Write-once blue laser recording using silicon doped SbOx thin films prepared by reactive dc-magnetron sputtering

Si:SbOx films have been deposited by reactive dc-magnetron sputtering from a Sb target with Si chips attached in Ar + O-2 with the relative O-2 content 7%. The as-deposited films contained Sb metal, Sb2O3, SiO, Si2O3 and SiO2. The crystallization of Sb was responsible for the changes of optical properties of the films. The results of the blue laser recording test showed that the films had good writing sensitivity for blue laser beam (406.7 nm), and the recording marks were still clear even if the films were deposited in air 60 days, which demonstrated that doping silicon in SbOx films can improve the stability of SbOx films. High reflectivity contrast of about 36% was obtained at a writing power 6 mW and writing pulse width 300 ns. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Write-once medium with Fe-Doped BiOx thin films for blue laser recording

Fe:BiOx films are fabricated on K9 glass substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering of a BiFeO target under argon atmosphere with increasing sputtering power from 80 to 200 W at room temperature. It is found that the thin films grown at the sputtering power of 160W can be formed at an appropriate deposition rate and have an improved surface morphology. The XPS result reveals that the films investigated are comprised of Bi, Fe and O elements. A typical XRD pattern shows that no phase transition occurs in the films up to 400 degrees C. The results of the blue laser recording test demonstrate that the Fe:BiOx films have good writing sensitivity for blue laser beam (406.7 nm) and good stability after reading 10000 times. The recording marks of 200nm or less are obtained. These results indicate that the introduction of Fe into BiOx films can reduce the mark size and improve the stability of the films.

Microstructure of the crystals generated in borate glass irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

In this study, we examined the microstructure of crystals generated in borate glass by femtosecond laser irradiation (FSLI). The distribution of the high-temperature and low-temperature phases of barium metaborate crystals produced in the borate glass is analyzed using Raman spectroscopy. We then propose the possible mechanism for the generation of crystals in glass by FSLI.

Investigation of optical properties of Ce3+-doped Gd2SiO5 crystal irradiated by a femtosecond laser

We report on the optical property changes for Ce3+-doped Gd2SiO5 crystal irradiated by a femtosecond (fs) laser. Absorption spectra showed that Ce-related color centers were formed in this crystal after an 800 nm fs laser irradiation. The annealing temperature-dependence of the refractive index and absorption intensity changes have been investigated. Furthermore, a new way of writing overlapped gratings inside the crystal by use of birefringence of fs laser beam in this crystal was proposed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Numerical Analysis of a Dual Polarization Mode-Locked Laser with a Quarter Wave Plate

Dynamical behaviors and frequency characteristics of an active mode-locked laser with a quarter wave plate (QWP) are numerically studied by using a set pf vectorial laser equation. Like a polarization self-modulated laser, a frequency shift of half the cavity mode spacing exists between the eigen-modes in the two neutral axes of QWP. Within the active medium, the symmetric gain and cavity structure maintain the pulse's circular polarization with left-hand and right-hand in turn for each round trip. Once the left-hand or right-hand circularly polarized pulse passes through QWP, its polarization is linear and the polarized direction is in one of the directions of i45o with respect to the neutral axes of QWP. The output components in the directions of i45" from the mirror close to QWP are all linearly polarized with a period of twice the round-trip time.

Polarization Self-Modulation Phenomenon in a Free Oscillated Nd: YAG Laser

Polarization self-modulation effect in a free oscillated Nd:YAG laser is investigated after a quarter wave plate is introduced independently in the two positions of the cavity. As described in the previous experiments, the intensity components in the orthogonal directions are modulated with a period of the round-trip time or twice. Different pulse shapes reveal that the seed field from the spontaneous emission is not uniform and seems to be stochastic for each pulse.

Surface amorphous and crystalline microstructure by alloying zirconium using Nd : YAG pulsed laser

A novel composite coating was synthesized by laser alloying of zirconium nanoparticles on an austenite stainless steel surface using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The coating contained duplex microstructures comprising an amorphous phase and an austenitic matrix. A discontinuous zirconium-containing region formed at a depth of 16 mum below the surface. The amorphous phase was present in the zirconium-rich region, with the composition of zirconium ranging from 7.8 to 14.5 at. pet. The formation of the amorphous phase was attributed to the zirconium addition. The hardness, corrosion, and wear-corrosion resistance of the irradiated coating were evidently enhanced compared to those of the stainless steel.

