Laser Beam Width Research Articles

Doppler sensitivity and resonant tuning of Rydberg atom-based antennas

Radio frequency antennas based on Rydberg atom vapor cells can in principle reach sensitivities beyond those of any conventional wire antenna, especially at lower frequencies where very long wires are needed to accommodate the increasing wavelength. They also have other desirable features such as consisting of nonmetallic, hence lower profile, elements. This paper presents a detailed theoretical investigation of Rydberg antenna sensitivity, elucidating parameter regimes that could cumulatively lead to a sensitivity increase 2–3 orders of magnitude beyond that of currently tested configurations. The key insight is to optimally combine the advantages of two well-studied approaches: (i) three laser ‘2D star configuration’ setups that, when enhanced with increased laser power, to some degree compensate for atom motion-induced Doppler broadening, and (ii) resonant coupling between a pair of near-degenerate Rydberg levels, tuned via a local oscillator to the incident signal of interest. The advantage of the star setup is subtle because it only restores the overall sensitivity to the expected Doppler-limited value, compensating for additional significant off-resonance reductions where differently moving atom sub-populations destructively interfere with each other in the net signal. An additional unique advantage of local oscillator tuning is that it leads to vastly narrower line widths, as low as ∼10 kHz set by the intrinsic Rydberg state lifetimes, rather than the typical ∼10 MHz scale set by the core state lifetimes. Intuitively, with this setup the two Rydberg states may be tuned to act as an independent high-q cavity, a point of view supported by a study of the frequency-dependence of the antenna resonant response. There are a number of practical experimental advances, especially larger ∼1 cm laser beam widths, required to suppress various extrinsic line broadening effects and to fully exploit this ‘Rydberg superheterodyne’ response.

The influence of laser focusing conditions on the direct laser acceleration of electrons

Direct laser acceleration of electrons during a high-energy, picosecond laser interaction with an underdense plasma has been demonstrated to be substantially enhanced by controlling the laser focusing geometry. Experiments using the OMEGA EP facility measured electrons accelerated to maximum energies exceeding 120 times the ponderomotive energy under certain laser focusing, pulse energy, and plasma density conditions. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that the laser focusing conditions alter the laser field evolution, channel fields generation, and electron oscillation, all of which contribute to the final electron energies. The optimal laser focusing condition occurs when the transverse oscillation amplitude of the accelerated electron in the channel fields matches the laser beam width, resulting in efficient energy gain. Through this observation, a simple model was developed to calculate the optimal laser focal spot size in more general conditions and is validated by experimental data.

Prediction of the shift in melting mode during additive manufacturing of 316 L stainless steel

In the additive manufacturing (AM) of 316 L stainless steel, the keyhole and conduction mode of melting significantly influence the quality of the final product. The present work proposes a novel criterion based on AM process parameters like laser power, scan speed, beam width, and powder bed thickness to indicate the shift in a melting mode. The proposed criterion avoids the limitation of the normalized enthalpy factor as an indicator for predicting a shift in the melting mode. The values of the proposed criterion for various experimental data clearly indicate a gradual transition from conduction to keyhole mode rather than a sharp shift, which complies with the actual process. Further, classification-type machine learning (ML) techniques (Logistic Regression, Random Forest Classifier, and XGBoost Classifier) are used to predict the shift in the melting mode based on the data collected from the literature. The evaluation of the performance of the models for the train and test datasets and K-Fold validation showed satisfactory results. The parametric ML model based on logistic regression with an accuracy of 85% and a physics-informed ML model based on the XGBoost algorithm with an accuracy of 88.75% are reliable for predicting the melting modes. Based on the results of the ML model, process maps were developed showing the transition from conduction to keyhole mode for different beam widths and powder bed thicknesses. It is further observed from the process maps that the tendency of keyholing decreases with an increase in the beam size and powder bed thickness for 316 L stainless steel.

