Absorption of laser-radiation energy by femtosecond laser spark in air

The fraction of focused femtosecond laser radiation energy absorbed by a laser-induced spark in air has been studied. It is established that the absorbed energy exhibits nonlinear growth with increasing energy of the laser pulse. The threshold power for laser-induced spark formation in air is 5.2 GW.     

Diode-Pumped Cr:forsterite Laser Mode Locked by a Semiconductor Saturable Absorber

We report the passive mode locking of a diode-pumped Cr:forsterite laser using a semiconductor saturable absorber. The laser generates 10-pJ pulses as short as 1.5 ps in duration with ~650 mW of absorbed pump power. We measured the transient reflectance of the saturable absorber mirror under different incident energy fluences by using a standard pump-probe method. The performance of this laser is also compared with a high-power fiber-laser-pumped femtosecond forsterite laser mode locked with the same absorber.     

Differences in the evolution of surface-microstructured silicon fabricated by femtosecond laser pulses with different wavelength

We experimentally investigate the differences in the evolution of surface-microstructured silicon fabricated by femtosecond laser pulses with different wavelength as a function of irradiated laser energy. The results show that when laser energy absorbed by the silicon material is the same, laser pulses with a shorter wavelength can form the surface-microstructured silicon with less laser energy, while the corresponding spike height is much lower than that of laser pulses with a longer wavelength. This is because the penetration depth of the laser pulses increases exponentially at the increase of the laser wavelength. Additionally, for two laser pulses with the certain wavelength and the certain absorption efficiency of silicon, the proportional relations between their formed spike height and irradiated laser energy should be determined. In particular, the average spike height is 3 times with 8 times corresponding energy for 800 nm laser pulses than that of 400 nm. These results are a benefit for the fast and optimum-morphology preparation of microstructured silicon.     

Application of femtosecond-laser induced nanostructures in optical memory

The femtosecond laser induced micro- and nanostructures for the application to the three-dimensional optical data storage are investigated. We have observed the increase of refractive index due to local densification and atomic defect generation, and demonstrated the real time observation of photothermal effect after the femtosecond laser irradiation inside a glass by the transient lens (TrL) method. The TrL signal showed a damped oscillation with about an 800 ps period. The essential feature of the oscillation can be reproduced by the pressure wave creation and propagation to the outward direction from the irradiated region. The simulation based on elastodynamics has shown that a large thermoelastic stress is relaxed by the generation of the pressure wave. In the case of soda-lime glass, the velocity of the pressure wave is almost same as the longitudinal sound velocity at room temperature (5.8 microm/ns). We have also observed the localized photo-reduction of Sm3+ to Sm2+ inside a transparent and colorless Sm(3+)-doped borate glass. Photoluminescence spectra showed that some the Sm3+ ions in the focal spot within the glass sample were reduced to Sm2+ ions after femtosecond laser irradiation. A photo-reduction bit of 200 nm in three-dimensions can be recorded with a femtosecond laser and readout clearly by detecting the fluorescence excited by Ar+ laser (lambda = 488 nm). A photo-reduction bit can be also erased by photo-oxidation with a cw Ar+ laser (lambda = 514.5 nm). Since photo-reduction bits can be spaced 150 nm apart in a layer within glass, a memory capacity of as high as 1 Tbit can be achieved in a glass piece with dimensions of 10 mm x 10 mm x 1 mm. We have also demonstrated the first observation of the polarization-dependent periodic nanostructure formation by the interference between femtosecond laser light and electron acoustic waves. The observed nanostructures are the smallest embedded structures ever created by light. The period of self-organized nanostructures can be controlled from approximately 140 to 320 nm by the pulse energy and the number of irradiated pulses. Furthermore, we have also observed the self-assembled sub-wavelength periodic structures created in silica glass by femtosecond pulses on the plane of the propagation of light.     

