Characterization of a multi-keV x-ray source produced by nanosecond laser irradiation of a solid target: The influence of laser focus spot and target thickness

The influence of focus spot and target thickness on multi-keV x-ray sources generated by 2 ns duration laser heated solid targets are investigated on the Shenguang II laser facility. In the case of thick-foil targets, the experimental data and theoretical analysis show that the emission volume of the x-ray sources is sensitive to the laser focus spot and proportional to the 3 power of the focus spot size. The steady x-ray flux is proportional to the 5/3 power of the focus spot size of the given laser beam in our experimental condition. In the case of thin-foil targets, experimental data show that there is an optimal foil thickness corresponding to the given laser parameters. With the given laser beam, the optimal thin-foil thickness is proportional to the -2/3 power of the focus spot size, and the optimal x-ray energy of thin foil is independent of focus spot size. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Fabrication of microelectrodes deeply embedded in LiNbO3 using a femtosecond laser

We present a novel technique to fabricate deeply embedded microelectrodes in LiNbO3 using femtosecond pulsed laser ablation and selective electroless plating. The fabrication process mainly consists of four steps, which are (1) micromachining of microgrooves on the surface of LiNbO3 by femtosecond laser ablation; (2) formation of AgNO3 films on substrates; (3) scanning the femtosecond laser beam in the fabricated microgrooves for modi. cation of the inner surfaces; and (4) electroless copper plating. The void-free electroless copper plating is obtained with appropriate cross section of microgrooves and uniform initiation of the autocatalytic deposition on the inner surface of grooves. The dimension and shape of the microelectrodes could be accurately controlled by changing the conditions of femtosecond laser ablation, which in turn can control the distribution of electric field inside LiNbO3 crystal for various applications, opening up a new approach to fabricate three-dimensional integrated electro-optic devices. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Formation mechanism of self-organized voids in dielectrics induced by tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses

In this paper, we briefly summarize two typical morphology characteristics of the self-organized void array induced in bulk of fused silica glass by a tightly focused femtosecond laser beam, such as the key role of high numerical aperture in the void array formation and the concentric-circle-like structure indicated by the top view of the void array. By adopting a physical model which combines the nonlinear propagation of femtosecond laser pulses with the spherical aberration effect (SA) at the interface of two mediums of different refractive indices, reasonable agreements between the simulation results and the experimental results are obtained. By comparing the fluence distributions of the case with both SA and nonlinear effects included and the case with only consideration of SA, we suggest that spherical aberration, which results from the refractive index mismatch between air and fused silica glass, is the main reason for the formation of the self-organized void array. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Generation of periodic ultrashort electron bunches and strongly asymmetric ion Coulomb explosion in nanometer foils interacting with ultra-intense laser pulse

The interaction of a linearly polarized intense laser pulse with an ultrathin nanometer plasma layer is investigated to understand the physics of the ion acceleration. It is shown by the computer simulation that the plasma response to the laser pulse comprises two steps. First, due to the vxB effect, electrons in the plasma layer are extracted and periodic ultrashort relativistic electron bunches are generated every half of a laser period. Second, strongly asymmetric Coulomb explosion of ions in the foil occurs due to the strong electrostatic charge separation, once the foil is burnt through. Followed by the laser accelerated electron bunch, the ion expansion in the forward direction occurs along the laser beam that is much stronger as compared to the backward direction. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Mechanisms of ultrafast laser-induced deep-subwavelength gratings on graphite and diamond

Deep-subwavelength gratings with periodicities of 170, 120, and 70 nm can be observed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite irradiated by a femtosecond (fs) laser at 800 nm. Under picosecond laser irradiation, such gratings likewise can be produced. Interestingly, the 170-nm grating is also observed on single-crystal diamond irradiated by the 800-nm fs laser. In our opinion, the optical properties of the high-excited state of material surface play a key role for the formation of the deep-subwavelength gratings. The numerical simulations of the graphite deep-subwavelength grating at normal and high-excited states confirm that in the groove the light intensity can be extraordinarily enhanced via cavity-mode excitation in the condition of transverse-magnetic wave irradiation with near-ablation-threshold fluences. This field enhancement of polarization sensitiveness in deep-subwavelength apertures acts as an important feedback mechanism for the growth and polarization dependence of the deep-subwavelength gratings. In addition, we suggest that surface plasmons are responsible for the formation of seed deep-subwavelength apertures with a particular periodicity and the initial polarization dependence. Finally, we propose that the nanoscale Coulomb explosion occurring in the groove is responsible for the ultrafast nonthermal ablation mechanism.

Further acceleration of MeV electrons by a relativistic laser pulse

With the development of photocathode rf electron gun, electrons with high-brightness and mono-energy can be obtained easily. By numerically solving the relativistic equations of motion of an electron generated from this facility in laser fields modelled by a circular polarized Gaussian laser pulse, we find the electron can obtain high energy gain from the laser pulse. The corresponding acceleration distance for this electron driven by the ascending part of the laser pulse is much longer than the Rayleigh length, and the light amplitude experienced on the electron is very weak when the laser pulse overtakes the electron. The electron is accelerated effectively and the deceleration can be neglected. For intensities around 10(19) W(.)mu m(2)/cm(2), an electron's energy gain near 0.1 GeV can be realized when its initial energy is 4.5 MeV, and the final velocity of the energetic electron is parallel with the propagation axis. The energy gain can be up to 1 GeV if the intensity is about 10(21) W(.)mu m(2)/cm(2). The final energy gain of the electron as a function of its initial conditions and the parameters of the laser beam has also been discussed.

