Double Pulse Research Articles

Single-shot ultrafast imaging of plasma dynamics induced by dual-angle ultrashort laser pulses with subpicosecond delay

Abstract Spatiotemporal manipulation of ultrashort laser pulses is crucial for enhancing laser processing and phonon generation. Optimization of these applications requires ultrafast visualization of the underlying processes. In this study, we induced laser ablation using spatiotemporally manipulated double pulses focused from two angles onto a glass surface with a 0.7 ps interval, and captured the images of its dynamics with 5 sequential frames at a frame interval of 0.8 ps. The observed dynamics suggest that the laser profile reflected on the glass surface is influenced by its topography, which in turn affects the behavior of air breakdown plasmas.

Hardware Testing Methodologies for Wide Bandgap High-Power Converters

Wide bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices are increasingly replacing silicon IGBTs in high-power and high-voltage power electronics applications. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding efficient testing methodologies for high-power and high-voltage converters under constrained laboratory resources. This paper addresses this gap by presenting comprehensive, hardware-focused testing methodologies for high-power and high-voltage WBG power semiconductor-based converter bring-up before the control validation phase steps in. The proposed methods enable thorough evaluation and validation of converter hardware, including device switching characteristics, driving circuit functionality, thermal management performance, insulation integrity, and sustained operation at full power. We utilized the double pulse test (DPT) to characterize switching performance in a two-level phase leg configuration, extract circuit parasitics, and validate magnetic components. The DPT was further applied to optimize gate driving circuits, validate overcurrent protection mechanisms, and measure device on-resistance. Additionally, a multicycle test was introduced to rapidly assess steady-state converter performance and estimate efficiency. Recognizing the critical role of thermal management in high-power converters, our methodologies extend to the experimental extraction of key thermal parameters—such as junction-to-ambient thermal resistance and thermal capacitance—via a heat loss injection method. A correlation method between temperature sensor measurements and junction temperature is presented to enhance the accuracy of device temperature monitoring during tests. To ensure reliability and safety, dielectric withstand tests and partial discharge measurements were conducted at both component and converter levels under conventional 60 Hz sinusoidal and high-frequency PWM waveforms. Finally, we highlight the importance of testing converters under full voltage, current, and thermal conditions through power circulating tests with minimal power consumption, applicable to both non-isolated and isolated high-power converters. Practical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of these hardware testing methodologies.

The spatio-temporal evolution of shock wave pressure induced by laser: Effects of laser parameters and confinement layer

The spatio-temporal distribution of the shock wave pressure on the surface of the target is the key to the performance of laser shock processing (LSP), which is mainly determined by the laser parameters and the confinement layer. The two-dimensional kinetic simulations of the expansion process of the shock wave induced by irradiation of an aluminum target with nanosecond laser pulses are performed. It is found that by controlling the gap between the rigid confinement layer and the aluminum target, and the interval time between the double pulse laser pulses, multiple peaks appear on the shock wave pressure-time curve of the aluminum target surface, and the value and interval time of each peak will change.

Elucidating the effects of metal transfer modes and investigating the material properties in wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM)

AbstractStudies have shown the influence of WAAM process parameters on mechanical properties, bead formation, dimensional accuracy, and microstructure. However, metal transfer modes and their interactions with input variables have not been investigated thoroughly. Therefore, short/spray, pulse and double pulse modes were investigated in this study at different current levels. Bead-on-plate trials were conducted by depositing ER70S-6 wire to investigate bead morphology, dilution, microstructure, and hardness. The study was supported by a detailed statistical approach, including analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. Similarly, the combined effects of hatch distance and current were studied on bead formation in multi-layer deposits. Moreover, a thin wall and a cubic structure were deposited to realize the WAAM capability for larger depositions. The microstructures of thin wall and cubic structure were analyzed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study concludes that metal transfer modes at various currents significantly influence bead geometry, microstructure and hardness. The microstructure of bead-on-plate trials show fine lamellar structure at low current in all modes. Higher current results in coarse grains with a polygonal and columnar morphology. The hardness shows a decreasing trend as the current increases. The combined effects of current and hatch distance alter bead morphology; however, an optimized combination yields smoother surfaces. The microstructure of thin wall showed a slight anisotropy along the building direction. The presence of small pores was witnessed from OM and SEM images. Similarly, the cubic structure showed a more homogeneous microstructure with much lower porosity. The hardness profile of the thin wall exhibited small fluctuations along the building direction, while that of the cubic structure was more uniform.

