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At least 397 records · Page 22

Nanodot formation induced by femtosecond laser irradiation

The femtosecond laser generation of ZnSe nanoscale features on ZnSe surfaces was studied. Irradiation with multiple exposures produces 10–100 nm agglomerations of nanocrystalline ZnSe while retaining the original single crystal structure of the underlying material. The structure of these nanodots was verified using a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The nanodots continue to grow hours after irradiation through a combination of bulk and surface diffusion. We suggest that in nanodot formation the result of ultrafast laser induced point defect formation is more than an order of magnitude below the ZnSe ultrafast melt threshold fluence. This unique mechanism of point defect injection will be discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Femtosecond laser-induced size reduction of carbon nanodots in solution: Effect of laser fluence, spot size, and irradiation time

Photoluminescent carbon nanodots (C-dots) with size tunability and uniformity were fabricated in polyethylene glycol (PEG{sub 200N}) solution using femtosecond laser ablation method. The size distributions and photoluminescence (PL) properties of C-dots are well controlled by adjusting the combined parameters of laser fluence, spot size, and irradiation time. The size reduction efficiency of the C-dots progressively increases with decreasing laser fluence and spot size. The optimal PL spectra are red-shifted and the quantum yields decrease with the increase in C-dots size, which could be attributed to the more complex surface functional groups attached on C-dots induced at higher laser fluence and larger spot size. Moreover, an increase in irradiation time leads to a decrease in size of C-dots, but long-time irradiation will result in the generation of complex functional groups on C-dots, subsequently the PL spectra are red-shifted.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Intense isolated attosecond pulse generation from relativistic laser plasmas using few-cycle laser pulses

We have performed a systematic study through particle-in-cell simulations to investigate the generation of attosecond pulse from relativistic laser plasmas when laser pulse duration approaches the few-cycle regime. A significant enhancement of attosecond pulse energy has been found to depend on laser pulse duration, carrier envelope phase, and plasma scale length. Based on the results obtained in this work, the potential of attaining isolated attosecond pulses with ∼100 μJ energy for photons >16 eV using state-of-the-art laser technology appears to be within reach.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Room temperature optical anisotropy of a LaMnO 3 thin-film induced by ultra-short pulse laser

Ultra-short laser pulse induced optical anisotropy of LaMnO 3 thin films grown on SrTiO 3 substrates were observed by irradiation with a femto-second laser pulse with the fluence of less than 0.1 mJ/cm 2 at room temperature. The transmittance and reflectance showed different intensities for different polarization states of the probe pulse after pump pulse irradiation. The theoretical optical transmittance and re ectance that assumed an orbital ordering of the 3d eg electrons in Mn 3+ ions resulted in an anisotropic time dependent changes similar to those obtained from the experimental results, suggesting that the photo-induced optical anisotropy of LaMnO 3 is a result of photo-induced symmetry breaking of the orbital ordering for an optically excited state.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

First experiments probing the collision of parallel magnetic fields using laser-produced plasmas

Novel experiments to study the strongly-driven collision of parallel magnetic fields in β ∼ 10, laser-produced plasmas have been conducted using monoenergetic proton radiography. These experiments were designed to probe the process of magnetic flux pileup, which has been identified in prior laser-plasma experiments as a key physical mechanism in the reconnection of anti-parallel magnetic fields when the reconnection inflow is dominated by strong plasma flows. In the present experiments using colliding plasmas carrying parallel magnetic fields, the magnetic flux is found to be conserved and slightly compressed in the collision region. Two-dimensional (2D) particle-in-cell simulations predict a stronger flux compression and amplification of the magnetic field strength, and this discrepancy is attributed to the three-dimensional (3D) collision geometry. Future experiments may drive a stronger collision and further explore flux pileup in the context of the strongly-driven interaction of magnetic fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effects of large laser bandwidth on stimulated Raman scattering instability in underdense plasma

The effects of laser bandwidth on stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) instability in underdense plasma are studied by particle-in-cell simulations. In the simulations, sinusoidal frequency modulation of the incident laser pulse is used. By changing the size of bandwidth, it is shown that the linear growth of SRS can be suppressed considerably, provided the laser bandwidth is much larger than the SRS linear growth rate. Simulations also show that by choosing the proper frequency modulation parameters or decreasing the linear growth rate of SRS, the inhibitory effects become more obvious. The plasma electron temperature tends to weaken the bandwidth effects especially when it is over a keV level. The laser bandwidth can only increase the time duration for linear growth but cannot diminish the instability completely.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Multiple quasi-monoenergetic electron beams from laser-wakefield acceleration with spatially structured laser pulse

