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At least 1,567 records · Page 87
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Electron energy gain due to a laser frequency modulation experienced by electron during betatron motion

Direct laser acceleration of electrons is an important energy deposition mechanism for laser-irradiated plasmas that is particularly effective at relativistic laser intensities in the presence of quasi-static laser-driven plasma electric and magnetic fields. These radial electric and azimuthal magnetic fields provide transverse electron confinement by inducing betatron oscillations of forward-moving electrons undergoing laser acceleration. Electrons are said to experience a betatron resonance when the frequency of betatron oscillations matches the average frequency of the laser field oscillations at the electron position. In this paper, we show that the modulation of the laser frequency as seen by an electron performing betatron oscillations can be another important mechanism for net energy gain that is qualitatively different from the betatron resonance. Specifically, we show that the frequency modulation experienced by the electron can lead to net energy gain in the regime where the laser field performs three oscillations per betatron oscillation. There is no net energy gain in this regime without the modulation because the energy gain is fully compensated by the energy loss. The modulation slows down the laser oscillation near transverse stopping points, increasing the time interval during which the electron gains energy and making it possible to achieve net energy gain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Efficient backward x-ray emission in a finite-length plasma irradiated by a laser pulse of picosecond duration

Motivated by experiments employing picosecond-long, kilojoule laser pulses, we examined x-ray emission in a finite-length underdense plasma irradiated by such a pulse using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We found that, in addition to the expected forward emission, the plasma also efficiently emits in the backward direction. Our simulations reveal that the backward emission occurs when the laser exits the plasma. The longitudinal plasma electric field generated by the laser at the density down-ramp turns around some of the laser-accelerated electrons and re-accelerates them in the backward direction. As the electrons collide with the laser, they emit hard x rays. The energy conversion efficiency is comparable to that for the forward emission, but the effective source size is smaller. We show that the picosecond laser duration is required for achieving a spatial overlap between the laser and the backward energetic electrons. At peak laser intensity of 1.4×1020 W/cm2, backward-emitted photons (energies above 100 keV and 10° divergence angle) account for 2×10−5 of the incident laser energy. This conversion efficiency is three times higher than that for similarly selected forward-emitted photons. The source size of the backward photons (5 μm) is three times smaller than the source size of the forward photons.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Planar multifrequency mid-IR microwave-pumped lasers

The characteristics of planar repetitively pulsed diffusion-cooled HF, DF, HF – DF, Xe, and HF – DF – Xe(Kr) lasers pumped by a microwave discharge (2.45 GHz) are studied depending on the pump pulse duration (10 – 40 μs) and repletion rate (50 – 400 Hz), as well as on the composition and pressure of the working gas mixture (30 – 200 Torr) at low (to 0.6 L s{sup −1}) gas flow rates. It is demonstrated for the first time that a HF – DF – Xe gas-discharge laser may simultaneously operate as a HF – DF chemical molecular laser and a recombination laser based on xenon atom transitions and generate broadband (octave) radiation in the range 2.0 – 4.2 μm with an average output power of 43 mW and an efficiency of 0.9 %. With substitution of xenon for krypton, lasing in a HF – DF – Kr laser is obtained at wavelengths of 2.52 – 4.15 μm. Lasing in a HF – DF laser was achieved simultaneously in two spectral regions (2.7 – 2.9 and 3.6 – 4.2 μm) with an output power of ∼50 mW. It is found that a decrease in the pump pulse duration with a simultaneous increase in the pulse repletion rate for retaining the average energy deposition leads to an increase in the average output power and efficiency of the laser. At low pulse repetition rates (50 – 100 Hz) and a low gas mixture flow rate, helium buffer gas can be effectively substituted for neon. Operation of the Xe laser was achieved in the spectral range 2.03 – 3.65 μm with an average output power of 580 Mw at a pump pulse duration of 20 μs, a pulse repetition rate to 10 kHz, and a maximum efficiency of 55 %. The obtained experimental results demonstrate the possibility of creating broadband HF – DF – Xe lasers emitting in the frequency range 2 – 4 μm with a desired ratio of intensities in different spectral ranges. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Energy transfer among distant quantum systems in spatially shaped laser fields: Two H atoms with an internuclear separation of 5.29 nm (100 a.u.)