Elimination of pores and microstructural characterization in Ti-6Al-4V alloy welds using fast-frequency double pulse TIG welding

This study utilizes a fast-frequency double pulse tungsten inert gas (FFDP TIG) process to weld 2 mm thick Ti-6Al-4V alloy, with the objective of investigating the influence of a large fast-frequency current amplitude on porosity, microstructure, and tensile properties of the weld joint. Unlike conventional TIG welding, the FFDP TIG welding process led to a reduction and elimination of porosity, and refined the prior β grain and α phase by 34.3 % and 33.3 %, respectively, while also refining the martensitic α′ structure. Stirring of the molten pool resulted in improved uniformity of grain orientation distribution, accompanied by decreased variant selection of the α phase and reduced texture strength of the α phases. Moreover, three-variant clusters of α/α′ phases with triangular morphology and micro- and nanoscale recrystallized α grains appear in the FFDP TIG weld. Concurrently, the FFDP TIG process significantly enhanced the tensile strength and ductility by 14.5 % and 114 %, respectively, compared to the conventional TIG process.

Use of Optical Coherence Tomography to Assess Properties of Cutaneous Defects Following Radiofrequency Microneedling and Laser Treatment.

To characterize the properties of cutaneous defects created by energy-based devices using optical coherence tomography. Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling and non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) treatment were performed in vivo with various parameters. Following treatment, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to image and measure cutaneous defects at multiple time points over a 24 h period. Channel-like cutaneous defects were visible with OCT following bipolar RF microneedling and NAFL treatment. Using a double pulse technique with RF microneedling yielded a greater number of defects visible with OCT, as well as defects that were deeper and more durable over time. Following treatment with 1927 nm thulium fiber laser, the average diameter of the defects was greater when the energy level was 20 mJ as compared to 10 mJ (0.33 mm vs. 0.27 mm, p < 0.01). Cutaneous defects were observed following both RF microneedling and NAFL treatment. Properties of the cutaneous defects varied based on device, treatment setting, and technique, which may be useful in guiding further study of device-assisted drug delivery.

Effect of fast frequency double pulse current on microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of wire arc additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloy

This study introduces an innovative technique known as fast-frequency double pulse wire arc metal additive manufacturing (FFDP-WAAM). This method employs periodic fluctuations in arc plasma and force to enhance the stirring effect within the molten pool, resulting in the fragmentation of β grains and the formation of finer prior-β grains. The microstructure primarily comprises α', attributed to the high cooling rates and minimal heat accumulation. Compared to the conventional gas tungsten arc welding-based WAAM (CGT-WAAM) process, FFDP-WAAM significantly reduces α-variant selection, thereby achieving a more uniform α phase orientation distribution. Additionally, ultrasonic vibration in the FFDP-WAAM process facilitates recrystallization and mitigates residual strain. The tensile strength and elongation of the FFDP-WAAM specimens reached 939.2 MPa and 9.0 %, respectively, whereas the CGT-WAAM specimens showed a lower tensile strength of 830 MPa and elongation of 9.2 %. The enhanced strength, fatigue life and microhardness of Ti-6Al-4V produced by FFDP-WAAM is ascribed to the refined grain-size distribution. Furthermore, the low Schmid factor (SF) distribution and the stable triangular structure of Category I α-clusters are anticipated to contribute to the increased strength of the FFDP-WAAM-fabricated wall.

Interframe-tunable ultrafast differential-displacement holography.

We describe the details of a digital holographic microscopy diagnostic capable of quantifying both the topography and velocity of a km/s object with adjustable temporal sensitivity. This technique involves spatially multiplexing a double pulse reflected from a target with reference beams of precisely known temporal separation.

Effect of filler wires on microstructure and mechanical properties of Inconel 718 welded joints by double pulse metal inert gas welding

ABSTRACT Inconel 718 possesses issues like microsegregation of Nb, Mo leads to the formation of Laves phase which degrades the mechanical properties of the welded joints. This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of Inconel 718 welded joints using the double pulse metal inert gas (DP-MIG) process by the combined effect of filler wires, such as ERNiFeCr-2, ERNiCrCoMo-1, and 9Cr-1Mo. All the weldments were found to have columnar dendrites with coarser grain morphology. Liquated grain boundaries, secondary phases, unmixed zones at the heat affected zone (HAZ) and segregation of Nb (21.3%) and Mo (10.4%) at the weld zone were identified for ERNiFeCr-2 and ERNiCrCoMo-1 fillers. From EBSD findings, the formation of peninsula and island at the HAZ and segregation of Fe (68%) in the weld zone of 9Cr-1Mo filler weldment was noticed. Even though the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of all the weldments was found to be inferior to that of base metal (788.9MPa), the 9Cr-1Mo filler weldment shows better tensile strength of 403.5MPa with a joint efficiency of (51.14%). From the fractography results, the void formation due to secondary phases along with dimple networks ensures the ductility mode of fracture for all the weldments.

