LASERIX: An open facility for developments of EUV and soft X-ray lasers and applications—Developments of XUV sources using high power laser facilities: ILE, ELI

LASERIX is a high-power laser facility leading to High-repetition-rate XUV laser pumped by Titanium:Sapphire laser. The aim of this laser facility is to offer Soft XRLs in the 30-7 nm range and auxiliary IR beam, which could also be used to produce synchronized XUV sources. In this contribution, the main results concerning both the development of XUV sources and their use for applications (irradiation of DNA samples) are presented, as well the present status and some perspectives for LASERIX.     

Interferometric time delay correction for Fourier transform spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet

We demonstrate a Fourier transform spectrometer in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectrum using a high-harmonic source, with wavelengths as short as 32 nm. The femtosecond infrared laser source is divided into two separate foci in the same gas jet to create two synchronized XUV sources. An interferometric method to determine the relative delay between the two sources is shown to improve the accuracy of the delay time, with corrections of up to 200 asec required. By correcting the time base before the Fourier transform, the frequency resolution is improved by up to an order of magnitude.     

Beam separator for high-order harmonic radiation in the 3-10 nm spectral region

We present the scheme of a beam separator for ultrashort high-order harmonic radiation below 10 nm. The system consists of a collimating mirror and two plane grazing-incidence gratings in compensated configuration. The first grating acts as the beam separator: it diffracts the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light into the first order while reflecting the fundamental laser beam into the zero order. The diffracted light goes to a second grating that compensates both for the spectral dispersion and for the temporal broadening of the XUV ultrashort pulse caused by the diffraction at the first grating. The system can be designed for any wavelength in the 3-40 nm region. Since the gratings are operated at extreme grazing incidence, the area of the optical surface illuminated by the fundamental laser pulse is large, and therefore there is no risk of damage of the optical surfaces. The effects on the phase of the ultrashort pulse for narrowband applications are discussed.     

Isolated sub-50 attosecond pulse generation driven by tricolor multi-cycle pulses

We theoretically investigate the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) driven by laser pulses with tri-color carrier wave in the multi-cycle regime. Through the modulation of the carrier wave, the peak of the return kinetic energy of the electron near the pulse center extends dramatically and the other peaks are suppressed by the envelope. Thus, a very broad continuum spectrum appears in the HHG. Moreover, due to the propagation effect, the long path of the electron for the continuum spectrum is eliminated effectively. Hence, the continuum spectrum is well-phase locked, from which an isolated sub-50 attosecond pulse could be obtained even for the driver pulse with duration of 30 fs.     

Probing time-resolved emission in laser-driven electron-multirescattering in a high-order harmonic generation

We present an ab initio study of quantitative extraction of the time–frequency spectra of multiple rescattering processes of the electrons driven by the mid-infrared laser field in a high-order harmonic generation (HHG). The HHG is calculated by solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation by means of the time-dependent generalized pseudospectral method. We extend a synchrosqueezed transform (SST) technique to extract the individual contributions of multiple rescattering processes in HHG. Combining with an extended semiclassical analysis and the SST time–frequency spectrum, the role of quantum trajectories in multiple rescattering processes in HHG is clarified. We find that the SST allows us to distinguish the individual contribution of multiple rescattering processes in HHG and show the details of the spectral and temporal fine structures of the HHG, which provides an important tool for a deep understanding to the dynamics of multiple rescattering processes in HHG.     

CW-diode laser crystallization of sputtered amorphous silicon on glass, SiNx, and SiO2 intermediate layers

CW-diode laser crystallization of amorphous silicon (a-Si) deposited by sputtering or by electron beam evaporation onto different substrates (glass without or with SiN_x or SiO₂ intermediate layers) is investigated. The resulting grain sizes and orientations are characterized by electron backscatter diffraction, optical microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. We demonstrate that 200 nm thick sputtered a-Si layers can be crystallized on all of the used substrates to result in grains from 1 up to 100 μm in size, depending on the laser irradiation parameters (intensity, exposure time). Electron beam evaporated a-Si films can be crystallized only on sputtered SiN_x intermediate layers to result in grains of 100 μm in size. Similar crystallographic film properties follow from laser treatment if the product of laser peak intensity and square root of exposure time is kept constant, independent of the scan velocity used. A high fraction of preferred (100)-oriented silicon grains can only be observed for samples with crystallites less than 10 μm in size.     

Dynamics of Induced Lightbeam Deflection in an Off-axis Geometry

Abstract

The induced deflection of a probe beam in an off-axis geometry is investigated with respect to its temporal and spatial evolution. A method for picosecond pulse duration measurement is proposed which seems to be especially promising in the UV and XUV region.     

