguide lasers when applied in a low-loss mode-selective resonator configuration.     

Study of the reflectivity of ceramic materials for laser-cavity mirrors

High power lasers for industrial applications necessitate easy handling and ability to be subjected to fast movements. Thus, small volume and weight for these devices without prejudicing their accuracy of beam-fire and their integrity during the time is required. Solid state crystal Nd: YAG lasers were consequently considered. An important aspect under high power irradiation, is the system of mirrors of the cavity that must reflect back towards the laser active crystal source a sufficient radiant energy to activate laser pumping. At the same time the material of these mirrors must not degrade in short times (in the sense of industrial applications) and be sufficiently able to dissipate the produced heat. Ceramics are obvious candidates in particular alumina ceramic. After the test concerning the reflectivity of a wide range of white materials, it was realized that alumina ceramic is up to now the better and about which current technology allows easy manufacture of these mirrors. Certain rules must be followed to prepare white alumina mirrors able to maintain for sufficiently long times their reflectivity such as sintering at suitably high temperature in reducing atmosphere using very pure corundum-like spheroidal grains, correct granulometry of the utilized powders and treatment of the surface with a specific porcelain-like glaze before firing.     

Frequency-dependent graded reflectivity mirror: characterization and laser implementation

We present a theoretical and experimental investigation of a new family of variable reflectivity mirrors, based on frustrated total internal reflection and interference effects. These mirrors are sensitive to frequency in the sense that their transverse reflectivity distribution changes significantly as a function of the frequency of light. The mirror reported here shows total power reflectivity changes of 50% within 8.0 GHz. The mirror was tested as the output coupler of an unstable resonator in a Nd:YAG laser working in the free-running regime. This configuration was compared with the standard stable multimode resonator configuration. The beam divergence was reduced by more than 1 order of magnitude and the output power was reduced by only 10%. The laser resonator mode competition that is due to the frequency-dependent mirror reflectivity distribution is discussed.     

Mirrorless optical bistability in a semiconductor-doped-glass plate as a result of oblique incidence

A procedure to obtain optical bistability in a third-order nonlinear film (or parallel plate) of low refractive index without any external mirrors is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. If an s-polarized light is incident obliquely at a large angle of incidence on the film, the generation of optical bistability can be expected because of the resulting increase in the reflectivity at the surfaces. Arigorous analysis of the stationary transmission characteristics of the nonlinear film is done for both positive and negative nonlinear coefficients with a plane-wave model. In the experimental demonstration, a CdS(x)Se(1-x)doped glass (Hoya Y-52) plate and a cw Ar(+) laser are used as the nonlinear material and the light source, respectively. It is shown that three operations of optical bistability, optical limiting, and differential gain can be easily obtained through adjustment of the angle of incidence as an initial detuning. The measured nonlinearity is thermal, and the magnitude and sign of the nonlinear refractive index are determined.     

Design of multilayer extreme-ultraviolet mirrors for enhanced reflectivity

We show numerically that the reflectivity of multilayer extreme-UV (EUV) mirrors tuned for the 11-14-nm spectral region, for which the two-component, Mo/Be and Mo/Si multilayer systems with constant layer thickness are commonly used, can be enhanced significantly when we incorporate additional materials within the stack. The reflectivity performance of the quarter-wavelength multilayers can be enhanced further by global optimization procedures with which the layer thicknesses are varied for optimum performance. By incorporating additional materials of differing complex refractive indices-e.g., Rh, Ru, Sr, Pd, and RbCl-in various regions of the stack, we observed peak reflectivity enhancements of as much as ~5% for a single reflector compared with standard unoptimized stacks. We show that, in an EUV optical system with nine near-normal-incidence mirror surfaces, the optical throughput may be increased by a factor as great as 2. We also show that protective capping layers, in addition to protecting the mirrors from environmental attack, may serve to improve the reflectivity characteristics.     

Highly efficient (infra)red conversion of InGaN light emitting diodes by nanocrystals, enhanced by colour selective mirrors

Colloidal nanocrystal layers deposited onto the enclosure of InGaN light emitting diodes are demonstrated to operate as nano-phosphors for colour conversion with high colour stability. Depending on the choice of the nanocrystal material (either CdSe/ZnS or PbS nanocrystals are applied), the diode emission at 470?nm is converted to red or to infrared light, with similar quantum efficiencies. The colour conversion is further improved by dielectric mirrors with high reflectivity at the emission band of the nanocrystals, resulting in an almost doubling of the nanocrystal light extraction from the devices, which increases the nanocrystal device efficiency up to 19.1%.     