Dual-control of incubation effect for efficiently fabricating surface structures in fused silica

Abstract Fused silica with surface structures has potential applications in microfluidic, aerospace and other fields. To fabricate structures with high dimensional accuracy and surface quality is of paramount importance. However, it is indeed a challenge to strike a balance between accuracy and efficiency at the same time. Here, a temporally shaped femtosecond laser Bessel-beam-assisted etching method with dual-control of incubation effect is proposed to achieve this balance. Instead of layer-by-layer ablation continuously with Gaussian pulses, silica is modified discretely by double pulse Bessel beam with one single layer. During the modification process, incubation effect is dual-controlled in single shot process and spatial scanning process to generate even modified region efficiently. Then, the modified region is etched to form designed structures such as microholes, grooves, etc. The proposed method exhibits high efficiency for fabrication of surface structures in fused silica.

Functionalization Process for Commercial Viability: Oral Leukoplakia Detection Using IL-6 Biomarker

Oral leukoplakia (OL) or white patched in the oral cavity poses a diagnostic challenge in oral health due to its white patches on the oral mucosa, affecting 1%-2% of the population, predominantly those over 40 years old. Despite being often benign, OL often precedes potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer, necessitating early detection and intervention. The search for novel biomarkers has intensified, with interleukin-6 (IL-6) emerging as a promising candidate. IL-6 detection levels in saliva offer a non-invasive approach, aiding an accurate risk assessment and treatment planning. Here, we introduce an IL-6-based biosensor for rapid concentration detection. A novel, hour-long functionalization method streamlines mass production, maintaining a low detection limit down to 10−15 g ml−1, which is three order lower than current commercial ELISA kits, with a sensitivity around 18/dec. Utilizing a specially designed printed circuit board with double pulse technology ensures precise concentration results, with human sample tests confirming the biosensor’s efficacy in real-world applications. This innovation represents a significant advancement in early OL detection, enabling timely intervention to prevent its progression to more severe forms of oral cancer.

Multiple-reflections single-shot dispersion scan for fast ultrashort-pulse measurements

A single-shot non-interferometric ultrashort-pulse measurement method based on the dispersion scan (d-scan) technique with a substantially extended time span for the pulses to be measured is presented. While single-shot d-scan is typically used for rather short femtosecond pulses, the presented multiple-reflections d-scan (MR d-scan) technique allows measurement of both short and long femtosecond pulses. Single-shot d-scan is currently limited to pulses with a maximum duration of 60 fs using a chromatic dispersion, i.e., a group delay dispersion (GDD) of 4400 fs2 at 840 nm provided by customized random nonlinear crystals. MR d-scan achieves a GDD of 31100 fs2 at 820 nm in this work, but can generally achieve an increase in GDD of up to two orders of magnitude. MR d-scan works with commonly available output couplers, does not rely on a homogeneous, precisely imaged beam profile and has an in-line configuration. As an example, long femtosecond double pulses are measured and reconstructed.

Effect of pulse interval on deposition of diamond-like carbon through high-power impulse magnetron sputtering

A diamond-like carbon (DLC) film was deposited using unipolar-double-pulse high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering, aimed at enhancing both film density and deposition rate. The pulse interval between the 1st and 2nd pulses, with negative polarity applied to the target, was varied from 15 to 200 μs. Temporal variations in the flux and energy of C+ and Ar+ incident to the DLC film were analyzed through energy-resolved and time-resolved mass spectrometry to clarify the ion generation process during the 1st and 2nd pulses. The contribution of ionic species in forming the DLC film through HiPIMS was clarified through mass spectrometry, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and X-ray reflectivity analyses. Reducing the pulse interval increased the deposition rate, and the film density of the DLC film was improved at a pulse interval of approximately 40 μs. Overall, the implementation of a double pulse with the appropriate pulse interval can help enhance both the film density and deposition rate.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of double pulse TIG welded super austenitic stainless steel butt joints

Abstract The primary objective of this study is to analyze the effect of double pulse tungsten inert gas (DP-TIG) welding on microstructure and mechanical properties of super austenitic SMO 254 stainless steel joints. The butt joints of SMO 254 steel were made using ERNiCrMo-10 filler metal. The microstructural characteristics of different regions of joint were analyzed using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The micrograph of weld metal showed finer equiaxed grains at the middle of weld metal and columnar grains near the weld interface. The SMO 254 steel joints showed the tensile strength of 636 MPa, ductility of 35 %, and impact toughness of 52 J. The fractured surfaces showed ductile mode of failure of joints.

