薄膜体内缺陷对损伤概率的影响

由实验中得到的激光损伤概率与表面杂质密度的关系出发，结合XRD测试和激光损伤测试的结果，得到体缺陷或杂质破坏起主导作用的损伤机理．将激光作用时杂质吸收的热学和力学过程与杂质分布的统计规律结合起来，得到了深埋于薄膜内部的杂质诱导薄膜损伤概率与杂质密度、激光功率密度以及薄膜厚度的关系．该模型认为能诱导薄膜破坏的杂质尺寸范围与杂质填埋深度有关，所以不同深度处能诱导薄膜损伤的杂质密度不一样，理论结果与实验结果符合得很好．该理论模型还可以很好地解释损伤形貌．

单脉冲飞秒脉冲激光对单层和高反光学薄膜的损伤

用电子柬蒸发的方法在BK7玻璃上制备了ZrO2单层膜和ZrO2／SiO2高反膜，利用掺Ti：sapphire飞秒激光系统输出的中心波长为800nm，脉宽为50fs的激光脉冲对这两种样品进行了激光损伤阈值测试．实验结果表明，ZrO2单层膜的阂值比ZrO2／SiO2高反膜的高；这与传统的纳秒脉冲激光的损伤情况相反．利用光离化和碰撞离化激发电子到导带，形成电子等离子体基本模型并对此现象进行了解释．同时，用显微镜对样品的损伤形貌进行了观测，对损伤的特点进行了表征．

三种不同后处理方式对ZrO_2薄膜性能的影响

采用有氧热处理、激光预处理和离子后处理三种方式对电子束蒸发(EBE)制备的单层ZrO_2薄膜进行了后处理,并分别对样品的光学性能和抗激光损伤阈值(LIDT)特性进行了研究。实验结果表明,热处理方式可以有效排除膜层内吸附的水气,弥补薄膜制备过程中的氧损失,使得光谱短移、吸收减小、损伤阈值增高;激光预处理过程可以在一定程度上减少缺陷、提高损伤阈值,但对膜层的光谱和吸收情况没有明显的改善作用;而离子后处理能够提高膜层的堆积密度、减少缺陷、降低吸收从而提高损伤阈值。由于三种方式处理机制不同,在实际应用中应根据膜层的性能选择合适的处理方式。

吸收杂质热辐射诱导光学薄膜破坏的热力机制

光学元件的破坏是限制高功率激光系统发展的主要问题,理解光学元件的破坏机制对于高功率激光系统的设计、运行参量选择以及器件技术发展有重要影响。以热辐射模型为基础研究了杂质吸收诱导光学薄膜破坏的热力过程。研究发现薄膜发生初始破坏所需时间很短,脉冲的大部分时间是引起薄膜发生更大的破坏。在考虑吸收杂质发生相变的情况下,计算了吸收杂质汽化对薄膜产生的蒸汽压力,论证了薄膜发生宏观破坏的可能性。此模型能很好地解释光学薄膜的平底坑破坏形貌。

355nm增透膜的设计、制备与性能

用热舟蒸发法结合修正挡板技术制备了355 nm LaF3/MgF2增透膜,并对部分样品进行了真空退火。采用Lambda 900光谱仪测试了增透膜的低反光谱和透射光谱,并考察了其光谱稳定性;使用脉冲8 ns的355 nm激光测试了增透膜的激光损伤阈值(LIDT);采用Normarski显微镜对增透膜的表面缺陷密度和破斑形貌进行了观察。实验结果表明,制备得到的增透膜的剩余反射率较低,光谱稳定性好;真空退火对增透膜的激光损伤阈值没有改善;增透膜的破环形貌为散点形式,结合破斑深度测试表明薄膜的破坏源于薄膜和基底界面的缺陷点。JGS1熔石英基底由于有好的表面状况、固有的高激光损伤阈值和以其为基底的增透膜具有更低的表面场强,使得其上的增透膜有更高的抗激光损伤能力。