Multilayer silicon cavity mirrors for the far-infrared p-Ge laser

Multilayer mirrors capable of > 99.9% reflectivity in the far infrared (70-200 microm wavelengths) were constructed using thin silicon etalons separated by empty gaps. Calculations indicate that only three periods are required to produce 99.9% reflectivity because of the large difference between the index of refraction of silicon (3.384) and the vacuum (1). The mirror was assembled from high-purity silicon wafers, with resistivity over 4000 omega cm to reduce free-carrier absorption. Wafers were double-side polished with faces parallel within 10 arc sec. The multilayer mirror was demonstrated as a cavity mirror for the far-infrared p-Ge laser. Dependence of reflectivity on design accuracy was considered.     

Near infrared quazi-omnidirectional reflector in chalcogenide glasses

The quazi-omnidirectional reflector was designed as a planar quarter wave stack consisting of the alternating amorphous chalcogenide Ge₂₅S₇₅ and Sb₄₀Se₆₀ films. Photonic bandgap calculation of the intended reflector predicted 240 nm omnidirectional and 450 nm normal incidence first-order bandgaps centred near 1.55 μm for appropriate values of the index of refraction and thickness of the films. The TEM and HR-TEM images of the prepared 7.5 pairs reflector verified good periodicity, smooth interface and amorphous structure of the chalcogenide films deposited by thermal and flash evaporation, respectively. The optical reflectivity measurements revealed 98.8% normal incidence stopband of the reflector at 1.55 μm. We also report the ellipsometry study of the prepared reflector. The TEM and ellipsometry studies confirmed the thickness variation of prepared individual layers to be ±7 and ±9 nm, respectively, compared to theoretical predictions.     

Leistungsfähige Spiegel für solarthermische Kraftwerke

High efficient mirrors for Concentrating Solar Power plants Mirrors are an essential component of CSP plants. Wet chemically coated silver mirrors supplied by Flabeg GmbH achieve an average specular and solar weighted reflectivity of 94.4%. Almost 30 years of field experience prove the durability of the coating. First surface mirrors could provide higher reflectivity, but so far either the necessary durability is not met or the costs are not competitive. Another approach to increase reflectivity is to equip the mirror with an antisoiling coating. This type of mirror is currently under field testing, showing already promising results. New paint systems for silvered mirrors will expand the locations for power plants to the shore or into tropical regions.     

Interface quality and thermal stability of laser-deposited metal/MgO multilayers

Metal/MgO multilayers (metal of Fe, Ni80Nb20, and Ti) with bilayer periods in the range 1.2-3.0 nm have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition and characterized by both hard and soft-x-ray reflectometry. The interface roughness is found to be < or = 0.5 nm in all the samples and is nearly independent of the total number of deposited bilayers. The interface roughness, however, depends on the absolute thickness of the individual layers and increases from approximately 0.3 nm for a 3.0-nm period to approximately 0.5 nm for a bilayer period of 1.2 nm. The multilayers are found to be highly stable up to temperatures as high as 550 degrees C. The hard-x-ray reflectivity of the multilayers decreases for T > 300 degrees C, whereas the layered structure is stable up to 550 degrees C. The reflectivity in the water window region of soft x rays, lambda = 3.374 nm, was found to be 0.4% at an angle of incidence of approximately 54 degrees for multilayers with 60 bilayers at a period of approximately 2.1 nm.     

Highly dispersive mirror in Ta2O5/SiO2 for femtosecond lasers designed by inverse spectral theory

A highly dispersive mirror for dispersion compensation in femtosecond lasers is designed by inverse spectral theory. The design of a simple quarter-wave Bragg reflector can be modified by moving the poles in the optical impedance found in the photonic stop band. These spectral quantities are used as independent variables in the numerical optimization because they have no effect on the location of the photonic stop band, and so the design requirements to obtain a high reflectivity and a specific delay spectrum are decoupled. The design was fabricated by ion-beam sputtering. A group delay dispersion of -300 fs(2) was measured over a bandwidth of 28 nm, with a remaining reflectivity of greater than 99% in this range. The mirrors were used to make two Ti:sapphire lasers with 10- and 4-mm-long crystals, both of which generated near-transform-limited pulses of 35-fs duration. Because of the high dispersion of the mirrors, the laser cavities needed only five and three bounces from the mirrors, thus keeping reflection losses to a minimum.