Process simulation of laser shock-based disassembly of adhesively bonded composite/metallic structural parts: a numerical upscaling

ABSTRACT In previous works, both experimental and numerical investigations have shown the potential of the laser shock technique for disassembling adhesively bonded composite/metal coupons. This study extends this concept to upscale the method, focusing on the full disassembly of a foreign object damage (FOD) panel designed to replicate an aircraft engine fan blade. Utilizing LS-Dyna explicit FE software, the numerical simulation incorporates various material models: a progressive damage model for the 3D CFRP substrate, Johnson–Cook plasticity model combined with Grüneisen equation of state for the titanium layer, and a cohesive zone model with a bilinear traction separation law for the adhesive layer. Investigating the FOD panel’s inclined geometry, a preliminary analysis examines the impact of inclination angles on shock wave propagation and back face velocity, revealing minimal alterations. Initial simulations are conducted to determine double pulse delay times and evaluate spot location effects. Automation of the multi-step process simulation is achieved through a Python script. After approximately 30 shots, complete disassembly of the FOD strip is achieved, with observed damage primarily limited to matrix cracking in the composite substrate. Numerical findings support the efficacy of the double-shot laser shock method for disassembling adhesively bonded metallic/CFRP components, contingent upon appropriate experimental arrangements.

Simulation of femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures on fused silica by considering intrapulse and interpulse feedback

The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) on fused silica upon irradiation with plane wave, double pulse, spot processing, and scanning processing (pulse duration tp = 35 fs, center wavelength λ = 800 nm, low repetition rate ≈1 kHz) is studied theoretically with an improved three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain plasma model. The model covers both intrapulse feedback under single shot and interpulse feedback under multi-shots, thus enabling better prediction of transient responses during laser–material interaction and the evolution of the ablated morphology and accumulated defects’ density with more shots. In simulations of a single plane wave, a double pulse can modulate LIPSS periodicity. In simulations of spot processing with Gaussian beam, an increase in the number of shots results in a noticeable ablation pattern where high-spatial-frequency LIPSS surrounds low-spatial-frequency LIPSS at a fluence of 2.8 J/cm2. Moreover, simulations of scanning processing with Gaussian beam showcase the broad applicability of this model, revealing that the orientation of the LIPSS depends on the polarization direction rather than the scanning path. This new model provides a powerful tool to simulate the formation of LIPSS on silica, particularly when temporally modulated laser is involved or predicting the evolution of morphology dependent on the number of shots.

Technology development of novel autogenous double pulse tungsten insert gas welding technique to evaluate the depth of penetration, micro segregation via machine learning and desirability function approach

The present research investigates the effect of process parameters on the microstructure, micro segregation, and material properties of the Autogenous Double Pulse Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (ADP-TIG) of Inconel 625. The optimization of the process parameter was evaluated by Response surface Methodology (RSM) Box Behnken method. In this article, the effects of the weld-bead geometry, weld centre (WC), weld interface (WI), and heat affected zone (HAZ) were evaluated through macro morphology, microstructure, SEM/EDAX, XRD, and micro hardness. The outcomes indicate that by employing a combination of high and low frequency pulsing in ADP-TIG, it is possible to regulate not only the dimensions of the weld-bead and penetration depth but also the HAZ. The ADP-TIG process has a low heat input, resulting in finer grains in the microstructure, reduced secondary phases, and a narrower HAZ. SEM images of alloy 625 confirms the depiction of fine equiaxed dendrites. The ADP-TIG process reduces secondary phase formation due to a reduction in Mo and Nb alloying elements. EDAX results also show that the micro segregation in the weld centre (WC) and weld interface (WI) is very less in the dendritic core region because of the lower heat Input. The XRD result confirms the presence of NbzNi, Cr₂Nb, Ni8Nb, Fe2Mo3 and FeNi phases. The maximum microhardness values in WC and WI are 290 HV and 280 HV, respectively. The impacts of ADP-TIG welding technique specifications on factors such as weld bead geometry, WC, WI, and HAZ have been thoroughly examined across a range of process parameters. Further the process parameters of ADP-TIG were optimized using a desirability function to achieve defect-free welds, followed by experimental validation. The desirability function results were then compared with a machine learning (ML) approach. The investigation aimed to assess ML algorithms' predictive capability for weldment outcomes. From the ML modelling results, Support Vector Machine (SVM) using the Radial Basis Function (RBF) kernel was identified as the superior strategy for accurately predicting Heat input, Mo segregation, and Nb segregation. Additionally, Gaussian process regression (GPR) with an RBF kernel was recommended for predicting the Width to Depth Ratio.

