Volume 8, Issue 2 - Topical Issue: Modern applications of lasers

We report results on experimental and theoretical characterisation of self-pulsing in high concentration erbium doped fibre laser which is free from erbium clusters. Unlike previous models of self-pulsing accounting for pair-induced quenching (PIQ) on the clustered erbium ions, new model has been developed with accounting for statistical nature of the excitation migration and upconversion and resonance-like pumpto-signal intensity noise transfer. The obtained results are in a good agreement with the experimental data.

By using two-section fibre where the first section has no spin and the second one is periodically spun, we demonstrate reduced polarization dependent gain and polarization mode dispersion (0.3 dB and 0.0072 ps·km−1/2 correspondently) in a distributed fibre Raman amplifier.

By conducting point-by-point inscription in a continuously moving slab of a pure fused silica at the optimal depth (170 μm depth below the surface), we have fabricated a 250-nm-period nanostructure with 30 nJ, 300 fs, 1 kHz pulses from frequency-tripled Ti:sapphire laser. This is the smallest value for the inscribed period yet reported, and has been achieved with radical improvement in the quality of the inscribed nanostructures in comparison with previous reports. The performed numerical modeling confirms the obtained experimental results.

The dielectric properties of microparticles were characterized by quadrupole electrode geometry. Quadruple microelectrode geometry with hyperbolic active interfaces was designed and fabricated. The dielectrophoretic mobility coefficients of the polystyrene microparticles were attained from negative dielectrophoresis. With the mobility coefficients and hypothetical inflection frequencies of the particles, the permittivity and electric conductivity of the particles in suspension were calculated. This demonstration established that dielectrophoretic mobility attained with a hyperbolic electrode can be used to characterize microparticle properties in suspension.

Spin-polarized nuclei of such gases as 3He and 129Xe are successfully used for magnetic resonance imaging of lungs and other organs of human body. To produce large numbers of spin-polarized nuclei required for this medical application, a high power narrowband tunable laser source is required. Diode pumped alkali lasers, developed during last several years can be an ideal source for this application. In this paper we present our latest achievements in diode pumped alkali lasers development. We describe optically pumped Cs laser tunable in the range of 14 GHz and operating in single transverse mode with a linewidth less than 3 MHz. We also present continuous wave diode pumped Rb and Cs lasers with output power 17 W and 20 W.

The main characteristics that a sensor must possess for trace gas detection and pollution monitoring are high sensitivity, high selectivity and the capability to perform in situ measurements. The photacoustic Helmholtz sensor developed in Reims, used in conjunction with powerful Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), fulfils all these requirements. The best cell response is # 1200 V W−1 cm and the corresponding ultimate sensitivity is j 3.3 × 10−10 W cm−11 Hz−11/2. This efficient sensor is used with mid-infrared QCLs from Alpes Lasers to reach the strong fundamental absorption bands of some atmospheric gases. A first cryogenic QCL emitting at 7.9 μm demonstrates the detection of methane in air with a detection limit of 3 ppb. A detection limit of 20 ppb of NO in air is demonstrated using another cryogenic QCL emitting in the 5.4 μm region. Real in-situ measurements can be achieved only with room-temperature QCLs. A room-temperature QCL emitting in the 7.9 μm region demonstrates the simultaneous detection of methane and nitrous oxide in air (17 and 7 ppb detection limit, respectively). All these reliable measurements allow the estimated detection limit for various atmospheric gases using quantum cascade lasers to be obtained. Each gas absorbing in the infrared may be detected at a detection limit in the ppb or low-ppb range.

Bragg grating reflectors placed along microcavity facets can improve the efficiency of a polymer dye laser built with such a microcavity. The impact of different reflector designs on the mode pattern and resonance frequencies of the microcavity is numerically simulated and analyzed. This rigorous physical model is based on solving the Maxwell equations and includes such material properties as absorption, dispersion, fluorescence and optical gain. In certain cases, an asymmetrical layout of the reflectors can be more preferable than the pair of reflectors located on opposite sides of the microcavity as it is implemented for typical design.