Characterization of LaF3 coatings prepared at different temperatures and rates

LaF3 thin films were prepared by thermal boat evaporation at different substrate temperatures and various deposition rates. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Lambda 900 spectrophotometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to study crystal structure, transmittance and chemical composition of the coatings, respectively. Laser-induce damage threshold (LIDT) was determined by a tripled Nd:YAG laser system with a pulse width of 8 ns. It is found that the crystal structure became more perfect and the refractive index increased gradually with the temperature rising. The LIDT was comparatively high at high temperature. In the other hand, the crystallization status also became better and the refractive index increased when the deposition rate enhanced at a low level. If the rate was super rapid, the crystallization worsened instead and the refractive index would lessen greatly. On the whole, the LIDT decreased with increasing rate. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Laser damage studies in nonlinear optical crystal sodium p-nitrophenolate dihydrate

We report the surface laser damage threshold in sodium p-nitrophenolate dihydrate, a nonlinear optical crystal. The experiment is performed with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser in TEM00 mode. The single shot damage thresholds are 11.16 +/- 0.28GWcm(-2) and 1.25 +/- 0.02GWcm(-2) for 1064 nm and 532 nm laser wavelengths respectively. A close correlation between the laser damage threshold and mechanical hardness is observed. A possible mechanism of laser damage is discussed.

Mechanisms in fs-laser ablation in fused silica

A theoretical model is proposed to describe the microscopic processes involved in the ablation in fused silica induced by femtosecond-laser pulse. Conduction-band electron (CBE) can absorb laser energy, the rate is calculated by quantum mechanical method and classical method. CBE is produced via photoionization (PI) and impact ionization (II). The PI and II rates are calculated by using the Keldysh theory and double-flux model, respectively. Besides the CBE production, we investigate laser energy deposition and its distribution. The equation of energy diffusion in physical space is resolved numerically. Taking energy density E-dep=54 kJ/cm(3) as the criterion, we calculate damage threshold, ablation depth, and ablation volumes. It is found that if energy diffusion is considered, energy density near sample surface is reduced to 1/10, damage threshold is enhanced more than 30%, ablation depth is increased by a factor of 10. Our theoretical results agree well with experimental measurements. Several ultrafast phenomena in fused silica are also discussed. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

IR laser desorption of oligonucleotides A novel gas phase target for radiation damage studies

The desorption of oligonucleotides by 3 mu m laser irradiation has been studied by laser induced fluorescence imaging of the resulting gas phase plumes. Fitting of the plume data has been achieved by using a modified Maxwell Boltzmann distribution which incorporates a range of stream velocities. Spatial density profiles, velocities and temperature variation have been determined from these fits indicating that the oligonucleotide plume only achieves a partial thermal relaxation. This laser desorption technique may provide a means of overcoming the limited mass range of gas phase biomolecules available from thermal evaporation techniques.

Evaluation of laser ablation threshold in polymer samples using pulsed photoacoustic technique

The acoustic signals generated in solids due to interaction with pulsed laser beam is used to determine the ablation threshold of bulk polymer samples of teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) and nylon under the irradiation from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1.06µm wavelength. A suitably designed piezoelectric transducer is employed for the detection of photoacoustic (PA) signals generated in this process. It has been observed that an abrupt increase in the amplitude of the PA signal occurs at the ablation threshold. Also there exist distinct values for the threshold corresponding to different mechanisms operative in producing damages like surface morphology, bond breaking and melting processes at different laser energy densities.

Influence of effective number of pulses on the morphological structure of teeth and bovine femur after femtosecond laser ablation

Femtosecond lasers have been widely used in laser surgery as an instrument for contact-free tissue removal of hard dental, restorative materials, and osseous tissues, complementing conventional drilling or cutting tools. In order to obtain a laser system that provides an ablation efficiency comparable to mechanical instruments, the laser pulse rate must be maximal without causing thermal damage. The aim of this study was to compare the different morphological characteristics of the hard tissue after exposure to lasers operating in the femtosecond pulse regime. Two different kinds of samples were irradiated: dentin from human extracted teeth and bovine femur samples. Different procedures were applied, while paying special care to preserving the structures. The incubation factor S was calculated to be 0.788 +/- 0.004 for the bovine femur bone. These results indicate that the incubation effect is still substantial during the femtosecond laser ablation of hard tissues. The plasma-induced ablation has reduced side effects, i.e., we observe less thermal and mechanical damage when using a superficial femtosecond laser irradiation close to the threshold conditions. In the femtosecond regime, the morphology characteristics of the cavity were strongly influenced by the change of the effective number of pulses. (C) 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.17.4.048001]