Pump beam waist-dependent pulse energy generation in Nd:YAG/Cr4+:YAG passively Q-switched microchip laser

Abstract

The incident pump beam waist-dependent pulse energy generation in Nd:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG composite crystal passively Q-switched microchip laser has been investigated experimentally and theoretically by moving the Nd:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG composite crystal along the pump beam direction. Highest pulse energy of 0.4 mJ has been generated when the Nd:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG composite crystal is moved about 6 mm away from the focused pump beam waist. Laser pulses with pulse width of 1.7 ns and peak power of over 235 kW have been achieved. The theoretically calculated effective laser beam area at different positions of Nd:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG composite crystal along the pump beam direction is in good agreement with the experimental results. The highest peak power can be generated by adjusting the pump beam waist incident on the Nd:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG composite crystal to optimize the effective laser beam area in passively Q-switched microchip laser.     

Two-photon resonance-enhanced refractive-index change and self-focusing in a dye-solution-filled hollow fiber system

The general behavior of two-photon absorption-enhanced refractive-index change in a third-order nonlinear optical medium is briefly described. The nonlinear medium was the solution of a new dye, trans-4-[p-(N-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)styryl]-N-methyl pyridinium iodide (ASPI) in dimethyl sulfoxide as the solvent, that was poured into a 20-cm-long quartz hollow fiber of 100-mum internal diameter. This dye solution has a strong two-photon absorption and subsequent upconversion fluorescence emission when excited with 1064-nm laser radiation. When the input peak intensity reached 500-1500-MW/cm(2) levels, obvious changes in beam profiles of the output IR laser beam were observed due to a self-focusing or self-trapping process occurring inside the fiber system. As a result of this process, highly directional frequency-upconverted superradiant lasing output was obtained with a beam size ~5 times smaller than that of a linearly transmitted He-Ne probe laser beam. The demonstrated mechanism can be useful for fiber laser-amplifier and fiber-integrated optics devices.     

Ground-to-Satellite Narrow-Laser-Beam Pointing by Use of a Backscattered Image

A technique for transmitting a narrow laser beam from a ground station to a satellite has been developed. The principle of pointing a laser beam to a distant target in a scattering medium by use of a backscattered laser beam image is described. We calculated the intensity distribution of the image by using a typical model of atmospheric coefficients. The method was applied to transmit a laser beam from a ground station to Engineering Test Satellite-VI. The accuracy of pointing the laser beam to the satellite was approximately 10 murad in this experiment.     

Effect of Zn content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of laser beam-welded ZK series magnesium alloys

The effect of Zn content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of laser beam welded ZK series magnesium alloys (ZK21, ZK40, and ZK60) has been studied. Owing to the lower heat input, laser beam welding can successfully be employed to weld ZK series magnesium alloys having Zn content up to 4 wt%, which are difficult to weld by means of conventional arc welding. However, ZK60 is susceptible to solidification cracking and presents a poor weldability, which may originate from the net-like distribution of more Mg₅₁Zn₂₀ precipitates along grain boundaries (GBs) in the fusion zone (FZ). With increasing Zn content, the amount and size of precipitates along GBs in the FZ increase, and the morphology of grains in the FZ adjacent to fusion boundary changes from cellular to equiaxed dendritic. The grains in the FZ of ZK40 alloy are the finest among the three alloys, whose size is only about 4.8 μm, and the ZK40-welded joint achieves the highest ultimate tensile strength of 312 MPa, which is up to 90.4% of the base metal.     

Ti:sapphire laser cavity mode and pump-laser mode calculations

Comprehensive calculations of the cavity mode size throughout a Ti:sapphire laser, made with the ABCD Gaussian beam formalism are reported. These calculations show that the beam is not collimated, in general, in what are normally referred to as the collimated arms of the laser cavity. Additionally, the mode size and volume (in the gain medium) of the argon-ion laser, which is used to pump the Ti:sapphire laser optically, are evaluated for different focusing geometries, and graphs that can be used to select suitable mode-matching optics are produced. It is concluded that an appropriate strategy for mode matching the pump beam to the Ti:sapphire laser mode is to use a zoom telescope to tailor the collimated pump-laser beam diameter to an optimum value. Finally, comparisons of the pump-laser mode and the Ti:sapphire laser mode are presented for selected pumping geometries.     

Multifractality of laser beam spatial intensity in a turbulent medium

We present the results of a laser beam passing through a turbulent medium. First we measure the geometric parameters and the spatial coherence of the beam as a function of wind velocities. A multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis algorithm is applied to determine the multifractal scaling behavior of the intensity patterns. The measurements are fitted with models used in the analysis of river runoff records. We show the surprising result that the multifractality decreases when the spatial coherence of the laser is decreased. Universal scaling properties could be applied to the spatial characterization of a laser propagating in a turbulent medium or random medium.     

Speckle correlometry method for evaluating the transport scattering coefficient of a randomly inhomogeneous medium

We propose a method for evaluating the transport scattering coefficient of a randomly inhomogeneous medium, which is based on a correlation analysis of the intensity of laser radiation backscattered from the moving medium. The method employs a localized source of radiation (laser beam focused on the surface of medium) and makes use of the spatial filtration of detected scattered radiation in the image plane of the optical system with the aid of a programmed ring filter.     