The quantum dynamics of two distant H atoms excited by ultrashort and spatially shaped laser pulses is studied by the numerical solution of the non-Born-Oppenheimer time-dependent Schroedinger equation within a three-dimensional (3D) model, including the internuclear distance R and the two z coordinates of the electrons z{sub 1} and z{sub 2}. The two one-dimensional (1D) H atoms, A and B, are assumed to be initially in their ground states with a large (but otherwise arbitrary) internuclear separation of R=100 a.u. (5.29 nm). Two types of a spatial envelope of a laser field linearly polarized along the z axis are considered: (i) a broad Gaussian envelope, such that atom A is excited by the laser field predominantly, and (ii) a narrow envelope, such that practically only atom A is excited by the laser field. With the laser carrier frequency {omega}=1.0 a.u. and the pulse duration t{sub p}=5 fs, in both cases an efficient energy transfer from atom A to atom B has been found. The ionization of atom B achieved mostly after the end of the laser pulse is close to or even higher than that of atom A. It is shown that with a narrow spatial envelope of the laser field, the underlying mechanisms of the energy transfer from A to B and the ionization of B are the Coulomb attraction of the laser driven electron by the proton of atom B and a short-range Coulomb repulsion of the two electrons when their wave functions significantly overlap in the domain of atom B. In the case of a broad Gaussian spatial envelope of the laser field, the opposite process also occurs, but with smaller probability: the energy is transferred from the weakly excited atom B to atom A, and the ionization of atom A is also induced by the electron-electron repulsion in the domain of atom A due to a strong overlap of the electronic wave functions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Six-photon resonant scattering of collinear laser pulses in plasma

To achieve the highest possible laser intensities with the least laser energy, shorter-wavelengths lasers are advantaged if they can be focused to spots of a few laser wavelengths and durations of several laser periods. However, the top laser pulse energies available nowadays are megajoules at near-optical wavelengths and millijoules at shorter wavelengths. Thus, to produce the highest laser intensities, what is required is an efficient spectral transfer of the huge near-optical energies to shorter wavelengths. It is proposed here that the desired spectral transfer could occur via resonant photon interactions associated with nonlinearity of mildly relativistic motions of plasma electrons in intense laser fields, specifically via the six-photon resonant scattering of collinear laser pulses in plasma. As a result, the six-photon interaction can, in fact, be the dominant resonant photon interaction to achieve collinear frequency up-conversion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Power balance on a multibeam laser

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) cryogenic experiments on the 60-beam OMEGA laser have strict requirements for the laser energy delivered on target to be power balanced in order to maximize target-irradiation uniformity. For OMEGA, this quantity (power balance) is inferred from measurements of the time-integrated energy and time-resolved, spatially integrated temporal profile of each of the 60 beams at the output of the laser. The work presented here proposes a general definition of power balance as measured at the laser output and discusses the conditions that are fundamental to achieving laser power balance. Power balance necessitates equal gain across all stages of amplification, equal net losses across each amplifier stage, equal frequency conversion (from 1053 nm to 351 nm) of all 60 beams, and equal beam path lengths (beam timing). Typical OMEGA ICF laser pulse shapes consist of one or more short (100-ps) “pickets” followed by a shaped “drive” pulse of 1 to 2 ns. For these experiments, power balance is assessed for the pickets and the drive independently, with the ultimate goal of achieving root-mean-square (rms) imbalance across all 60 beams of less than 2% rms on both. Our work presents a comprehensive summary of laser shot campaigns conducted to significantly improve laser power balance from typical rms values of 4.7% and 5.2%, respectively, to the 3% level for both features along with a discussion of future work required to further reduce the rms power imbalance of the laser system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Laser-based three-dimensional manufacturing technologies for rechargeable batteries