Single-shot complete characterization of synthesized laser pulses and the nonlinear frequency-conversion process

High-energy-synthesized laser pulses through a nonlinear frequency-conversion process with different characteristics, such as polarization, central wavelength, and pulse duration, play important roles in materials science, high-energy physics, and ultrafast optics. In this study, we present an improved transient-grating frequency-resolved optical gating based on a self-referenced and reflective structure, which enables the single-shot complete measurement of complex high-power synthesized laser pulses in the broadband range and analysis of the nonlinear frequency-conversion process of ultrashort pulses. The waveform/spectrum evolution of both the fundamental and second harmonic pulses in a nonlinear frequency-conversion process with different injected energies was studied for the first time using this method. Moreover, the method was numerically and experimentally verified to be able to completely characterize double pulses with spectral and temporal separation, including the relative phase between the two components. This method has considerable potential for studying the complex physical processes of high-power synthesized laser fields.

Multifunction realization in MoS2/WS2/h-BN heterojunction: Integrated self-powered high-performance photodetection, visualization, nonvolatile memory, and synaptic simulation

Nowadays, efficient performance, functional diversification, device miniaturization and systematic integration are the trends for developing new electronic information technology. However, photodetectors with only optoelectronic detection functions cannot satisfy the growing demands of the multifunction required in single devices. This paper presents a MoS2/WS2/h-BN van der Waals heterojunction device realizing multifunctional applications which integrated self-powered high-performance photodetection, visualization, nonvolatile memory, and synaptic simulation. The heterojunction achieves a high responsivity of 9.28 A/W, an excellent specific detectivity of 6.1×1012 Jones, a large external quantum efficiency of 2358 %, a considerable on/off ratio of 7×105 and an ultrafast response time of 0.6 μs at 1 V bias under 488 nm laser irradiation. Besides, the photodetector shows excellent photovoltaic characteristics with a short-circuit current of 0.22 μA and an open-circuit voltage of 0.34 V. Moreover, the device also shows a favorable optical response to 532 and 633 nm lasers. The device also realizes visualization and can be used as an imaging sensor. In addition, the device integrates nonvolatile memory function due to the charge storage effect of h-BN and h-BN/SiO2 interface. Furthermore, biological synaptic functions, such as the memory process, short- and long-term plasticity, and double pulse facilitation, are also successfully simulated. This work realizes the high-performance and multifunctional applications of MoS2/WS2/h-BN device based on a new strategy of utilizing h-BN as a heterojunction substrate.

Spectroscopic assessment and quantitative analysis of the trace element composition of vegetable additives to meat products

In this scientific work, using the method of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), the spectra of beef samples and impurities in meat products, namely, banana, pineapple, kiwi, bergamot, poria coconut, Chinese angelica, chicken blood vine, were measured by using developed experimental devices. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the qualitative characteristics of additives to meat semi-finished products for the potential formation of the desired properties of the products due to the analysis of the received spectrograms of trace elements of the samples when applying the LIBS method, quantitative analysis for processing the received information. The determined values of the electron temperature of the plasma, the electron density of the used raw material samples, and the assessment of the local heat balance were used as evaluation criteria. When processing the obtained data, the characteristics of the laser-induced plasma surface of the presented samples were analyzed; the electron temperature and electron density were determined, and a quantitative analysis of trace elements was carried out. LIBS technology allows rapid real-time monitoring and qualitative analysis of trace elements online and over long distances. During the research, it turned out that quantitative analysis requires further study and optimisation of experimental conditions, such as pre-treatment of samples. These conditions optimise defocusing, double laser pulse, and sample temperature, which increases the signal/noise ratio of all spectral lines. The combination of fluorescence spectroscopy and Raman technology enables higher detection sensitivity and better molecule control, creating a quantitative analysis method model that can reduce matrix effects and overcome the self-absorption effect. Among the difficulties of using LIBS technology, several elements can be noted online simultaneously, compared to Raman. The combination of spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy can obtain more comprehensive information about the composition of materials, which can become a potential platform for monitoring trace elements in food products.