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.

激光二极管端面抽运Nd∶YVO4固体激光器热致光束畸变非对称的平衡

由于a轴切割Nd∶YVO4晶体的非对称性,使得激光二极管(LD)端面抽运Nd∶YVO4固体激光器不同于Nd∶YAG激光器,输出的激光经常产生非对称结果。用有限元法分析激光二极管端面抽运a轴切割Nd∶YVO4固体激光器的晶体热效应,包括温度分布、内部应力和产生的形变。分析结果表明端面抽运a轴切割Nd∶YVO4晶体产生了椭球热透镜效应。从结构方面和抽运方面提出了热透镜非对称性的平衡方法,实验验证了方法的可行性。

部分端面抽运混合腔Nd∶YVO_4板条激光器实验研究

为了获得大功率高光束质量的激光输出,利用自制的5bar激光二极管阵列堆作为抽运源,抽运光经波导整形系统整形后入射至晶体,采用柱面镜混合腔结构,对部分端面抽运的混合腔Nd∶YVO4板条激光器进行了实验研究。在最高抽运功率134W时,得到了38W的连续激光输出,斜效率44%,测得的两个方向的M2因子为1.56和1.78。实验结果表明,该激光器具有极佳的热效应,能够在高功率运转时保持高光束质量的激光输出,输入-输出功率曲线没有出现平顶或弯曲的迹象,该激光器仍有提升潜力,本结果有助于进一步提升该激光器的性能,实现更高功率的高光束质量激光输出。

高重复率窄脉宽Nd∶YVO_4板条激光器

部分端面抽运的混合腔板条激光器是一种新型的全固态激光器,采用这种结构,实现了高重复率调Q运转。在脉冲抽运情况下,1kHz运转时,得到脉宽4.6ns,单脉冲能量4.5mJ的激光输出。在连续抽运调Q输出情况下,5kHz高重复率运转时,获得了脉宽6ns,单脉冲能量3.1mJ的脉冲序列输出,平均功率超过15W;当重复率高达25kHz时,得到脉宽9.5ns,单脉冲能量1.2mJ的激光输出,平均功率达30W。实验结果表明,输出水平还有很大的提升空间。

Passively mode-locking Nd : Gd0.5Y0.5VO4 laser with an In(0.25)Ga(0.75)Aa absorber grown at low temperature

We have demonstrated stable self-starting passive mode locking in a diode-end-pumped Nd:Gd-0.8-Y0.5VO4 laser by using an In0.25Ga0.75As absorber grown at low temperature (LT In0.25Ga0.75As absorber). An In0.25Ga0.75As single-quantum-well absorber, which was grown directly on the GaAs buffer by use of the metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition technique, acts simultaneously as a passive mode-locking device and as an output coupler. Continuous-wave mode-locked pulses were obtained at 1063.5 nm. We achieved a pulse duration of 2.6 ps and an average output power of 2.15 W at a repetition rate of 96.4 MHz. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Experiments of a diode-pumped Nd : GdVO4/LT-GaAs Q-switched and mode-locked laser

A diode-pumped passively Q-switched mode-locked (QML) Nd:GdVO4 laser with a low temperature GaAs (LT-GaAs) saturable absorber is presented. The maximal Q-switched mode-locked average output power was 798 mW with the Q-switched envelop having a repetition rate of 125 kHz. The mode-locked pulse trains inside the Q-switched pulse envelope had a repetition rate of similar to 750 MHz. The laser properties of the operational parameters on the pump power were also investigated experimentally.