Application of enthalpy method for moving boundary problem in laser surface melting

A numerical analysis was carried out to study the moving boundary problem in the physical process of pulsed Nd-YAG laser surface melting prior to vaporization. The enthalpy method was applied to solve this two-phase axisymmetrical melting problem Computational results of temperature fields were obtained, which provide useful information to practical laser treatment processing. The validity of enthalpy method in solving such problems is presented.

Microstructure and wear resistance of in situ TiCp composite coating by laser cladding

A new in situ method was realized by one step laser cladding to produce Ni-base alloy composite coating reinforced by in situ reacted and gradiently distributed TiCp particles. The submicron TiCp particles were formed and uniformly distributed because of the in situ reaction and trapping effect under the rapid solidification condition. And, TiCp particles were of gradient distribution on a macro scale and their volume fraction increased from 1.86% at the layer/substrate interface to a maximum 38.4% at the surface of the layer. Furthermore, the in situ generated TiCp/gamma-Ni interfaces were free from deleterious surface reactions. Additionally, the clad coating also revealed a high microhardness of gradient variation with the layer depth and the superior abrasive wear resistance.

Intensity Distribution Design for Laser-Induced Thermal Loading Based on Numerical Simulation

To accomplish laser-induced thermal loading simulation tests for pistons,the Gaussian beam was modulated into multi-circular beam with specific intensity distribution.A reverse method was proposed to design the intensity distribution for the laser-induced thermal loading based on finite element(FE) analysis.Firstly,the FE model is improved by alternating parameters of boundary conditions and thermal-physical properties of piston material in a reasonable range,therefore it can simulate the experimental resul...

Effects of La2O3 on Microstructure and Wear Properties of Laser Clad gamma/Cr7C3/TiC Composite Coatings on TiAl Intermatallic Alloy

The effects of La2O3 addition on the microstructure and wear properties of laser clad gamma/C(r)7C(3)/TiC composite coatings on gamma-TiAl intermetallic alloy substrates with NiCr-Cr3C2 precursor mixed powders have been investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and block-on-ring wear tests. The responding wear mechanisms are discussed in detail. The results are compared with that for composite coating without La2O3. The comparison indicates that no evident new crystallographic phases are formed except a rapidly solidified microstructure consisting of the primary hard Cr7C3 and TiC carbides and the gamma/Cr7C3 eutectics distributed in the tough gamma nickel solid solution matrix. Good finishing coatings can be achieved under a proper amount of La2O3-addition and a suitable laser processing parameters. The additions of rare-earth oxide La,03 can refine and purify the microstructure of coatings, relatively decrease the volume fraction of primary blocky Cr7C3 to Cr7C3/gamma eutectics, reduce the dilution of clad material from base alloy and increase the microhardness of the coatings. When the addition of La2O3 is approximately 4 wt.%, the laser clad composite coating possesses the highest hardness and toughness. The composite coating with 4 wt.%La2O3 addition can result the best enhancement of wear resistance of about 30%. However, too less or excessive addition amount of La2O3 have no better influence on wear resistance of the composite coating.

Numerical simulation of an adaptive optics system with laser propagation in the atmosphere

A comprehensive model of laser propagation in the atmosphere with a complete adaptive optics (AO) system for phase compensation is presented, and a corresponding computer program is compiled. A direct wave-front gradient control method is used to reconstruct the wave-front phase. With the long-exposure Strehl ratio as the evaluation parameter, a numerical simulation of an AO system in a stationary state with the atmospheric propagation of a laser beam was conducted. It was found that for certain conditions the phase screen that describes turbulence in the atmosphere might not be isotropic. Numerical experiments show that the computational results in imaging of lenses by means of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) method agree well with those computed by means of an integration method. However, the computer time required for the FFT method is 1 order of magnitude less than that of the integration method. Phase tailoring of the calculated phase is presented as a means to solve the problem that variance of the calculated residual phase does not correspond to the correction effectiveness of an AO system. It is found for the first time to our knowledge that for a constant delay time of an AO system, when the lateral wind speed exceeds a threshold, the compensation effectiveness of an AO system is better than that of complete phase conjugation. This finding indicates that the better compensation capability of an AO system does not mean better correction effectiveness. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.

Microstructure of Zr-alloyed coating using pulsed laser

Coatings were synthesized by laser alloying of zirconium (Zr) particles using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser on an austenite stainless steel. The distribution of Zr is uneven, in a depth of 18 mum just below the surface of the pool. The coating consisted of duplex microstructures, i.e. metallic glass (MG) and austenite. The MG formed in Zr-contained regions, with the Zr composition ranging from 7.6 to 16.8 at.%. The formation of the MG was attributed to an increase in glass-forming ability by Zr addition.