Radiation-induced defects in calcium fluoride and their influence on material properties under 193 nm laser irradiation

Calcium fluoride (CaF2) is one of the key lens materials in deep-ultraviolet microlithography because of its transparency at 193 nm and its nearly perfect optical isotropy. Its physical and chemical properties make it applicable for lens fabrication. The key feature of CaF2 is its extreme laser stability. rnAfter exposing CaF2 to 193 nm laser irradiation at high fluences, a loss in optical performance is observed, which is related to radiation-induced defect structures in the material. The initial rapid damage process is well understood as the formation of radiation-induced point defects, however, after a long irradiation time of up to 2 months, permanent damage of the crystals is observed. Based on experimental results, these permanent radiation-induced defect structures are identified as metallic Ca colloids.rnThe properties of point defects in CaF2 and their stabilization in the crystal bulk are calculated with density functional theory (DFT). Because the stabilization of the point defects and the formation of metallic Ca colloids are diffusion-driven processes, the diffusion coefficients for the vacancy (F center) and the interstitial (H center) in CaF2 are determined with the nudged elastic band method. The optical properties of Ca colloids in CaF2 are obtained from Mie-theory, and their formation energy is determined.rnBased on experimental observations and the theoretical description of radiation-induced point defects and defect structures, a diffusion-based model for laser-induced material damage in CaF2 is proposed, which also includes a mechanism for annealing of laser damage. rn

Mechanisms of nanoparticle-mediated photomechanical cell damage

Laser-assisted killing of gold nanoparticle targeted macrophages was investigated. Using pressure transient detection, flash photography and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, we studied the mechanism of single cell damage by vapor bubble formation around gold nanospheres induced by nanosecond laser pulses. The influence of the number of irradiating laser pulses and of particle size and concentration on the threshold for acute cell damage was determined. While the single pulse damage threshold is independent of the particle size, the threshold decreases with increasing particle size when using trains of pulses. The dependence of the cell damage threshold on the nanoparticle concentration during incubation reveals that particle accumulation and distribution inside the cell plays a key role in tissue imaging or cell damaging.

Damage assessment of basaltic rock mass due to repeated blasting in a railway tunnelling project - A case study

The demand for tunnelling and underground space creation is rapidly growing due to the requirement of civil infrastructure projects and urbanisation. Blasting remains the most inexpensive method of underground excavations in hard rock. Unfortunately, there are no specific safety guidelines available for the blasted tunnels with regards to the threshold limits of vibrations caused by repeated blasting activity in the close proximity. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study conducted to find out the effect of repeated blast loading on the damage experienced by jointed basaltic rock mass during tunnelling works. Conducting of multiple rounds of blasts for various civil excavations in a railway tunnel imparted repeated loading on rock mass of sidewall and roof of the tunnel. The blast induced damage was assessed by using vibration attenuation equations of charge weight scaling law and measured by borehole extensometers and borehole camera. Ground vibrations of each blasting round were also monitored by triaxial geophones installed near the borehole extensometers. The peak particle velocity (V-max) observations and plastic deformations from borehole extensometers were used to develop a site specific damage model. The study reveals that repeated dynamic loading imparted on the exposed tunnel from subsequent blasts, in the vicinity, resulted in rock mass damage at lesser vibration levels than the critical peak particle velocity (V-cr). It was found that, the repeated blast loading resulted in the near-field damage due to high frequency waves and far-field damage due to low frequency waves. The far field damage, after 45-50 occurrences of blast loading, was up to 55% of the near-field damage in basaltic rock mass. The findings of the study clearly indicate that the phenomena of repeated blasting with respect to number of cycles of loading should be taken into consideration for proper assessment of blast induced damage in underground excavations.