Residual Stress Measurements on Rectangular Specimen SS316L using Numerical Computation Software and Selective Laser Melting

This research aimed to predict the residual stress of additively manufactured rectangular specimen using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) by means of non-linear numerical computation based on Thermo-mechanical method (TMM). The procedure starts with the geometrical and material modelling of rectangular specimen with regards to Austenitic Stainless Steel 316L (SS316L) in which the temperature dependent material data properties such as Young’s Modulus, Thermal Expansion Coefficient, Specific Heat Capacity and Thermal Conductivity are taken into account. The next phase consists of numerical computation procedure which is where the specimen is position 60° of inclination angle from the substrate plate. The support structure is to be generated within the lower surface of the specimen in order to avoid material to collapse during printing process. Laser heat source is to be modelled based on the laser beam width, power, efficiency and scanning speed in order for the numerical computation to accurately predict the thermal problem in SLM process. Furthermore, layer parameters used to fabricate the specimen such as hatch distance, hatch scan width and layer thickness are taken into TMM consideration. Similar set-up from numerical computation by means of laser and layer parameters to fabricate SS316L rectangular specimen is utilized in real fabrication process using SLM machine, Renishaw RenAM 500E. After fabrication of the specimen, electropolishing as for the sample preparation for X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) measurement are to be conducted by means of various depth on both sides of the specimen. For the validation procedure, residual stress on every depth is to be analysed and compared with the result from numerical computation. In conclusion, TMM simulation forecasting an acceptable residual stress on SLM product with relative error up to 14% and the computational time taken to predict the residual stress is only 56 minutes. This exploratory research using TMM simulation to predict residual stress on SLM product could benefit metal additive manufacturing (MAM) production as a whole by neglecting expensive trial and error approach.

Influence of rippled density and laser profile on third harmonic generation using cosh‐Gaussian laser pulses in inhomogeneous magnetized plasmas

AbstractThe third harmonic generation of cosh‐Gaussian laser pulses in inhomogeneous magnetized plasmas is investigated. The plasma is considered inhomogeneous with a sinusoidal form, and the external magnetic field has an oscillating wiggler structure. Various ponderomotive forces are obtained considering the external magnetic field, the magnetic field of the laser beam, and different orders of electron velocity. These forces are nonlinear, which leads to a nonlinear current density. Using linear and nonlinear current densities and Maxwell's equations, the wave equation of the third harmonic wave is obtained. Results show that by increasing the deviation parameter from the center and the external magnetic field, the third harmonic electric field increases. It is also indicated that by increasing the laser beam width, the excited electric field decreases. Finally, it is found that by increasing the wavenumber and amplitude of the rippled electron density, the amplitude of the third harmonic electric field increases.

Electron Bernstein wave aided Hermite cosh-Gaussian laser beam absorption in collisional plasma

In this paper, we theoretically study the electron Bernstein wave aided Hermite-Cosh-Gaussian laser beam absorption in collisional plasma with a static magnetic field. This laser beam may have the potential to couple the pre-existing electron Bernstein wave with the coupled wave frequency and wave number where and are the electron Bernstein wave and laser beam frequencies, respectively, and and are the electron Bernstein wave and laser beam wave numbers, respectively. The plasma electron oscillatory velocities associated with the coupled wave mode produce the linear and nonlinear current density. An expression for the nonlinear absorption coefficient of an electron Bernstein wave aided Hermite cosh-Gaussian laser beam is analytically derived and more concisely discussed via different relative graphs. The graphical results promise that the absorption coefficient is strongly dependent on Hermite mode index m, beam decentered parameter d associated with the cosh term, laser beam width, laser beam frequency, electron Bernstein wave frequency, electron cyclotron frequency, electron thermal velocity and collisional frequency. Nonlinear coupling, collision phenomena and laser beam decentered parameter (very sensitive parameter) play an important role in absorption processes. The association of a very small electron Bernstein wave frequency with the laser beam causes too much of an increase in the absorption coefficient compared to only the laser beam. This efficient nonlinear absorption process may be applicable to plasma electron heating and the harmonic generation process.

A Study on the Development of a White Light Source Module for a Large-Capacity Searchlight Using a Blue Laser Diode

In this paper, a large-capacity white light source module using a high-power blue laser diode and a reflective spaced phosphor was designed. The reflective spacing phosphor ensured thermal stability. The proposed white light module is a reflective phosphor structure with a bi-directional optical system based on a rhombus prism lens. The rhombus prism optical system can greatly narrow the blue laser beam width and a long-wavelength band-pass filter of 500 nm or more is applied to change the movement path of the laser beam and transmit white light excited by the phosphor. A dichroic filter was applied to the fold mirror part and a planar convex lens was designed to focus the blue laser beam so that the phosphor was irradiated. Finally, a high-power white light source is obtained from the pre-optics unit to which the dichroic filter is applied. In order to use the proposed white light source as a searchlight, a divergence angle of 4° or less is required. For this implementation, a large-area collimating lens combining an aspheric condensing lens and an achromatic lens was applied. It was confirmed that the divergence angle of 4 degrees or less was satisfied at the focal length (FL) of 38.5 to 42.5 mm of the optical lens of the laser white light module emitter and the collimating optical system.