Silicon precipitation via photoinduced reaction using femtosecond laser

Silicon precipitation inside a glass is an important technique for silicon photonics. We successfully precipitated silicon inside silicate glasses containing an Al metal film using femtosecond laser irradiation. First, the Al-inserted sandwiched glass was fabricated by the direct bonding method. The results of a tensile test indicated that the adhesive strength of the sandwich structure reached approximately 4 MPa. Next, femtosecond laser pulses were focused at the Al/glass interface in the sandwich structure. A transmission electron microscopy photograph at the focus of the laser showed that the Al particles were dispersed into the glass substrate to a depth of approximately 2 microm from the initial Al layer. In addition, Raman spectra indicated that silicon had formed at the interface between the glass and Al film after the laser irradiation. The morphology or the particle size of the precipitated silicon was successfully modified by changing the repetition rate or the pulse energy of the laser.     

Comparison of ultraviolet femtosecond and nanosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis in glass, monazite, and zircon

We compared the analytical performance of ultraviolet femtosecond and nanosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). The benefit of ultrafast lasers was evaluated regarding thermal-induced chemical fractionation, that is otherwise well known to limit LA-ICPMS. Both lasers had a Gaussian beam energy profile and were tested using the same ablation system and ICPMS analyzer. Resulting crater morphologies and analytical signals showed more straightforward femtosecond laser ablation processes, with minimal thermal effects. Despite a less stable energy output, the ultrafast laser yielded elemental (Pb/U, Pb/Th) and Pb isotopic ratios that were more precise, repeatable, and accurate, even when compared to the best analytical conditions for the nanosecond laser. Measurements on NIST glasses, monazites, and zircon also showed that femtosecond LA-ICPMS calibration was less matrix-matched dependent and therefore more versatile.     

Numerical simulations of heating patterns and tissue temperature response due to high-intensity focused ultrasound

The results of this paper show-for an existing high intensity, focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer-the importance of nonlinear effects on the space/time properties of wave propagation and heat generation in perfused liver models when a blood vessel also might be present. These simulations are based on the nonlinear parabolic equation for sound propagation and the bio-heat equation for temperature generation. The use of high initial pressure in HIFU transducers in combination with the physical characteristics of biological tissue induces shock formation during the propagation of a therapeutic ultrasound wave. The induced shock directly affects the rate at which heat is absorbed by tissue at the focus without significant influence on the magnitude and spatial distribution of the energy being delivered. When shocks form close to the focus, nonlinear enhancement of heating is confined in a small region around the focus and generates a higher localized thermal impact on the tissue than that predicted by linear theory. The presence of a blood vessel changes the spatial distribution of both the heating rate and temperature.     

THz generation from plasmonic nanoparticle arrays

We investigate the generation of THz pulses when arrays of silver nanoparticles are irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses, providing the first reproducible experimental evidence in support of recent theoretical predictions of such an effect. We assess our results in the context of a model where photoelectrons are produced by plasmon-mediated multiphoton excitation, and THz radiation is generated via the acceleration of the ejected electrons by ponderomotive forces arising from the inhomogeneous plasmon field. By exploring the dependence of the THz emission on the femtosecond pulse intensity and as a function of metal nanoparticle morphology, and by comparing measurements to numerical modeling, we are able to verify the role of the particle plasmon mode in this process.     

Clustered gases as a medium for efficient plasma waveguide generation

Clustered gas jets are shown to be an efficient means for plasma waveguide generation, for both femtosecond and picosecond generation pulses. These waveguides enable significantly lower on-axis plasma density (less than 10(18) cm(-3)) than in conventional hydrodynamic plasma waveguides generated in unclustered gases. Using femtosecond pump pulses, self-guided propagation and strong absorption (more than 70%) are used to produce long centimetre scale channels in an argon cluster jet, and a subsequent intense pulse is coupled into the guide with 50% efficiency and guided at above 10(17)W cm(-2) intensity over 40 Rayleigh lengths. We also demonstrate efficient generation of waveguides using 100 ps axicon-generated Bessel-beam pump pulses. Despite the expected sub-picosecond cluster disassembly time, we observe long pulse absorption efficiencies up to a maximum of 35%. Simulations show that in the far leading edge of the long laser pulse, the volume of heated clusters evolves to a locally uniform and cool plasma already near ionization saturation, which is then efficiently heated by the remainder of the pulse.     