Laser three-dimensional (3D) manufacturing technologies have gained substantial attention to fabricate 3D structured electrochemical rechargeable batteries. Laser 3D manufacturing techniques offer excellent 3D microstructure controllability, good design flexibility, process simplicity, and high energy and cost efficiencies, which are beneficial for rechargeable battery cell manufacturing. In this review, notable progress in development of the rechargeable battery cells via laser 3D manufacturing techniques is introduced and discussed. The basic concepts and remarkable achievements of four representative laser 3D manufacturing techniques such as selective laser sintering (or melting) techniques, direct laser writing for graphene-based electrodes, laser-induced forward transfer technique and laser ablation subtractive manufacturing are highlighted. Finally, major challenges and prospects of the laser 3D manufacturing technologies for battery cell manufacturing will be provided.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Numerical and experimental study of the thermal stress of silicon induced by a millisecond laser

A spatial axisymmetric finite element model of single-crystal silicon irradiated by a 1064 nm millisecond laser is used to investigate the thermal stress damage induced by a millisecond laser. The transient temperature field and the thermal stress field for 2 ms laser irradiation with a laser fluence of 254 J/cm{sup 2} are obtained. The numerical simulation results indicate that the hoop stresses along the r axis on the front surface are compressive stress within the laser spot and convert to tensile stress outside the laser spot, while the radial stresses along the r axis on the front surface and on the z axis are compressive stress. The temperature of the irradiated center is the highest temperature obtained, yet the stress is not always highest during laser irradiation. At the end of the laser irradiation, the maximal hoop stress is located at r=0.5 mm and the maximal radial stress is located at r=0.76 mm. The temperature measurement experiments are performed by IR pyrometer. The numerical result of the temperature field is consistent with the experimental result. The damage morphologies of silicon under the action of a 254 J/cm{sup 2} laser are inspected by optical microscope. The cracks are observed initiating at r=0.5 mm and extending along the radial direction.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Impact of laser-contaminant interaction on the performance of the protective capping layer of 1w high-reflection mirror coatings

In this paper, high dielectric constant multilayer coatings are commonly used on high-reflection mirrors for high-peak-power laser systems because of their high laser-damage resistance. However, surface contaminants often lead to damage upon laser exposure, thus limiting the mirror’s lifetime and performance. One plausible approach to improve the overall mirror resistance against laser damage, including that induced by laser-contaminant coupling, is to coat the multilayers with a thin protective capping (absentee) layer on top of the multilayer coatings. An understanding of the underlying mechanism by which laser-particle interaction leads to capping layer damage is important for the rational design and selection of capping materials of high-reflection multilayer coatings. In this paper, we examine the responses of two candidate capping layer materials, made of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 , over silica-hafnia multilayer coatings. These are exposed to a single oblique shot of a 1053 nm laser beam (fluence ~10 J/cm 2 , pulse length 14 ns), in the presence of Ti particles on the surface. We find that the two capping layers show markedly different responses to the laser-particle interaction. The Al 2 O 3 cap layer exhibits severe damage, with the capping layer becoming completely delaminated at the particle locations. The SiO 2 capping layer, on the other hand, is only mildly modified by a shallow depression. Combining the observations with optical modeling and thermal/mechanical calculations, we argue that a high-temperature thermal field from plasma generated by the laser-particle interaction above a critical fluence is responsible for the surface modification of each capping layer. The great difference in damage behavior is mainly attributed to the large disparity in the thermal expansion coefficient of the two capping materials, with that of Al 2 O 3 layer being about 15 times greater than that of SiO 2 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Narrow band laser source for efficient 3 He polarization

Polarized 3 He is widely in polarized neutron scattering as neutron polarizers or analyzers. Increasing 3 He polarization can improve both neutron polarization and transmission which are important for any polarized neutron experiments. Here at the US, 3 Hee is usually polarized using spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP), where 3 He gains polarization via spin-exchange collisions with laser pumped alkali metals, typically rubidium (Rb) and potassium (K). Over the last two decades, 3 He polarization has improved from around 50% to around 80% due to the application of spectral narrowed diode lasers which narrows the laser linewidth from 2 nm to between 0.2 nm and 0.3 nm. However, the highest 3 He polarization achieved so far is limited to about 85%. The mechanism behind this is still not well understood, but it is suspected that a laser with an ultra-narrow linewidth and lower broadband background may further improve the 3 He polarization. In addition, if we define the spin-exchange efficiency as the ratio of the rate at which the polarized 3 He is produced to the rate at which the alkali atom polarization is lost through various collisions, K has much higher spin-exchange efficiency than Rb does. In principle, direct pumping of K should improve both the pumping efficiency and the production rate of polarized 3 He. However, because of the small fine structure splitting in K (D1 770 nm, D2 766.7 nm), the laser used to pump K needs to have a ultra-narrow spectrum tuned at 770 nm and minimal broadband background as the pumping of the K D2 transition will reduce the pumping efficiency. Such a laser is not readily available. Therefore, the current practice of polarizing 3 He is through a hybrid SEOP method in which the laser tuned at Rb D1 transition (795 nm) polarizes Rb first and then Rb transfers its polarization to K. This hybrid method takes advantages of the more accessible 795 nm laser and gains some pumping efficiency. But to realize the full potential in SEOP, direct pumping of K would be necessary. The new Optigrate laser provides a tool to investigate the impact on the pumping efficiency and achievable 3 He polarization under the condition of ultra-narrow spectrum and very low background.

