Formation of nanogratings on the surface of a ZnSe crystal irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

Two collinear femtosecond laser pulses, one at wavelength of 800 nm and the other at 400 nm (double frequency), simultaneously irradiated the surface of ZnSe crystal, which resulted in regular nanograting with period of 180 nm on the whole ablation area. We attribute the formation of the nanograting to be due to the interference between the surface scattered wave of 800 nm lasers and the 400 nm light. The period of the nanograting Lambda is about lambda/2n, where n is refractive index of the sample, and lambda, the laser wavelength. This mechanism is supported by observation of rotation of the nanograting with the polarization of 400 nm light, and by the dependence of Lambda similar to lambda of the nanoripples on the surface of semiconductors and dielectrics.

Effect of cerium oxide on the precipitation of silver nanoparticles in femtosecond laser irradiated silicate glass

We investigated the effect of cerium oxide on the precipitation of Ag nanoparticles in silicate glass via a femtosecond laser irradiation and successive annealing. Absorption spectra show that Ce3+ ions may absorb part of the laser energy via multiphoton absorption and release free electrons, resulting in an increase of the concentration of Ag atoms and a decrease of the concentration of hole-trapped color centers, which influence precipitation of the Ag nanoparticles. In addition, we found that the formed Ag-0 may reduce Ce4+ ions to Ce3+ ions during the annealing process, which inhibits the growth of the Ag nanoparticles.

Three-dimensional micro- and nano-fabrication in transparent materials by femtosecond laser

Femtosecond pulsed lasers have been widely used for materials microprocessing. Due to their ultrashort pulse width and ultrahigh light intensity, the process is generally characterized by the nonthermal diffusion process. We observed various induced microstructures such as refractive-index-changed structures, color center defects, microvoids and microcracks in transparent materials (e.g., glasses after the femtosecond laser irradiation), and discussed the possible applications of the microstructures in the fabrication of various micro optical devices [e.g., optical waveguides, microgratings, microlenses, fiber attenuators, and three-dimensional (3D) optical memory]. In this paper, we review our recent research developments on single femtosecond-laser-induced nanostructures. We introduce the space-selective valence state manipulation of active ions, precipitation and control of metal nanoparticles and light polarization-dependent permanent nanostructures, and discuss the mechanisms and possible applications of the observed phenomena.

Comparison of femtosecond and nanosecond laser-induced damage in HfO2 single-layer film and HfO2-SiO2 high reflector

HfO2 single layers, 800 run high-reflective (HR) coating, and 1064 ran HR coating were prepared by electron-beam evaporation. The laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDTs) and damage morphologies of these samples were investigated with single-pulse femtosecond and nanosecond lasers. It is found that the LIDT of the HfO2 single layer is higher than the HfO2-SiO2 HR coating in the femtosecond regime, while the situation is opposite in the nanosecond regime. Different damage mechanisms are applied to study this phenomenon. Damage morphologies of all samples due to different laser irradiations are displayed. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Generation of 207-femtosecond pulses from a ytterbium figure-of-eight fibre laser

We report the generation of 207-fs pulses with 1.2mW average power at 1036 nm directly from a passively mode-locked Yb-doped fibre laser with a nonlinear optical loop mirror for mode-locking and pairs of diffraction gratings for intracavity dispersion compensation. These results imply a 4-fold reduction in pulse duration over previously reported figure-of-eight cavity passively mode-locked Yb-doped fibre lasers. Stable pulse trains are produced at the fundamental repetition rate of the resonator, 24.0MHz. On the other hand, this laser offers a cleaner spectrum and greater stability and is completely self-starting.

Frequency characteristics and dynamical behaviors of self-modulation in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The frequency characteristics of a VCSEL with a quarter-wave plate (QWP) and an external reflector are investigated with the translation matrix of the vectorial field. Two series of eigenmode with a shift of half the free spectrum range are linearly polarized, respectively, along the neutral axes of QWP. We also numerically explore the polarization self-modulation phenomenon by using a vectorial laser equation and considering the inhomogeneous broadening of the gain medium. If the external cavity is so short that the shift is bigger than the homogeneous broadening, two stable longitudinal modes oscillate, respectively, on the neutral axes of QWP because they consume different carriers. With a long external cavity, the competition of the modes for the common carriers causes the intensity fluctuation of the modes with a period of one round-trip time of the external cavity.

Semi-gas kinetics model for performance modeling of flowing chemical oxygen-iodine lasers (COIL)

A semi-gas kinetics (SGK) model for performance analyses of flowing chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) is presented. In this model, the oxygen-iodine reaction gas flow is treated as a continuous medium, and the effect of thermal motions of particles of different laser energy levels on the performances of the COIL is included and the velocity distribution function equations are solved by using the double-parameter perturbational method. For a premixed flow, effects of different chemical reaction systems, different gain saturation models and temperature, pressure, yield of excited oxygen, iodine concentration and frequency-shift on the performances of the COIL are computed, and the calculated output power agrees well with the experimental data. The results indicate that the power extraction of the SGK model considering 21 reactions is close to those when only the reversible pumping reaction is considered, while different gain saturation models and adjustable parameters greatly affect the output power, the optimal threshold gain range, and the length of power extraction.