Controlling semiconductor nanoparticle size distributions with tailored ultrashort pulses

The laser generation of size-controlled semiconductor nanoparticle formation under gas phase conditions is investigated. It is shown that the size distribution can be changed if picosecond pulse sequences of tailored ultra short laser pulses (<200?fs) are employed. By delivering the laser energy in small packages, a temporal energy flux control at the target surface is achieved, which results in the control of the thermodynamic pathway the material takes. The concept is tested with silicon and germanium, both materials with a predictable response to double pulse sequences, which allows deduction of the materials' response to complicated pulse sequences. An automatic, adaptive learning algorithm was employed to demonstrate a future strategy that enables the definition of more complex optimization targets such as particle size on materials less predictable than semiconductors.     

高频超短脉冲激光诱导玻璃内LiNbO3晶体生长

使用聚焦的800nm，120fs，200kHz的高频超短脉冲激光在Li20-Nb20s-SiO2系玻璃内部空间选择性析出了LiNbO3晶体．经一定条件的飞秒激光照射数秒钟后，玻璃内部激光会聚点的发光由原来的白色转变为强的蓝绿色．发光光谱测定表明，所产生韵蓝绿光为飞秒激光的倍频光．显微拉曼光谱测定表明，飞秒激光会聚处析出了LiNbO3晶体。     

Heat Transport Analysis of Femtosecond Laser Ablation with Full Lagrangian Modified Molecular Dynamics

The purpose of this study is to analyze the heat transport mechanism of femtosecond laser ablation. Under the condition that laser pulse duration is on the order of femtoseconds, a thermal nonequilibrium state between an electron and atom exists and must be taken into account. In order to describe physical phenomena such as heat transport under a nonequilibrium state, a new method, modified molecular dynamics in which molecular dynamics (MD) couples with the two-temperature model (TTM) in a particle-based method, is proposed. In this method, MD simulates the motion of an atom and TTM simulates both electron heat conduction and energy exchange through electron-atom interactions. This approach yields the use of laser intensity as a parameter. For nonequilibrium heat transport, electron heat conduction transports most of the absorbed laser energy and becomes the dominant heat transport mechanism. At thermal equilibrium, above the ablation threshold fluence, electron heat conduction and thermal waves are dominant, while below the ablation threshold fluence, only electron heat conduction is dominant.     

Third-harmonic generation imaging of laser-induced breakdown in glass

We present the results of three-dimensional third-harmonic generation imaging of laser-induced breakdown in glass by focused microjoule femtosecond near-IR pulses. This technique has the potential to resolve three dimensionally microstructures that result from laser-induced breakdown. As a potential optical data storage approach it is shown that the same IR laser beam can be used for writing and, at a lower power, for reading. The induced microdamage is shown to be three dimensionally confined and to depend on the write power.     

飞秒激光烧蚀面齿轮材料的齿面表层形态研究

针对面齿轮材料18Cr2Ni4WA,研究飞秒激光辐照面齿轮材料的热力效应,建立飞秒激光烧蚀面齿轮温度-应力耦合模型,分析多脉冲时不同能量密度下电子温度、晶格温度以及热应力的变化过程。结果表明：电子温度、晶格温度以及热应力随激光能量密度的增大而增大。实验和仿真的对比结果说明,烧蚀齿面表层为残余压应力,烧蚀深度和凹坑直径随激光能量密度的增加而增大,较大的激光能量密度会产生较多的熔融物,降低飞秒激光加工质量,当能量密度为1.78 J/cm2时,齿面表层形态较好。本文为提高飞秒激光精微烧蚀面齿轮质量提供了研究基础。     

Deposition of CdS thin films onto Si(111) substrate by PLD with femtosecond pulse

The effect of laser fluence (laser incident energy in the range of 0.5-1.5 mJ/pulse with the same laser spot size of 0.5 mm × 0.7 mm) on the structural quality and optical properties synthesized by femtosecond pulsed-laser deposition has been studied. The structural quality and optical properties of the deposited CdS thin films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence measurement. The studies revealed an improvement in the structural quality and optical properties of the CdS thin films with increasing the laser fluence in some range. However, too high laser fluence could lead to the structural quality and optical properties of the CdS thin films to degrade. We defined the optimum laser incident energy was around 1.2 mJ/pulse. And the kinetic energy of the plasma produced by femtosecond laser strongly affects the structure and properties of the deposited CdS thin films.     