Control of filamentation induced by femtosecond laser pulses propagating in air

Filamentation formed by self-focusing of intense laser pulses propagating in air is investigated. It is found that the position of filamentation can be controlled continuously by changing the laser power and divergence angle of the laser beam. An analytical model for the process is given.

Standing electron plasma wave mechanism of void array formation inside glass by femtosecond laser irradiation

We investigate the mechanism of formation of periodic void arrays inside fused silica and BK7 glass irradiated by a tightly focused femtosecond (fs) laser beam. Our results show that the period of each void array is not uniform along the laser propagation direction, and the average period of the void array decreases with increasing pulse number and pulse energy. We propose a mechanism in which a standing electron plasma wave created by the interference of a fs-laser-driven electron wave and its reflected wave is responsible for the formation of the periodic void arrays.

用多模光纤产生空心光束

文中报导了一种用多模光纤产生空心光束方法。我们实验上多模光纤产生了中心全黑的空心光束，并且分析了激光入射光纤角度与光纤出射光形状的关系进行分析。对空心光束进行了分析，这样的空心光束可以用来激光捕获与激光导引冷原子。

Local thermal fixing of a photorefractive LiNbO3 hologram by use of a CO2 laser

A real-time, in situ fixing method by use of heating with a CO2 laser beam is suggested for thermal fixing of a small local hologram in the bulk of a Fe:LiNbO3 photorefractive crystal. For heating up to 100 degrees C-200 degrees C a volume with a shape similar to that of the laser beam a heat-guiding technique is developed. On the basis of the heat-transfer equations, different heating modes with or without metal absorbers for heat guiding-obtained by use of a continuous or pulsed laser beam are analyzed. The optimal mode may be pulsed heating with absorbers. On this basis experiments have been designed and demonstrated. It is seen that the fixing process with CO2 laser beam is short compared with the process by use of an oven, and the fixing efficiency is quite high. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.

Coherence measurement of a Ti:sapphire femtosecond pulsed laser

The interference patterns produced by Gaussian-shaped broad-bandwidth femtosecond pulsed laser sources are derived. The interference pattern contains both spatial and temporal properties of laser beam. Interference intensity dependent on the bandwidth of femtosecond laser are given. We demonstrate experimentally both the spatial and the temporal coherence properties of a Ti:sapphire femtosecond pulse laser, as well as its power spectrum by using a pinhole pair.

Radius of curvature measurements for laser beams: A simple method

A simple method for measuring the radius of curvature of laser beams is introduced. It has been developed to estimate the astigmatic aberration of a diode laser. Compared with the interferornetry, this method is convenient and straightforward. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the wavefront of a laser diode system for intersatellite communication by a Jamin double-shearing interferometer

The frame of a laser diode transmitter for intersatellite communication is concisely introduced. A simple, novel and visual method for measuring the diffraction-limited wavefront of the transmitter by a Jamin double-shearing interferometer is proposed. To verify the validity of the measurement, the far-field divergence of beam is additionally rigorously analysed in terms of the Fraunhofer diffraction. The measurement, the necessary analyses and discussion are given in detail. By directly measuring the fringe widths and quantitatively interpreting the interference fringes, the minimum detectable wavefront height (DWH) of the wavefront is only 0.2 gimel (the distance between the perfect plane wavefront and the actual wavefront at the transmitting aperture) and the corresponding divergence is only 65.84 mu rad. This indicates that the wavefront approaches the diffraction-limited condition. The results show that this interferometer is a powerful tool for testing the semiconductor laser beam's wavefront, especially the diffraction-limited wavefront.

Red laser-induced domain inversion in MgO-doped lithium niobate crystals

A laser beam at wavelength 647 nm is focused on a sample of 5 mol% MgO-doped lithium niobate crystal for domain inversion by a conventional external electric field. In this case, a reduction of 36% in the electric field required for domain nucleation (nucleation field) is observed. To the best of our knowledge, it is the longest wavelength reported for laser-induced domain inversion. This extends the spectrum of laser inducing, and the experimental results are helpful to understand the nucleation dynamics under laser illumination. The dependence of nucleation fields on intensities of laser beams is analysed in experiments.

基于基频分量消光的1/4波片快轴标定方法

提出了一种基于基频分量消光的波片快轴标定方法,并利用琼斯矩阵对其标定原理进行了分析。激光器、起偏器、相位调制器、待标定1/4波片、检偏器和光电探测器构成标定光路,起偏器、检偏器的透光轴与相位调制器的振动轴分别成+45°和0°夹角。准直激光束依次经过起偏器、相位调制器、待标定1/4波片和检偏器,由光电探测器接收。理论分析表明该标定方法标定精度主要取决于检偏器的定位误差。实验验证了该标定方法的有效性,1/4波片快轴标定结果的最大偏差为0.043°,标准差为0.012°,标定精度为0.05°。