Robust beam width estimation with sub-pixel resolution in uncontrolled imaging conditions.

Estimations of laser beam widths can yield vastly different results depending on the used beam width measurement method and the measurement conditions. We expand upon an imaging analysis method, proposed in the field of laser eye safety, to determine a laser's beam width based on the ratio between encircled energy and diameter. We show this method to be highly valuable when determining beam widths in noisy imaging conditions and in the presence of background illumination. Furthermore, this method enables estimations with sub-pixel resolution on beam widths with a spatial extent of a few pixels.

Self-focusing of a Bessel–Gaussian laser beam in plasma under density transition

The model given by Patil et al., for the self-focusing of lowest-order Bessel–Gaussian laser beam, is revisited by introducing the exponential plasma density ramp in this paper. Plasma density changes due to combined effect of the relativistic and ponderomotive nonlinearities, which arise due to the nonuniform spatial profile of the laser beam leading to stronger self-focusing. Under paraxial ray approximation, the expression for the evolution of laser-beam width parameter is obtained and solved numerically in order to achieve self-focusing. We have observed that as Bessel beam propagates through the plasma, it does not diffract and spread out, which is in contrast to the usual behavior of light that spreads out after being focused down to the small spot. Laser spot size decreases considerably under the presence of exponential density ramp. This study will be useful for better understanding the self-focusing mechanism of lasers as it becomes effective for the optimized parameters under the proposed situation. Bessel laser beams play an important role in enhancing the energy gain in laser-driven accelerators. In addition, for all laser-driven plasma-based accelerators, it appears possible to guide a laser beam over large distances using a plasma density channel, thus enhancing the acceleration length and the energy gain.

Evaluation of acousto-optic effect in liquid using high-frequency and high-intensity ultrasound

Piezoelectric thin film transducers that can receive and transmit high-frequency and high-intensity ultrasound are powerful tools for future medical and industrial applications. Our group has developed acousto-optic devices where the refractive index can be controlled at high speed and high precision using ultrasound, but there are few reports on the interaction between high-frequency (tens to hundreds MHz) and high-intensity (MPa) ultrasound and visible light in liquids. In this study, we evaluated the acousto-optic interaction using polarized CW laser (532 nm) and a piezoelectric KNbO3 thin film transducer formed by hydrothermal method. The transducer was driven continuously at the fundamental or higher resonance frequencies (32, 96, 160, or 210 MHz) in a water cell, and the projection light of a laser beam penetrating perpendicularly to the sound axis was observed. The length of the projection light was elongated in the sound axis on the screen as the driving frequency increased. These results implies that the relationship between the wavelength of ultrasound and the laser beam width is the critical parameter for the acousto-optic phenomenon; the profile of the projection light is dependent on a ratio of the wavelength of ultrasound and the beam width of the laser beam.

The effect of chirp parameter on laser propagation in collisional quantum plasma

This manuscript investigates the effect of the chirp factor on the relativistic self-focusing of a Gaussian chirped pulse laser in collisional quantum plasmas. Nonlinear equations are derived to describe the propagation of a linear chirped laser frequency; afterward, by considering dielectric function obtained by quantum kinetic equation and BGK collision integral in coordinate space, evolution differential equations of laser beam width are found; and numerically solved by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. It studies oscillations of the beam width along the propagation direction for different values of collision frequency, chirp parameter, plasma density, and laser intensity. Numerical analyses show that a laser beam is defocused after focusing on a definite value; nonetheless, the positive chirp parameter could reduce the defocusing and strengthen the self-focusing in collisional quantum plasma. Also, the higher chirp value leads to a smaller oscillation amplitude and a greater oscillation rate. Furthermore, the self-focusing effect becomes stronger by increasing plasma density and laser intensity. These consequences could be beneficial in the improvement of fast ignition experiments.

Identifying the octupole antiferromagnetic domain orientation in Mn3NiN by scanning anomalous Nernst effect microscopy

The intrinsic anomalous Nernst effect in a magnetic material is governed by the Berry curvature at the Fermi energy and can be realized in non-collinear antiferromagnets with vanishing magnetization. Thin films of (001)-oriented Mn3NiN have their chiral antiferromagnetic structure located in the (111) plane facilitating the anomalous Nernst effect unusually in two orthogonal in-plane directions. The sign of each component of the anomalous Nernst effect is determined by the local antiferromagnetic domain state. In this work, a temperature gradient is induced in a 50 nm thick Mn3NiN two micrometer-size Hall cross by a focused scanning laser beam, and the spatial distribution of the anomalous Nernst voltage is used to image and identify the octupole macrodomain arrangement. Although the focused laser beam width may span many individual domains, cooling from room temperature to the antiferromagnetic transition temperature in an in-plane magnetic field prepares the domain state, producing a checkerboard pattern resulting from the convolution of contributions from each domain. These images together with atomistic and micromagnetic simulations suggest an average macrodomain of the order of 1 μm2.