Information on the thermal properties of materials is very important both in fundamental physical research and in engineering applications. The development of materials with desirable heat transport properties requires methods for their experimental determination. In this paper basic concepts of the measurement of parameters describing the heat transport in solids are discussed. Attention is paid to methods utilizing nonstationary temperature fields, especially to photothermal methods in which the temperature disturbance in the investigated sample is generated through light absorption. Exemplary photothermal measuring techniques, which can be realized using common experimental equipment, are described in detail. It is shown that using these techniques it is possible to determine the thermal diffusivity of bulk transparent samples, opaque and semi-transparent plate-form samples, and the thermal conductivity of thin films deposited on thick substrates. Results of the investigation of thermal diffusivity of the ground in the polar region, which is based on the analysis of the propagation of the thermal wave generated by sun-light, are also presented. Based on chosen examples one can state that photothermal techniques can be used for determination of the thermal properties of very different materials.

Time-resolved photoacoustics were used to measure the optical parameters of pulp suspensions for the first time. Reconstructing stress distribution along the direction of the incident laser light allows the effective attenuation coefficient of these suspensions to be determined. Simultaneously, the total diffuse reflectance of the suspensions was measured by the same laser source. Based on the effective attenuation coefficient and total diffuse reflectance, the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of pulp suspensions can be calculated. In this study, three kinds of pulp suspensions with different kappa number (2, 13, and 16), a measure of lignin content in pulp fibers, were diluted with water to make samples with a consistency range from 1% to 5%, and studied at 355 nm wavelength. The results showed that the optical coefficients were approximately proportional to pulp consistency; on the other hand, the absorption coefficient was linearly correlated with kappa number, but the reduced scattering coefficient was not. Therefore, by determining its optical parameters, it is possible to extract the consistency and kappa number of an unknown pulp suspension.

An improved approach for narrow-band wavelength selection in tunable lasers is described. To provide the tunability, a reconfigurable diffractive optical element (DOE) based on a programmable spatial light modulator (PSLM) is applied. With a proper choice of the phase transfer function of the PSLM, the device can be used as a dispersive intra-cavity component for precise tuning within the lasing spectral band of a solid-state dye laser. The suggested design allows avoiding the mechanical movement of any cavity components. The tunability performance and simulation are demonstrated using the Fourier optics method.

This study is focused on exploring the feasibility of an all-optic surface scanning method in determining the size and position of a submerged, laser generated, optoacoustic (OA) source. The optoacoustic effect in this case was generated when the absorption of a short electromagnetic pulse in matter caused a dielectric breakdown, a plasma emission flash and a subsequent acoustic wave. In the experiment, a laser pulse with λ = 1064 nm and 12 ns pulse length was aimed at a volume of deionized water. When the laser beam was focused by a f = 16 mm lens, a single dielectric breakdown spot occurred. When a f = 40 mm was used several breakdowns in a row were induced. The breakdowns were photographed using a double shutter camera. The acoustic wave generated by the dielectric breakdowns were detected at a point on the water surface using a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). First, the LDV signal was used to calculate the speed of sound with an accuracy of 10 m/s. Secondly, the location and length of the dielectric breakdown was calculated with an accuracy of 1 mm. The calculated position matched the breakdown location recorded by a camera. The results show that it is possible to use LDV surface measurements from a single spot to determine both the position and length of the OA source as well as the speed of sound in the medium. Furthermore, the LDV measurements also show a secondary peak that originates from the OA source. To unravel the origin and properties of this interesting feature, further investigations are necessary

Laser ignition is considered to be one of the most promising future concepts for internal combustion engines. It combines the legally required reduction of pollutant emissions and higher engine efficiencies. The igniting plasma is generated by a focused pulsed laser beam. Having pulse durations of a few nanoseconds, the pulse energy E p for reliable ignition amounts to the order of 10 mJ. Different methods of laser ignition with an emphasis on fiber-based systems will be discussed and evaluated.

The probability of excitation and ionization of the hydrogen atom by short strong laser pulses is calculated by solving numerically the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The probability of excitation to different states is investigated, which helps to identify the important ionization mechanisms. The ionization probability density was also calculated and a good agreement with the other theoretical results was found.