3He polarizing filters↗
DOE OSTI2018

Laser Ablation, Absorbance Ratio Spectrometry (LAARS) Assay Performance Study (FY2018 Annual Report)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a long history of testing and using laser-based technologies for a variety of safeguards applications. Notable laser-based on-site applications include: 3-dimensional laser range (3DLR) instruments, used for facility design information and verification (DIV); laser measurements to verify unique labels and detect signs of tampering; and laser spectroscopy, for non-contact process monitoring. The IAEA is also evaluating analytical laboratory instruments, such as laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for interrogating individual particles to determine uranium isotopic ratios in collected environment samples. Recent laser technology advancements will continue to fuel future IAEA adoption of new and novel laser-based safeguards tools. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing one such tool, called the Laser Ablation, Absorbance Ratio Spectrometry (LAARS) technology, which is designed to provide high-fidelity 235 U/ 238 U isotope ratio measurements to support either on-site enrichment plant or off-site laboratory destructive assay (DA). Analyzing uranium hexafluoride (UF 6 ) DA samples on-site by LAARS could provide early indication of discrepancies with operator declarations during physical inventory verifications, so that such discrepancies could be addressed immediately, rather than after off-site analysis is completed. The IAEA is also seeking on-site DA options, because sample shipping time can be long and evolving restrictions on radioactive/corrosive material shipments may increasingly limit the IAEA’s ability to easily transport UF 6 samples. Routine on-site LAARS analysis could provide timely assay results and reduce the DA sample shipment inventory to just those needed for more definitive determination. A laboratory-based LAARS instrument could also provide rapid, cost-effective prescreening of selected DA samples shipped to the IAEA’s Nuclear Materials Laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria. PNNL has also developed a complementary UF 6 sampling technology and method, called the Single-Use Destructive Assay (SUDA) sampler to easily collect DA samples that are ideal for on-site analysis by LAARS. Combining the LAARS and SUDA sampler technologies could provide a powerful new on-site DA option for the IAEA.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

Numerical Modeling of Laser Heating and Evaporation of a Single Droplet

Laser technology is being widely studied for controlled energy deposition for a range of applications, including flow control, ignition, combustion, and diagnostics. The absorption and scattering of laser radiation by liquid droplets in aerosols affects propagation of the laser beam in the atmosphere, while the ignition and combustion characteristics in combustion chambers are influenced by the evaporation rate of the sprayed fuel. In this work, we present a mathematical model built on OpenFOAM for laser heating and evaporation of a single droplet in the diffusion-dominated regime taking into account absorption of the laser radiation, evaporation process, and vapor flow dynamics. The developed solver is validated against available experimental and numerical data for heating and evaporation of ethanol and water droplets. The two main regimes—continuous and pulsed laser heating—are explored. For continuous laser heating, the peak temperature is higher for larger droplets. For pulsed laser heating, when the peak irradiance is close to transition to the boiling regime, the temporal dynamics of the droplet temperature does not depend on the droplet size. With the empirical normalization of time, the dynamics of the droplet shrinkage and cooling are found to be independent of droplet sizes and peak laser intensities.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2011

