Spectroscopic Studies of Indium Plasma Produced by Fundamental (1,064 nm) and Second (532 nm) Harmonics of an Nd:YAG Laser

In this paper, we present spectroscopic studies of a laser-induced indium (In) plasma produced by fundamental (1,064 nm) and second (532 nm) harmonics of an Nd:YAG laser along with the characteristics determined by plasma parameters. The electron temperature is determined using four lines of neutral indium at 260.17, 271.02, 275.38, and 325.85 nm, in view of the Boltzmann plot method. The temperature varies from 6,470 K at 0.05 nm to 4,990 K at about 2 mm from the target surface for the fundamental wavelength and from 6,250 to 4,880 K for the second harmonic. The electron density is ±300 calculated using the Stark broadened profiles recorded at laser pulse energy 130 mJ (for fundamental) and 72 mJ (for second harmonic) as 5:8·10¹⁶ and 6:9·10¹⁶ cm^?3, respectively. These values decrease to 3:5·10¹⁵ and 4:9·10¹⁵ over a distance of 2 mm from the target surface, respectively. Moreover, we study the variation of N _e as a function of laser irradiance as well as its spatial variation from the target surface.     

Diagnostics of Tin Plasma Produced by Visible and IR Nanosecond Laser Ablation

We present the optical emission spectroscopic studies of the Tin (Sn) plasma, produced by the fundamental (1064 nm) and second (532 nm) harmonics of a Q switched Nd: YAG pulsed laser having 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 using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The laser beam was focused on target material by placing it in air at atmospheric pressure. The experimentally observed line profiles of four neutral tin (Sn I) lines at 231.72, 248.34, 257.15 and 266.12 nm were used to extract the electron temperature (T_e) using the Boltzmann plot method and determined its value 6360 and 5970 K respectively for fundamental and second harmonics of the laser. Whereas, the electron number density (N_e) has been determined from the Stark broadening profile of neutral tin (Sn I) line at 286.33 nm and determined its value 5.85 x 10¹⁶ and 6.80 x 10¹⁶cm^–3 for fundamental and second harmonics of the laser respectively. Both plasma parameters (T_e and N_e) have also been calculated by varying distance from the target surface along the line of propagation of plasma plume and also by varying the laser irradiance. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Diagnostics of a Potassium Plasma Produced by Visible and IR Nanosecond Laser Ablation

We present spectroscopic emission studies of a laser-produced potassium plasma generated by the fundamental mode (1064 nm) and the second harmonic (532 nm) of a Q-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The spectra predominantly reveal the spectral lines of neutral potassium. We use experimentally observed line profiles of neutral potassium to determine the excitation temperature using Boltzmann plots, and the Stark-broadened line profiles to determine the electron-number density. We also study variations in the excitation temperature and electron-number density as functions of the laser irradiance.     

Optical spectroscopic studies of titanium plasma produced by an Nd : YAG laser

We present optical emission characteristics of the titanium plasma produced by the fundamental (1064 nm) and second (532 nm) harmonics of a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The experimentally observed line profiles of neutral titanium (Ti I) have been used to extract the electron temperature (T _e ) using the Boltzmann plot method. The electron number density (N _e ) is calculated using the Stark broadening profile of 368.73 nm spectral line. Beside we have studied the spatial variation of electron temperature and number density as a function of laser energy for titanium plasma by placing the target material in air (at atmospheric pressure). We have determined the electron temperature and the electron number density along the axial position of the plasma plume.     

Surface modifications of AISI 1045 steel created by high intensity 1064 and 532 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses

Interaction of Nd:YAG laser, operating at 1064 or 532 nm wavelength and a pulse duration of 40 ps, with AISI 1045 steel was studied. Surface damage thresholds were estimated to be 0.30 and 0.16 J/cm² at the wavelengths of 1064 and 532 nm, respectively. The steel surface modification was studied at the laser energy density of 10.3 J/cm² (at 1064 nm) and 5.4 J/cm² (at 532 nm). The energy absorbed from Nd:YAG laser beam is partially converted to thermal energy, which generates a series of effects, such as melting, vaporization of the molten material, shock waves, etc. The following AISI 1045 steel surface morphological changes and processes were observed: (i) both laser wavelengths cause damage of the steel in the central zone of irradiated area; (ii) appearance of a hydrodynamic feature in the form of resolidified droplets of the material in the surrounding outer zone with 1064 nm laser wavelength; (iii) appearance of periodic surface structures, at micro- and nano-level, with the 532 nm wavelength and, (iv) development of plasma in front of the target. Generally, interaction of laser beam with the AISI 1045 steel (at 1064 and 532 nm) results in a near-instantaneous creation of damage, meaning that large steel surfaces can be processed in short time.     

