Self-compression of femtosecond pulses in argon with a power close to the self-focusing threshold

Self-compression of femtosecond pulses in noble gases with an input power close to the self-focusing threshold has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. It is demonstrated that either multiphoton ionization (MPI) or space time focusing and self-steepening effects can induce pulse shortening, but they predominate at different beam intensities during the propagation. The latter effects play a key role in the final pulse self-compression. By choosing an appropriate focusing parameter, action distance of the space time focusing and self-steepening effects can be lengthened, which can promote a shock pulse structure with a duration as short as two optical cycles. It is also found that, for our calculation cases in which an input pulse power is close to the self-focusing threshold, either group velocity dispersion (GVD) or multiphoton absorption (MPA) has a negligible influence on pulse characteristics in the propagation process.

Filamentation control in the temperature gradient argon gas

A novel technique of controlling the evolution of the filamentation was experimentally demonstrated in an argon gas-filled tube. The entrance of the filament was heated by a furnace and the other end was cooled with air, which resulted in the temperature gradient distribution along the tube. The experimental results show that multiple filaments are merged into a single filament and then no filament by only increasing the temperature at the entrance of the filament. Also, the filament can appear and disappear after increasing the local temperature and input pulse energy in turn. This technique offers another degree of freedom to control the filamentation and opens a new way for multi-mJ level monocycle pulse generation through filamentation in the noble gas.

Pulse compression by filamentation in argon with an acoustic optical programmable dispersive filter for predispersion compensation

We have experimentally demonstrated pulses 0.4 mJ in duration smaller than 12 fs; with an excellent spatial beam profile by self-guided propagation in argon. The original 52 fs pulses from the chirped pulsed amplification laser system are first precompressed to 32 fs by inserting an acoustic optical programmable dispersive filter instrument into the laser system for spectrum reshaping and dispersion compensation, and the pulse spectrum is subsequently broadened by filamentation in an argon cell. By using chirped mirrors for post-dispersion compensation, the pulses are successfully compressed to smaller than 12 fs.

Compression of intense laser pulse through filamentation in an argon-filled cell

We demonstrate a pulse compression technique through filamentation in an argon-filled cell. By using a pair of chirped mirrors for dispersion compensation, we have successfully compressed the 53 fs pulse to 15 fs with good spatial qualities and good pulse stability. The total transmitted efficiency is more than 75%. The influence of the experiment parameters to the compressed pulses is also studied experimentally.

Effects and numerical analysis of argon gas flow on the oxygen concentration in Czochralski silicon single crystal growth

Argon gas, as a protective environment and carrier of latent heat, has an important effect on the temperature distribution in crystals and melts. Numeric simulation is a potent tool for solving engineering problems. In this paper, the relationship between argon gas flow and oxygen concentration in silicon crystals was studied systematically. A flowing stream of argon gas is described by numeric simulation for the first time. Therefore, the results of experiments can be explained, and the optimum argon flow with the lowest oxygen concentration can be achieved. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

INVESTIGATION OF NEGATIVE TRANSIENT CURRENT OF ARGON-IMPLANTED GAAS USING PHOTOINDUCED TRANSIENT-CURRENT SPECTROSCOPY

The investigation of deep levels of argon-implanted LEC-grown semi-insulating GaAs with implantation dosages ranging from 1 x 10(11) to 1 x 10(15) cm-2 has been performed. Using a photoinduced transient-current spectroscopy (PITCS) it was demonstrated that, for implantation dosages below 1 X 10(13) cm-2, a negative peak or negative transient current (NTC) was observed in the temperature range from 330 to 350 K. The magnitude of this negative peak increased with dosage up to a level of 1 X 10(12) cm-2, beyond which it decreased with dosage. The dosage dependence of the EL3 peak height and the resistance of the specimen have also been investigated. It was observed that the variation of the EL3 peak height with dosage was similar to the variation of the magnitude of the negative peak, that is the EL3 peak height likewise increased with dosage up to 1 X 10(12) cm-2, and then decreased. The resistance of the original high-resistivity specimen dropped abruptly when the dosage reached 1 X 10(12) cm-2. This critical dosage (1 X 10(12) cm-2) was found to be a threshold for the generation of a highly disordered state.

Pulse Compression by Filamentation in Argon with an Acoustic Optical Programmable Dispersive Filter for Predispersion Compensation

We have experimentally demonstrated pulses 0.4 mJ in duration smaller than 12 fs with an excellent spatial beam profile by self-guided propagation in argon. The original 52 fs pulses from the chirped pulsed amplification laser system are first precompressed to 32 fs by inserting an acoustic optical programmable dispersive filter instrument into the laser system for spectrum reshaping and dispersion compensation, and the pulse spectrum is subsequently broadened by filamentation in an argon cell. By using chirped mirrors for post-dispersion compensation, the pulses are successfully compressed to smaller than 12 fs.

Effects and numerical analysis of argon gas flow on the oxygen concentration in Czochralski silicon single crystal growth

Argon gas, as a protective environment and carrier of latent heat, has an important effect on the temperature distribution in crystals and melts. Numeric simulation is a potent tool for solving engineering problems. In this paper, the relationship between argon gas flow and oxygen concentration in silicon crystals was studied systematically. A flowing stream of argon gas is described by numeric simulation for the first time. Therefore, the results of experiments can be explained, and the optimum argon flow with the lowest oxygen concentration can be achieved. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.