PLASMA WAKE EXCITATION BY LASERS OR PARTICLE BEAMS

Plasma accelerators may be driven by the ponderomotive force of an intense laser or the space-charge force of a charged particle beam. Plasma wake excitation driven by lasers or particle beams is examined, and the implications of the different physical excitation mechanisms for accelerator design are discussed. Plasma-based accelerators have attracted considerable attention owing to the ultrahigh field gradients sustainable in a plasma wave, enabling compact accelerators. These relativistic plasma waves are excited by displacing electrons in a neutral plasma. Two basic mechanisms for excitation of plasma waves are actively being researched: (i) excitation by the nonlinear ponderomotive force (radiation pressure) of an intense laser or (ii) excitation by the space-charge force of a dense charged particle beam. There has been significant recent experimental success using lasers and particle beam drivers for plasma acceleration. In particular, for laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs), the demonstration at LBNL in 2006 of high-quality, 1 GeV electron beams produced in approximately 3 cm plasma using a 40 TW laser. In 2007, for beam-driven plasma accelerators, or plasma-wakefield accelerators (PWFAs), the energy doubling over a meter to 42 GeV of a fraction of beam electrons on the tail of an electron beam by the plasma wave excited by the head was demonstrated at SLAC. These experimental successes have resulted in further interest in the development of plasma-based acceleration as a basis for a linear collider, and preliminary collider designs using laser drivers and beam drivers are being developed. The different physical mechanisms of plasma wave excitation, as well as the typical characteristics of the drivers, have implications for accelerator design. In the following, we identify the similarities and differences between wave excitation by lasers and particle beams. The field structure of the plasma wave driven by lasers or particle beams is discussed, as well as the regimes of operation (linear and nonlinear wave). Limitations owing to driver emittance are also discussed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Self-proton/ion radiography of laser-produced proton/ion beam from thin foil targets

Protons and multicharged ions generated from high-intensity laser interactions with thin foil targets have been studied with a 100 TW laser system. Protons/ions with energies up to 10 MeV are accelerated either from the front or the rear surface of the target material. We have observed for the first time that the protons/ions accelerated from the front surface of the target, in a direction opposite to the laser propagation direction, are turned around and pulled back to the rear surface, in the laser propagation direction. This proton/ion beam is able to create a self-radiograph of the target and glass stalk holding the target itself recorded through the radiochromic film stack. This unique result indicates strong long-living (ns time scale) magnetic fields present in the laser-produced plasma, which are extremely important in energy transport during the intense laser irradiation. The magnetic field from laser main pulse expands rapidly in the preformed plasma to rotate the laser produced protons. Radiation hydrodynamic simulations and ray tracing found that the magnetic field created by the amplified spontaneous emission prepulse is not sufficient to explain the particle trajectories, but the additional field created by the main pulse interaction estimated from particle-in-cell simulation is able to change the particle trajectories.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Spectroscopic study of carbon plasma produced by the first (1064 nm) and second (532 nm) harmonics of Nd:YAG laser

In this research work, spectroscopic studies of carbon (C) plasma by using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are presented. The plasma was produced by the first (1064 nm) and second (532 nm) harmonics of a Q-switched Nd:YAG (Quantel Brilliant) pulsed laser having a pulse duration of 5 ns and 10-Hz repetition rate, which is capable of delivering 400 mJ at 1064 nm and 200 mJ at 532 nm. The laser beam was focused on the target material (100% carbon) by placing it in air at atmospheric pressure. The experimentally observed line profiles of five neutral carbon (C I) lines at 247.85, 394.22, 396.14, 588.95, and 591.25 nm were used to extract the electron temperature T{sub e} by using the Boltzmann plot method and determine its value, 9880 and 9400 K, respectively, for the fundamental and second harmonics of the laser, whereas the electron density N{sub e} was determined from the Stark broadening profile of neutral carbon line at 247.85 nm. The values of N{sub e} at a distance of 0.05 mm from the target surface for the fundamental-harmonic laser with a pulse energy of 130 mJ and the second-harmonic laser with a pulse energy of 72 mJ are 4.68 × 10{sup 17} and 5.98 × 10{sup 17} cm{sup −3}, respectively. This extracted information on T{sub e} and N{sub e} is useful for the deposition of carbon thin films by using the pulsed laser deposition technique. Moreover, both plasma parameters (T{sub e} and N{sub e}) were also calculated by varying the distance from the target surface along the line of propagation of the plasma plume and also by varying the laser irradiance.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Pointing stabilization of a 1 Hz high-power laser via machine learning