Surface modifications of a titanium implant by a picosecond Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 and 532 nm

Interaction of an Nd:YAG laser, operating at 1064 or 532 nm wavelength and pulse duration of 40 ps, with titanium implant was studied. Surface damage thresholds were estimated to 0.9 and 0.6 J/cm² at wavelengths 1064 and 532 nm, respectively. The titanium implant surface modification was studied by the laser beam of energy density of 4.0 and 23.8 J/cm² (at 1064 nm) and 13.6 J/cm² (at 532 nm). The energy absorbed from the Nd:YAG laser beam is partially converted to thermal energy, which generates a series of effects, such as melting, vaporization of the molten material, shock waves, etc. The following titanium/implant surface morphological changes were observed: (i) both laser wavelengths cause damage of the titanium in the central zone of the irradiated area, (ii) appearance of a hydrodynamic feature in the form of resolidified droplets of the material in the surrounding outer zone with the 1064 nm laser wavelength and (iii) appearance of wave-like microstructures with the 532 nm wavelength. Generally, both laser wavelengths and the corresponding laser energy densities can efficiently enhance the titanium/implant roughness. This implant roughness is expected to improve its bio-integration. The process of the laser interaction with titanium implant was accompanied by formation of plasma.     

Spectroscopic studies of sodium nitrate plasma produced by nanosecond laser ablation

We present the optical emission characteristics of the sodium plasma produced at the surface of sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) also known as Chile saltpeter. We used 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 target material was placed in front of laser beam in air (atmospheric pressure). The experimentally observed line profiles of neutral sodium have been used to extract the electron temperature using the Boltzmann plot method, whereas the electron number density has been determined from the Stark broadening. The electron temperature is 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. Besides, we have studied the variation of number density as a function of laser irradiance as well as its variation with the distance from the target surface. It is observed that electron temperature and electron number density increase as the laser irradiance is increased.     

LD泵浦355nm准连续紫外激光器

报道了一台LD侧面泵浦Nd:YAG晶体的内腔三次谐波转换的全固态准连续紫外激光器。在谐振腔内,1064nm的基频波通过对Ⅱ类相位匹配KTP晶体进行二倍频来产生532nm波长激光,二者再通过对Ⅱ类相位匹配LBO晶体进行和频来获得355nm紫外激光输出。355nm全固态紫外激光器在声光调Q重复频率为2.8kHz下,当输入电流为18A时可得到503mW的激光输出。     

Spectroscopic studies of laser induced aluminum plasma using fundamental,second and third harmonics of a Nd:YAG laser

In the present work, we have studied the spatial evolution of the aluminum plasma produced by the fundamental (1064 nm), second (532 nm) and third (355 nm) harmonics of a Q-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The experimentally observed line profiles of neutral aluminum have been used to extract the excitation temperature using Boltzmann plot method whereas the electron number density has been determined from the Stark broadened profiles. Besides we have studied the variation of excitation temperature and electron number density as a function of laser irradiance at atmospheric pressure. In addition, we have performed quantitative analysis of photon absorption and vapor ionization mechanism at three laser wavelengths and estimated the inverse bremsstrahlung (IB) absorption and photoionization (PI) coefficients. The validity of the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium is discussed in the light of the experimental results.     

Laser-induced,second-order optical susceptibilities of YAB:Cr3+ single crystals

Complex temperature studies of optically stimulated second harmonic generation (SHG) at 1064?nm for pulsed 10?ns Nd:YAG laser radiation under illumination of two coherent laser beams (at 1064?nm and its 532?nm second harmonic) were carried out by means of the Maker fringe method. The bicolour coherent process allowed detection of some additionally induced non-centrosymmetry. The effect was studied at different temperatures and experimental geometries in YAB:Cr³⁺ single crystals. We found that Cr³⁺ ions play a principal role in the observed effects. The output of optically stimulated SHG was generally non-spherical in the sequence profile, contrary to the traditional non-stimulated SHG. Moreover, we also established that the optimal conditions for obtaining SHG corresponded to the fundamental/writing beam intensities ratio 6:1. A specially performed control of the photo-thermal sample heating showed that the increase of temperature did not exceed 1.2?K, which allowed the influence of photo-thermal heating to be neglected. The optimal input–output laser geometry corresponded to s-p polarisation and to the angle of about 32° between the photo-inducing and fundamental beams. Additionally in the studied temperature range (77–295?K) there was observed an enhancement of the output second-order susceptibilities from 0.72?pm/V up to 1.02?pm/V.     