The Generation of a Dense Hot Plasma by Intense Subpicosecond Laser Pulses

A simple model is developed for describing the interaction of intense femtosecond laser pulses with solid-state targets which is based on a set of equations of two-temperature hydrodynamics for electrons and ions of a plasma formed upon ionization of the target matter, equations describing the variation of ion composition of plasma upon ionization and the heat energy expenditure on thermal ionization, and equations defining the energy contribution by laser radiation to the target matter. A self-similar solution is suggested which well describes the heating of plasma electrons during the time of effect of a femtosecond laser pulse in a wide range of its parameters. Lagrangian computer codes developed for this purpose are used to derive, in a one-dimensional approximation, a numerical solution for the set of equations for the parameters corresponding to femtosecond experimental facilities under development in Germany and Russia. Profiles of hydrodynamic quantities (electron and ion temperature, plasma pressure and density, mean ion charge) obtained in the numerical solution at different moments of time may be used for preliminary assessment of the results of future experiments with a view to optimizing their parameters.     

Elastic light scattering from single microparticles on a femtosecond time scale

Experimentally measured and theoretically calculated elastic light-scattering spectra from single microparticles illuminated by 100-fs pulses are presented. Although in the theoretical calculation only a single incoming femtosecond laser pulse was used, the spectral behavior of scattered light shows all the features seen in the experimental spectrum from many femtosecond pulses, including morphology-dependent resonances (MDR's). The good agreement between experimental and theoretical elastic light-scattering data has stimulated a theoretical investigation of the time-dependent behavior of the elastically scattered light from a single microparticle on a femtosecond time scale. Since the spatial pulse length of the incoming laser pulse is smaller than the particle circumference, the temporal behavior of reflection, diffraction, refraction, and coupling into MDR's can be distinguished. Since the time-dependent scattering is strongly dependent on particle size, refractive index, and pulse chirp, it may be possible to encode several bits of information into a single laser pulse and therefore to increase optical data communication rates.     

飞秒激光诱导玻璃内Ba2TiSi2O8晶体的析出

使用聚焦后的800nm,150fs,250kHz的高重复频率飞秒脉冲激光器能够在BaO-TiO₂-SiO₂组分的玻璃内部三维选择性地诱导Ba₂TiSi₂O₈晶体的析出. 发光光谱显示这种晶体把入射的800nm光转化成了400nm的蓝光,因此这种析出的晶体具有非线性倍频特性. 通过拉曼光谱测定,在当前的玻璃组分中析出的晶体是Ba₂TiSi₂O₈. 研究表明,经250kHz的飞秒激光辐照一段时间后,在玻璃内部由于脉冲能量的连续沉积会使得激光辐照区域出现热积累效应,因此,该辐照区域的温度会不断升高以致超过玻璃析晶温度,最终诱导玻璃熔融析晶. 此外,对飞秒激光辐照区域不同部位进行拉曼光谱检测,结果表明：在整个区域Ba₂TiSi₂O₈晶体的析出呈现中间比外围明显的分布特点,因此晶体析出与辐照形成的温度梯度场有密切关系.     

Femtosecond regenerative amplification in Cr:forsterite

We describe an oscillator-amplifier laser system for the generation of high-power femtosecond pulses near 1.25 mum based on chromium-doped forsterite. Chirped-pulse amplification at a 1-kHz repetition rate raises the pulse energy to >350 muJ. The nearly transform-limited 200-muJ, 135-fs-long recompressed pulses have a peak power of approximately 1.5 GW.