12 W high efficiency single frequency ring laser

Single-frequency output power of 12 W at 1064 nm is demonstrated. Pumped by a fiber-coupled diode laser, the Nd:YVO4 produces 58.6% of the slope efficiency with respect to absorbed pump power, and 52.7% of the optical-optical efficiency and nearly diffraction-limited output with a beam quality parameter of M-2 approximate to 1.11. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest slope efficiency and optical-optical efficiency in single-frequency Nd:YVO4 ring laser. The slope efficiency of the single frequency laser is close to the limit of the efficiency. [GRAPHICS] output spectrum of the single-frequency Nd:YVO4 ring laser

A 20.1 W Solid-State Laser Pumped by 887 nm with High Efficiency and TEM00 Mode

High efficiency, TEM00 mode, high repetition rate laser pumped by 887 nm is reported. 20.1 W output laser emitting at 1064 nm is achieved in a 0.3 at % Nd-doped Nd:YVO4, which absorbs pumping light of 30.7 W at 887 nm. The opto-optic efficiency and the slope efficiency are 65.5 and 88.5%, respectively. The stable Q-switching operation worked well at 100 kHz and the beam quality is near diffraction-limit with M-2 factor measured as M-2 approximate to 1.2. And the pulse waveform is analyzed in this paper.

High electrical-to-green efficiency high stability intracavity-frequency-doubled Nd:YAG-LBO QCW 532 nm laser with a straight cavity

An electrical-to-green efficiency of more than 10% was demonstrated by intracavity-frequency-doubling a Q-switched diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG laser with a type II lithium triborate (LBO) crystal in a straight plano-concave cavity. An average power of 69.2 W at 532 nm was generated when electrical input power was 666 W. The corresponding electrical-to-green conversion efficiency is 10.4%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest electrical-to-green efficiency of second harmonic generation laser systems with side-pumped laser modules, ever reported. At about 66 W of green output power, the power fluctuation over 4 hours was better than +/-0.86%.

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 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.

Laser drilling improving circuit board manufacturing

We reported here a novel technique for laser high speed drillings on Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). A CNC solid laser based system is developed to drill through and blind vias as an alternative to mechanical drilling. The system employs an Acousto-Optic Q-switched Nd: YAG laser, a computer control system and an X-Y moving table which can handle up to 400 x 400 mm PCB. With a special designed cavity the laser system works in a pulsed operation in order to generate pulses with width down to 0.5 mu s and maximum peak power over 10kW at 10k repetition rate. Delivered by an improved optical beam transforming system, the focused laser beam can drill hobs including blind vias on PCBs with diameter in the range of 0.1 - 0.4 mm and at up to 300 - 500 vias per second (depending on the construction of PCBs). By means of a CNC X-Y moving system, laser pulses with pulse-to-pulse superior repeatability can be fired at desired location on a PCBs with high accuracy. This alternative technology for drilling through or blind vias on PCBs or PWBs (printed wiring boards) will obviously enhance the capability to printed boards manufacturing.

Numerical simulation of temperature field evolution of metallic alloy surface due to pulsed laser treatment

This paper performed a numerical simulation on temperature field evolution for the surface layer of a metallic alloy subjected to pulsed Nd:YAG laser treatment. The enthalpy method was adopted to solve the moving boundary problem, I.e. Stefan problem. Computational results were obtained to show the temperature field evolution. Effects of latent heat and mushy zone width on the temperature field were investigated. The results also show very high values of temperature gradient and cooling rate, which are typical characteristics during the solidification process.

Failure of SiC particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites induced by laser thermal shock

Thermal failure of SiC particulate-reinforced 6061 aluminum alloy composites induced by both laser thermal shock and mechanical load has been investigated. The specimens with a single-edge notch were mechanically polished to 0.25 mm in thickness. The notched-tip region of the specimen is subjected to laser beam rapid heating. In the test, a pulsed Nd:glass laser beam is used with duration 1.0 ms or 250 mu s, intensity 15 or 70 kW/cm(2), and spot size 5.0 mm in diameter. Threshold intensity was tested and fracture behavior was studied. The crack-tip process zone development and the microcrack formation were macroscopically and microscopically observed. It was found that in these materials, the initial crack occurred in the notched-tip region, wherein the initial crack was induced by either void nucleation, growth, and subsequent coalescence of the matrix materials or separation of the SiC particulate-matrix interface. It was further found that the process of the crack propagation occurred by the fracture of the SiC particulates.