Quadrature Frequency Conversion Scheme Using CsLiB6O10 Crystals for the Efficient Second-Harmonic Generation of High Power Nd:YAG Laser

The ability of CsLiB_6O10 (CLBO) crystals for high power second-harmonic generation (SHG) of a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser in a quadrature arrangement was experimentally demonstrated. A 532-nm second harmonic output pulse energy of 2.25 J was obtained with 3.21 J of an input 1064-nm fundamental pulse energy at a repetition rate of 10 Hz, corresponding to a power conversion efficiency in excess of 70%.     

Removal of the indigo color by laser beam–denim interaction

Our experiments show that the laser fading process removes efficiently indigo-dye from denim support. We use the beams from Nd : YAG laser (1064 nm and its second harmonic 532 nm) and CO₂ (10.6 μm) lasers. Different laser pulse parameters were used in order to obtain laser power density and fluency to start the ablation process. The purpose of this work is to determine the change of denim diffuse reflectivity spectra after laser irradiation with different wavelength and different power density. The change of diffuse reflectivity coefficient was up to 17% at 450 nm wavelength (from 8% reflectivity for unirradiated denim).     

Biocompatible film deposition by using Nd:YAG pulsed laser

A Nd:YAG laser operating at the fundamental wavelength (1064 nm) and at the second harmonic (532 nm), with 9 ns pulse duration, 100–900 mJ pulse energy, and 30 Hz repetition rate mode, was employed to ablate in vacuum (10^?6 mbar) biomaterial targets and to deposit thin films on substrate backings. Titanium target was ablated at the fundamental frequency and deposited on near-Si substrates. The ablation yield increases with the laser fluence and at 40 J/cm ² the ablation yield for titanium is 1.2×10¹⁶ atoms/pulse. Thin film of titanium was deposited on silicon substrates placed at different distance and angles with respect to the target and analysed with different surface techniques (optical microscopy, scanning electron spectrosopy (SEM), and surface profile).

Hydroxyapatite (HA) target was ablated to the second harmonic and thin films were deposited on Ti and Si substrates. The ablation yield at a laser fluence of 10 J/cm ² is about 5×10¹⁴ HA molecules/pulse. Thin film of HA, deposited on silicon substrates placed at different distance and angles with respect to the target, was analysed with different surface techniques (optical microscopy, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy).

Metallic films show high uniformity and absence of grains, whereas the bio-ceramic film shows a large grain size distribution. Both films found special application in the field of biomaterial coverage.     

101 W of average green beam from diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG/LBO-based system in a relay imaged cavity

A 52-W green laser at 532 nm by extra-cavity second-harmonic generation in a coupled-cavity configuration is demonstrated. The fundamental laser is a diode-side-pumped acousto-optic (AO) Q-switched Nd:YAG rod laser producing 84 W of average power at 1064 nm at 8 kHz repetition rate. Type-II phase-matched polished KTP crystal is used as the nonlinear crystal for second-harmonic generation. The individual green pulse width is 50 ns and the fundamental to second harmonic conversion efficiency is 61.8%.     

Efficient and high-power green beam generation by frequency doubling of acousto-optic Q-switched diode-side pumped Nd:YAG rod laser in a coupled cavity

A 52-W green laser at 532 nm by extra-cavity second-harmonic generation in a coupled-cavity configuration is demonstrated. The fundamental laser is a diode-side-pumped acousto-optic (AO) Q-switched Nd:YAG rod laser producing 84 W of average power at 1064 nm at 8 kHz repetition rate. Type-II phase-matched polished KTP crystal is used as the nonlinear crystal for second-harmonic generation. The individual green pulse width is 50 ns and the fundamental to second harmonic conversion efficiency is 61.8%.     