Theory of local mode excitation in polyatomics by frequency-modulated lasers

that the Stokes-interaction relation is reasonable qualitatively but not correct

One possible way to promote the bond-selective chemical-reactions by frequency-modulated lasers

It is proposed in this paper that we can use frequency-modulated (FM) lasers to realize bond-selective chemical reactions or to raise the efficiency of molecular isotope separation. Examples are given for HF molecule and the C–H bond in some hydrocarbons.

Gain saturation in gas flow and chemical lasers

A theoretical model for gain saturation in gas flow and chemical lasers is presented. The theory is applicable to all possible numerical values of τ/τc, where τ is the characteristie flow time for the flowing gas to move across the laser action region and τc is the characteristic collision relaxation time. The saturation effects of the convection and the "source flow" of the inverted population are revealed. A general relation of gain coefficient and some new gain saturation laws are obtained. For the special case of τ/τc1, the present theoretical results agree with the experimental results on the "anomalous" saturation phenomena in the supersonic diffusion HF chemical laser determined recently by Gross and Coffer[8]. The theory also agrees with the measured results of saturation intensity varying with τ/τc in gas flow CO2 lasers[7]. For the special case of τ/τc1, the present theory is consistent with both the standard theory[1] for gas lasers where the gas has no macroscopic motion and the known gain saturation theory[2-5] for gas flow and chemical lasers.

One-dimensional improvement and two-dimensional and 3-dimensional treatments for stable oscillation condition, mode structure and power output in high-speed-flow lasers

For high-speed-flow lasers, the one-dimensional and first-order approximate treatment in[1] under approximation of geometrical optics is improved still within the scope of approx-imation of geometrical optics. The strict accurate results are obtained, and what is more,two- and three-dimensional treatments are done. Thus for two- and three-dimensional cases, thestable oscillation condition, the formulae of power output and analytical expression of modesunder approximation of geometrical optics (in terms of gain function) are derived. Accord-ing to the present theory, one-and two-dimensional calculations for the typical case of Gerry'sexperiment are presented. All the results coincide well with the experiment and are better thanthe results obtained in [1].In addition, the applicable scope of Lee's stable oscillation condition given by [1] is ex-panded; the condition for the approximation of gcometrical optics to be applied to mode con-structure in optical cavity is obtained for the first time and the difference between thiscondition and that for free space is also pointed out in the present work.

Kinetic model of continuous-wave flow chemical lasers

In this paper an analysis of the kinetic theory of the continuous-wave flow chemical lasers(CWFCL) is presented with emphasis being laid on the effects of inhomogeneous broadeningon CWFCL's performance. The results obtained are applicable to the case where laser fre-quency is either coincident or incoincident with that of the eenter of the line shape. This rela-tion has been,compared with that of the rate model in common use. These two models are almostidentical as the broadening parameter η is larger than 1. The smaller the value of η, thegreater the difference between the results of these two models will be. For fixed η, the dif-ferences between fhe results of the two models increase with the increase of the frequencyshift parameter ξ. When η is about less than 0.2. the kinetic model can predict exactly the in-homogeneous broadening effects,while the rate model cannot.

Plasma channeling by multiple short-pulse lasers

Channeling by a train of laser pulses into homogeneous and inhomogeneous plasmas is studied using particle-in-cell simulation. When the pulse duration and the interval between the successive pulses are appropriate, the laser pulse train can channel into the plasma deeper than a single long-pulse laser of similar peak intensity and total energy. The increased penetration distance can be attributed to the repeated actions of the ponderomotive force, the continuous between-pulse channel lengthening by the inertially evacuating ions, and the suppression of laser-driven plasma instabilities by the intermittent laser-energy cut-offs.

Influence of atomic densities on propagation property for ultrashort pulses in a two-level medium

The influence of atomic densities on the propagation property for ultrashort pulses in a two-level atom (TLA) medium is investigated. With higher atomic densities, the self-induced transparency (SIT) cannot be recovered even for 2π ultrashort pulses. New features such as pulse splitting, red-shift and blue-shift of the corresponding spectra arise, and the component of central frequency gradually disappears.

Three-photon-excited upconversion luminescence of YVO4 single crystal by infrared femtosecond laser irradiation

We report on the upconversion luminescence of a pure YVO4 single crystal excited by an infrared femtosecond laser. The luminescent spectra show that the upconversion luminescence comes from the transitions from the lowest excited states T-3(1), T-3(2) to the ground state (1)A(1) of the VO43-. The dependence of the fluorescence intensity on the pump power density of laser indicates that the conversion of infrared irradiation to visible emission is dominated by three-photon excitation process. We suggest that the simultaneous absorption of three infrared photons promotes the VO43- to excited states, which quickly cascade down to lowest excited states, and radiatively relax to ground states, resulting in the broad characteristic fluorescence of VO43-. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.