By adjusting the focus geometry of a spatially structured laser pulse, single, double, and treble quasi-monoenergetic electron beams were generated, respectively, in laser-wakefield acceleration. Single electron beam was produced as focusing the laser pulse to a single spot. While focusing the laser pulse to two spots that are approximately equal in energy and size and intense enough to form their own filaments, two electron beams were produced. Moreover, with a proper distance between those two focal spots, three electron beams emerged with a certain probability owing to the superposition of the diffractions of those two spots. The energy spectra of the multiple electron beams are quasi-monoenergetic, which are different from that of the large energy spread beams produced due to the longitudinal multiple-injection in the single bubble.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Correlation between laser absorption and radiation conversion efficiency in laser produced tin plasma

The correlation between the laser absorption and the conversion efficiency (CE) for 13.5 nm extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light in a laser-produced tin plasma was investigated. The absorption rate α and the CE were measured simultaneously for a laser-pre-formed low-density tin target as a function of the time delay between the pre-pulse and the main laser pulse. A clear and positive correlation between α and CE was found with increasing delay time; however, the CE decreases rapidly at longer delay times. This result is partly attributed to a reduction in the absorption rate, but is mainly attributed to the self-absorption of EUV light in excessively long-scale plasmas.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Evidence of liquid phase during laser-induced periodic surface structures formation induced by accumulative ultraviolet picosecond laser beam

Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were formed on Cu/Si or Cu/glass thin films using Nd:YAG laser beam (40 ps, 10 Hz, and 30 mJ/cm{sup 2}). The study of ablation threshold is always achieved over melting when the variation of the number of pulses increases from 1 to 1000. But the incubation effect is leading to reduce the threshold of melting as increasing the number of laser pulse. Also, real time reflectivity signals exhibit typical behavior to stress the formation of a liquid phase during the laser-processing regime and helps to determine the threshold of soft ablation. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses have shown the topology of the micro-crater containing regular spikes with different height. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) allows finally to show three distinguished zones in the close region of isolated protrusions. The central zone is a typical crystallized area of few nanometers surrounded by a mixed poly-crystalline and amorphous area. Finally, in the region far from the protrusion zone, Cu film shows an amorphous structure. The real time reflectivity, AFM, and HR-TEM analyses evidence the formation of a liquid phase during the LIPSS formation in the picosecond regime.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

RF synchronized short pulse laser ion source

A laser ion source that produces shortly bunched ion beam is proposed. In this ion source, ions are extracted immediately after the generation of laser plasma by an ultra-short pulse laser before its diffusion. The ions can be injected into radio frequency (RF) accelerating bucket of a subsequent accelerator. As a proof-of-principle experiment of the ion source, a RF resonator is prepared and H{sub 2} gas was ionized by a short pulse laser in the RF electric field in the resonator. As a result, bunched ions with 1.2 mA peak current and 5 ns pulse length were observed at the exit of RF resonator by a probe.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Laser absorption, power transfer, and radiation symmetry during the first shock of inertial confinement fusion gas-filled hohlraum experiments

Temporally resolved measurements of the hohlraum radiation flux asymmetry incident onto a bismuth coated surrogate capsule have been made over the first two nanoseconds of ignition relevant laser pulses. Specifically, we study the P2 asymmetry of the incoming flux as a function of cone fraction, defined as the inner-to-total laser beam power ratio, for a variety of hohlraums with different scales and gas fills. This work was performed to understand the relevance of recent experiments, conducted in new reduced-scale neopentane gas filled hohlraums, to full scale helium filled ignition targets. Experimental measurements, matched by 3D view factor calculations, are used to infer differences in symmetry, relative beam absorption, and cross beam energy transfer (CBET), employing an analytic model. Despite differences in hohlraum dimensions and gas fill, as well as in laser beam pointing and power, we find that laser absorption, CBET, and the cone fraction, at which a symmetric flux is achieved, are similar to within 25% between experiments conducted in the reduced and full scale hohlraums. This work demonstrates a close surrogacy in the dynamics during the first shock between reduced-scale and full scale implosion experiments and is an important step in enabling the increased rate of study for physics associated with inertial confinement fusion.

2-2-DIMETHYLPROPANE↗

Characterization of electrically-active defects in ultraviolet light-emitting diodes with laser-based failure analysis techniques

Laser-based failure analysis techniques demonstrate the ability to quickly and non-intrusively screen deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for electrically-active defects. In particular, two laser-based techniques, light-induced voltage alteration and thermally-induced voltage alteration, generate applied voltage maps (AVMs) that provide information on electrically-active defect behavior including turn-on bias, density, and spatial location. Here, multiple commercial LEDs were examined and found to have dark defect signals in the AVM indicating a site of reduced resistance or leakage through the diode. The existence of the dark defect signals in the AVM correlates strongly with an increased forward-bias leakage current. This increased leakage is not present in devices without AVM signals. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of a dark defect signal site revealed a dislocation cluster through the pn junction. The cluster included an open core dislocation. Even though LEDs with few dark AVM defect signals did not correlate strongly with power loss, direct association between increased open core dislocation densities and reduced LED device performance has been presented elsewhere [M. W. Moseley et al., J. Appl. Phys. 117, 095301 (2015)].