Coupling of focused laser pulse to surfaces of transparent materials studied by time-resolved imaging technique

Short and intense laser pulse can process the surface and the inside of transparent materials by focusing the pulse at the desired position. Here we report the interaction of fundamental radiation (1064 nm) of the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to the surface of PMMA as observed by an imaging system with nanosecond time resolution. The system used fundamental radiation of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser as a processing laser and second harmonic radiation (532 nm) of another Nd:YAG laser as illuminating light. We observed shock waves which propagate into the material and into the atmosphere by shadowgraph and photoelastic method. Surface roughness of a sample is expected to affect the coupling of light and transparent materials for both normal and focused laser light. Our results have revealed the effects visually. For roughness larger than 0.6 m, all energy is absorbed at the surface, while the larger part of the energy is absorbed inside the material as the surface becomes smoother. PACS 52.38.MF; 79.20.DS; 87.63.Lk     

A comparison between characteristics of various laser-based denim fading processes

Our experiments show that the laser fading process has similar, even better results, in some cases, than the conventional technologies of indigo-dyed denim. Using the beams from Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm and its second harmonic 532 nm), CTH:YAG laser (2.09 μm), CO₂ laser (10.6 μm) and various laser beam parameters we found the optimum fluence and power density in order to obtain a similar fading appearance like the one obtained by conventional processes. The purpose of this work was to determine the effectiveness of laser-based technologies and to measure the wear characteristics of the processed textile like colorfastness, strength resistance, tearing strength, and dimensional changes.     

Optical emission studies of sulphur plasma using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

We present the optical emission studies of sulphur (S) plasma generated by the first (1064 nm) and second (532 nm) wavelengths of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The target material was placed in front of laser beam in air at atmospheric pressure. The experimentally observed line profiles of neutral sulphur have been used to extract the electron temperature (T _e ) using the Boltzmann plot method, whereas the electron number density (N _e ) has been determined from the Stark broadening. The electron temperature is calculated by varying, distance from, the target surface along the line of propagation of plasma plume and also by varying the laser irradiance. Beside we have studied the variation of number density as a function of laser irradiance as well as its variation with distance from the target surface. It is observed that electron temperature and electron number density increases as laser irradiance is increased.     

High-energy single longitudinal mode 1 ns all-solid-state 266 nm lasers

A single longitudinal mode (SLM) short pulse high energy all-solid-state ultraviolet laser is demonstrated in this paper. Through the use of a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) architecture, we have been able to provide high-energy outputs with the combination of short pulses, good beam quality and SLM typically produced by a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The passively Q-switched SLM Nd:YAG laser in a twisted-mode cavity is operated as the seed source. After the seed is amplified by a double-pass pre-amplifier and a single-pass main-amplifier, the 100 μJ, 1064 nm, ∼1 ns seeding pulse was amplified up to 400 mJ energy in the total pulse train. Using a KTP crystal for second-harmonic generation and a CLBO for fourth-harmonic generation, we successfully obtained a short pulse, high energy ultraviolet laser of 266 nm, with the output energy of 108 mJ, pulse width 1 ns and M²<5. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.72.Bj; 42.60.Da     

Characterization of laser processing of single‐crystal natural diamonds using micro‐Raman spectroscopic investigations

The application of lasers for processing diamond has revolutionized the diamond industry and its applications in microelectronics, microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and microoptoelectromechanical system (MOEMS) technologies. The process quality can be evaluated using spectroscopic techniques. In the present investigation, four different types of Q‐switched solid‐state lasers (with different beam parameters), namely, a lamp‐pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm, a lamp‐pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at second harmonically generated 532 nm, a diode‐pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser operating at 1064 nm and a diode‐pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm, have been employed for the processing of a single‐crystal, gem‐quality, natural diamond. The main objective behind the selection of these lasers with different beam parameters was to study the effect of wavelength, pulse width, pulse energy, peak power and beam quality factor (M² factor) on various aspects of processing (such as microcracking, material loss and cut surface quality) and their relative merits and demerits. The overall weight loss of the diamond and formation of microcracks during processing have been studied for the above four cases. The characteristics of the graphite formed during processing, elemental analysis, surface morphology of the cut surface and process dynamics have been studied using micro‐Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We observed that laser cutting of single‐crystal diamonds used for industrial applications can be accomplished without microcracking or surface distortion using Q‐switched Nd:YAG lasers. This allows direct processing without extensive postgrinding and polishing stages. Very efficient diamond processing is possible using diode‐pumped lasers, which results in the lowest possible breakage rate, good accuracy, good surface finish and low weight loss. From the micro‐Raman and SEM studies, it is concluded that the surface quality obtained is superior when diode‐pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser is used, owing to its extremely high peak power. The maximum graphite content is observed while processing with lamp‐pumped Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm. An overall comparison of all the laser sources leads to the conclusion that diode‐pumped Nd:YAG laser is a superior option for the efficient processing of natural diamond crystals. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.