Welding of Al alloy plates using a novel high-average-power pulsed CO2 laser

A novel high-average-power pulsed CO2 laser with a unique electrode structure is presented. The operation of a 5-kW transverse-flow CO2 laser with the preionized pulse-train switched technique results in pulsation of the laser power, and the average laser power is about 5 kW. The characteristic of this technique is switching the preionized pulses into pulse trains so as to use the small preionized power (hundreds of watts) to control the large main-discharge power (tens of kilowatts). By this means, the cost and the complexity of the power supply are greatly reduced. The welding of LF2, LF21, LD2, and LY12 aluminum alloy plates has been successfully achieved using this laser. (c) 2005 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Welding of Al alloy plates using a novel high-average-power pulsed CO2 laser

A novel high-average-power pulsed CO2 laser with a unique electrode structure is presented. The operation of a 5-kW transverse-flow CO2 laser with the preionized pulse-train switched technique results in pulsation of the laser power, and the average laser power is about 5 kW. The characteristic of this technique is switching the preionized pulses into pulse trains so as to use the small preionized power (hundreds of watts) to control the large main-discharge power (tens of kilowatts). By this means, the cost and the complexity of the power supply are greatly reduced. The welding of LF2, LF21, LD2, and LY12 aluminum alloy plates has been successfully achieved using this laser. (c) 2005 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Upconversion luminescence in Yb3+-doped yttrium aluminum garnets

In this paper, we present results on upconversion luminescence performed on Yb3+-doped yttrium aluminum garnets under 940 nm excitation. The upconversion luminescence was ascribed to Yb3+ cooperative luminescence and the presence of rare earth impurity ions. The cooperative luminescence spectra as a function of Yb concentration were measured and the emission intensity variation with Yb concentration was discussed. Yb3+ energy migration quenched the cooperative luminescence of Yb:YAG crystals with doping level over 15 at%. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped barium-aluminum-borate glasses

We report near infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped barium-aluminum-borate glasses. The broadband emission covers 1.3 mum window in optical telecommunication systems. And it possesses wide full width at half maximum (FWHM) of similar to 200nm and long lifetime as long as 350 mus. The luminescent properties are quite sensitive to glass compositions and excitation wavelengths. Based on energy matching conditions, we suggest that the infrared emission may be ascribed to P-3(1) --> P-3(0) transition of Bi+. The broad infrared emission characteristics of this material indicate that it might be a promising candidate for broadband optical fiber amplifiers and tunable lasers. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Formation of array microstructures on silicon by multibeam interfered ferntosecond laser pulses

We report on an optical interference method to fabricate array microstructures on the surface of silicon wafers by means of five-beam interference of femtosecond laser pulses. Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope observations revealed microstructures with micrometer-order were fabricated. The diffraction characteristics of the fabricated structures were evaluated. The present technique allows one-step realization of functional optoelectronic devices on silicon surface. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigations on bismuth and aluminum co-doped germanium oxide glasses for ultra-broadband optical amplification

The broadband luminescence covering 1.2-1.6 mu m was observed from bismuth and aluminum co-doped germanium oxide glasses pumped by 808 nm laser at room temperature. The spectroscopic properties of GeO2:Bi,Al glasses strongly depend on the glass compositions and the pumping sources. To a certain extent, the Al3+ ions play as dispersing reagent for the infrared-emission centers in the GeO2:Bi,Al glasses. The broad infrared luminescence with a full width at half maximum larger than 200 nm and a lifetime longer than 200 mu s possesses these glasses with the potential applications in broadly tunable laser sources and ultra-broadband fiber amplifiers in optical communication field. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.