Generation of stable and narrow spacing dual-wavelength ytterbium-doped fiber laser using a photonic crystal fiber

Abstract

We demonstrate the design and operation of novel narrow spacing and stable dual-wavelength fiber laser (DWFL). A 70-cm ytterbium-doped fiber has been chosen as the gain medium in a ring cavity arrangement. Our design includes a short length photonic crystal fiber, acting as a dual-wavelength stabilizer based on its birefringence coefficient and nonlinear behavior and tunable band pass filter (TBPF) to achieve narrow spacing spectrum lasing. Our laser output is considered to be highly stable, with power fluctuation less than 0.8 dB over a period of 15 min. The flexibility and tunability of TBPF, together with polarization controller enable the spacing tuning of the DWFL from 0.03 nm up to 0.07 nm for 1040 nm region, and 0.10 nm up to 0.40 nm for 1060 nm region. The tunable wavelength spacing shows the flexibility of the DWFL in addition to stable and reliable properties of fiber laser in 1-μm region.     

A combination of tapered fibre and polarization controller in generating highly stable and tunable dual-wavelength C-band laser

This paper demonstrates the use of a tapered fibre in generating a highly stable and tunable dual-wavelength fibre laser. By unique arrangement of polarization controller, adjustable spacing range between 0.94 and 3.32 nm and side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) up to 50 dB were recorded. The results were achieved at laser pump power of 94.7 mW. The inter-modal interference is achieved through the use of a non-adiabatic tapered fibre, made by a systematic flame brushing technique. The tapered fibre suppresses the mode competition in the 3-m erbium-doped fibre (EDF) gain medium. Over 60 min, the laser exhibited very high stability with acceptable peak power and SMSR. The proposed EDF laser operates from 1556.71 to 1562.13 nm range.     

Photoinduced enhancement of optical second harmonic generation in LiB3O5 nanocrystallites embedded between the Ag/ITO electrodes

It is reported that there is substantial enhancement of the optical second harmonic generation (SHG) at 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser wavelength for LiB₃O₅ nanocrystatllites embedded into the electric field aligned photopolymer oligoetheracrylate matrices. The borate nanocomposite was put between the electrodes containing Ag/ZnO NP with silver sizes 20, 40 and 60 nm. We study an influence of the Ag NP sizes on the output SHG. It is clearly seen that only excitation by the green continuous wave 532 nm laser with power about 350–400 mW with beam diameter about 4 mm give significant effect. The latter confirms a principal role of the surface plasmon resonances spectrally overlapped with the nonlinear excitations responsible for the observed changes of the SHG.     

Optimal control of laser beams for propagation through a turbulent medium

Concerning the problem of transmitting a laser beam from one telescope to another telescope through a turbulent medium, it is established that using an adaptive optical system on both telescopes to precompensate an outgoing laser beam based on the aberrations measured on the received laser beam leads to an iteration that maximizes the transmission (neglecting attenuation losses) of laser power between the telescopes. Simulation results are presented demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique when the telescopes are equipped with either phase-only or full-wave compensation systems. Simulation results are shown that indicate that for a uniform distribution of the strength of turbulence, 95% transmission of laser power is attained when both telescopes can achieve full-wave compensation provided that the aperture diameter D of the two telescopes is greater than twice the Fresnel length square root of lambdaL, where A is the wavelength of propagation and L is the distance between the two telescopes.     

Probing of a random phase screen by a focused spatially modulated laser beam. Diffraction at a large number of inhomogeneities

The contrast of the Young’s interference fringes formed in the diffraction field when a dynamic random phase screen is illuminated by a focused, spatially modulated laser beam is obtained analytically as a function of the statistical parameters of the screen. A threshold relative bleaching effect is established for a highly dispersive medium when a low-divergence illuminating beam is used. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 47–53 (October 12, 1997)     

High Speed Photon Number Resolving Detector with Titanium Transition Edge Sensor

We have developed new photon number resolving detectors with titanium transition edge sensors (Ti-TESs) for a high counting rate operation in quantum information. The titanium superconducting films were fabricated by ultra-high vacuum electron beam evaporation, and showed a sharp superconducting transition at 359 mK. The device was coupled to a single mode optical fiber, and cooled down to 100 mK. Some of optical responses of the devices were measured by illuminating heavily attenuated laser pulses at wavelengths of 405 and 1550 nm. As a result, the device showed a fast decay time constant of 300 ns, which enables the operation at the counting rate of 400 kcps. The energy resolution was 0.76 eV at 405 nm and 0.68 eV at 1.5 μm, that make it possible to clearly resolve the number of photons of incident laser pulses. These features of the high counting rate operation and the reasonable energy resolution are very promising for quantum information field.