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Compact CH 4 sensor system based on a continuous-wave, low power consumption, room temperature interband cascade laser

A tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy-based methane sensor, employing a dense-pattern multi-pass gas cell and a 3.3 µm, CW, DFB, room temperature interband cascade laser (ICL), is reported. The optical integration based on an advanced folded optical path design and an efficient ICL control system with appropriate electrical power management resulted in a CH 4 sensor with a small footprint (32 x 20 x 17 cm 3 ) and low-power consumption (6 W). Polynomial and least-squares fit algorithms are employed to remove the baseline of the spectral scan and retrieve CH 4 concentrations, respectively. An Allan-Werle deviation analysis shows that the measurement precision can reach 1.4 ppb for a 60 s averaging time. Continuous measurements covering a seven-day period were performed to demonstrate the stability and robustness of the reported CH 4 sensor system.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Robust and compact entanglement generation from diode-laser-pumped four-wave mixing

Four-wave-mixing processes are now routinely used to demonstrate multi-spatial-mode Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement and intensity difference squeezing. Diode-laser-pumped four-wave mixing processes have recently been shown to provide an affordable, compact, and stable source for intensity difference squeezing, but it was unknown if excess phase noise present in power amplifier pump configurations would be an impediment to achieving quadrature entanglement. Here, we demonstrate the operating regimes under which these systems are capable of producing entanglement and under which excess phase noise produced by the amplifier contaminates the output state. We show that Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement in two mode squeezed states can be generated by a four-wave-mixing source deriving both the pump field and the local oscillators from a tapered-amplifier diode-laser. This robust continuous variable entanglement source is highly scalable and amenable to miniaturization, making it a critical step toward the development of integrated quantum sensors and scalable quantum information processors, such as spatial comb cluster states.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Note: Digital laser frequency auto-locking for inter-satellite laser ranging

We present a prototype of a laser frequency auto-locking and re-locking control system designed for laser frequency stabilization in inter-satellite laser ranging system. The controller has been implemented on field programmable gate arrays and programmed with LabVIEW software. The controller allows initial frequency calibrating and lock-in of a free-running laser to a Fabry-Pérot cavity. Since it allows automatic recovery from unlocked conditions, benefit derives to automated in-orbit operations. Program design and experimental results are demonstrated.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Optimization of laser-driven cylindrical implosions on the OMEGA laser

Laser-driven cylindrical implosions were conducted on the OMEGA laser as part of the laser-driven mini-MagLIF (Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion) Campaign. Gated x-ray images were analyzed to infer shell trajectories and study the energy coupling in these implosions. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional HYDRA simulations were performed and post-processed to produce synthetic x-ray self-emission images for comparison. An analysis technique, which could be applied to both experimental and simulated x-ray images, was developed to characterize the shape and uniformity of the implosion. The analysis leads to a measurement of the average implosion velocity and axial implosion length, which can then be used to optimize the beam pointing and energy balance for future experiments. Discrepancies between simulation results and experiments allude to important physical processes that are not accounted for in the simulations. In 2-D simulations, the laser beam’s azimuthal angle of incidence is not included because the $\phi$-direction is not simulated, thus energy absorption is over-predicted. The 3-D simulation results are more consistent with the experiments, but the simulations do not include a calculation of crossbeam energy transfer or non-local thermal transport, which affect the energy coupled to the implosion. Finally, by appropriately adjusting the simulated energy balance and flux limit, the simulations can accurately model the experiments, which have achieved uniform implosions over a 700-μm-long region at velocities of approximately 200 km=s.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Electron temperature and electron number density measurements in laser ablation Z-pinch experiments of Al2O3

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) plasma was generated using the Ti:Sapphire/Nd:glass laser and Z-pinch pulse-power generator at the University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada Terawatt Facility. To determine the electron temperature, we use the Boltzmann plot method for the transitions (Al III 4d 2D3/2 → 4p 2P1/2) at 451.2564 nm, (Al III 4d 2D5/2 → 4p 2P3/2) at 452.9194 nm, (Al III 4p 2P3/2 → 4s 2S1/2) at 569.6603, and (Al III 4p 2P1/2 → 4s 2S1/2) at 572.2728 nm. Simultaneously, Mach–Zehnder laser interferometry was used to measure the electron number density. We compared simulated spectra obtained from PrismSPECT with electron number density and temperature measurements, and the electron temperature was found to range from 1.8 to 2.8 eV, while the electron number density was found to range from 2.3 × 1017 to 6.9 × 1017 cm−3 early in the pinched plasma formation.

Dutra, E. C.↗