Abstract High-power lasers are vital for particle acceleration, imaging, fusion and materials processing, requiring precise control and high-energy delivery. Laser plasma accelerators (LPAs) demand laser positional stability at focus to ensure consistent electron beams in applications such as X-ray free-electron lasers and high-energy colliders. Achieving this stability is especially challenging for the low-repetition-rate lasers in current LPAs. We present a machine learning method that predicts and corrects laser pointing instabilities in real-time using a high-frequency pilot beam. By preemptively adjusting a correction mirror, this approach overcomes traditional feedback limits. Demonstrated on the BELLA petawatt laser operating at the terawatt level (30 mJ amplification), our method achieved root mean square pointing stabilization of 0.34 and 0.59 $\unicode{x3bc} \mathrm{rad}$ in the x and y directions, reducing jitter by 65% and 47%, respectively. This is the first successful application of predictive control for shot-to-shot stabilization in low-repetition-rate laser systems, paving the way for full-energy petawatt lasers and transformative advances across science, industry and security.

Amodio, Alessio↗
DOE OSTI2021

Laser cooling of antihydrogen atoms

The photon—the quantum excitation of the electromagnetic field—is massless but carries momentum. A photon can therefore exert a force on an object upon collision 1 . Slowing the translational motion of atoms and ions by application of such a force 2,3 , known as laser cooling, was first demonstrated 40 years ago 4,5 . It revolutionized atomic physics over the following decades 6–8 , and it is now a workhorse in many fields, including studies on quantum degenerate gases, quantum information, atomic clocks and tests of fundamental physics. However, this technique has not yet been applied to antimatter. Here we demonstrate laser cooling of antihydrogen 9 , the antimatter atom consisting of an antiproton and a positron. By exciting the 1S–2P transition in antihydrogen with pulsed, narrow-linewidth, Lyman-α laser radiation 10,11 , we Doppler-cool a sample of magnetically trapped antihydrogen. Although we apply laser cooling in only one dimension, the trap couples the longitudinal and transverse motions of the anti-atoms, leading to cooling in all three dimensions. We observe a reduction in the median transverse energy by more than an order of magnitude—with a substantial fraction of the anti-atoms attaining submicroelectronvolt transverse kinetic energies. We also report the observation of the laser-driven 1S–2S transition in samples of laser-cooled antihydrogen atoms. The observed spectral line is approximately four times narrower than that obtained without laser cooling. The demonstration of laser cooling and its immediate application has far-reaching implications for antimatter studies. A more localized, denser and colder sample of antihydrogen will drastically improve spectroscopic 11–13 and gravitational 14 studies of antihydrogen in ongoing experiments. Furthermore, the demonstrated ability to manipulate the motion of antimatter atoms by laser light will potentially provide ground-breaking opportunities for future experiments, such as anti-atomic fountains, anti-atom interferometry and the creation of antimatter molecules.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Welding of Semiconductor Nanowires by Coupling Laser-Induced Peening and Localized Heating

We demonstrate that laser peening coupled with sintering of CdTe nanowire films substantially enhances film quality and charge transfer while largely maintaining basic particle morphology. During the laser peening phase, a shockwave is used to compress the film. Laser sintering comprises the second step, where a nanosecond pulse laser beam welds the nanowires. Microstructure, morphology, material content and electrical conductivities of the films are characterized before and after treatment. The morphology results show that laser peening can decrease porosity and bring nanowires into contact and pulsed laser heating fuses those contacts. Multiphysics simulations coupling electromagnetic and heat transfer modules demonstrate that during pulsed laser heating, local EM field enhancement is generated specifically around the contact areas between two semiconductor nanowires, indicating localized heating. The characterization results indicate that solely laser peening or sintering can only moderately improve the thin film quality; however, when coupled together as laser peen sintering (LPS), the electrical conductivity enhancement is dramatic. LPS can decrease resistivity up to a factor of ~10,000, resulting in values on the order of ~10 5 Ω-cm in some cases, which is comparable to CdTe thin films. Our work demonstrates that LPS is an effective processing method to obtain high-quality semiconductor nanocrystal films.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