A single-slit diffraction experiment for measuring laser beam width

A single-slit diffraction experiment in an introductory physics laboratory is generally comprised of a rectangular slit and a laser source. The laser beam is sent to the slit producing the well-known diffraction pattern on the screen. This paper proposes a simple modification of the single-slit diffraction experiment to increase student attention about the laser beam and its diffraction. A single slit can be used to measure laser beam width. The beam width measurement is demonstrated by using a 632.8 nm Helium Neon (HeNe) laser. In this experiment, the laser beam is assumed as a Gaussian beam. The beam width is determined by scanning in one direction across the laser beam. The measurement results are shown to achieve satisfactory results when compared with a commercial laser beam profiler. By measuring the laser beam widths, students will qualitatively observe that the laser beam width increases along propagation distance. This experiment can be an additional exercise in a single-slit diffraction experiment.

Study on the weldability of AA2519 armor grade aluminium alloy

This paper describes series of studies concerned with welding of Sc-modified AA2519 at the Military University of Technology. The modification of AA2519 alloy contains a higher concentration of scandium and zirconium and it has been developed in The Institute of Non Ferrous Metals, Light Metals Division in Skawina. The examination involves friction stir welding (FSW) and laser beam welding (LBW) of 5 mm thick AA2519-T62 extrusion. FSW process parameters were: 600 rpm tool rotation speed, 100 mm/min welding velocity, 4.8 mm depth plunge, and MX Triflute tool type. The used LBW parameters were as follows: 3.2 kW laser power, 1.1 m/min welding velocity, 0.2 mm laser beam width, 10° laser beam inclination angle, 10 L/min shielding gas (argon) flow with the laser beam focused on the workpiece surface (f=0). In this work selected results have been presented containing some problems and features typical for investigated joints. Butt joints produced by FSW and LBW have been compared in terms of microstructure (grains), microhardness distribution, joint efficiency, localization of failure, etc. The basic features of weld zones have been discussed together with the distributions of microhardness on the joint’s cross-sections. Both welding techniques cause a reduction of microhardness in the weld zone, but the drop from the base material’s value (135-140 HV0.1) is far higher in the case of LBW (85-90 HV0.1) than FSW (120 HV0.1). The established values of joint efficiency were 80% (376 MPa) and 66% (314 MPa) for FSW and LBW, respectively. The FSW joints tend to fail in the thermo-mechanically affected zone and LBW in the fusion zone.

Electron Bernstein wave aided heating of collisional nanocluster plasma by nonlinear interactions of two super-Gaussian laser beams

In this present theoretical study, we investigate electron Bernstein wave (EBW) aided collisional nanocluster plasma heating by nonlinear interaction of two super-Gaussian laser beams. The interactions of laser beams electric field profiles with electronic clouds of nanoclusters cause the beat wave. The nonlinear ponderomotive force is generated through the beat wave. There may be good potential to excite the EBW aiding cluster plasma to lead electron heating via cyclotron damping of the Bernstein wave. An analytical scheme is proposed for the anomalous heating and evolution of electron temperature by using this mechanism. Graphical discussions were promised to achieve extreme heating rate via the spatial shape of super-Gaussian laser beams and the resonance condition of beat wave to surface plasmon frequency. The heating is controlled by tuning the laser beam width, mode index, collisional frequency, clustered radius, and density.

Excitation of electron Bernstein waves by beating of two cosh-Gaussian laser beams in a collisional plasma

In this paper, a theoretical study has been proposed for excitation of electron Bernstein waves in collisional plasma with dc magnetic field by nonlinear interactions of two cosh-Gaussian laser beams. The beat wave with frequency and wave vector , exerts a nonlinear ponderomotive force on electrons. This nonlinear force has the potential to drive the electron Bernstein wave in collisional plasma with dc magnetic field. The convective loss of waves in plasma is also discussed. An analytical formalism is developed for power going into the electron Bernstein wave with respect to total laser power. The variation of normalized potential and power distribution profile as a function of beam direction, normalized beat wave frequency, and normalized collisional frequency is demonstrated to excite Electron Bernstein waves (EBWs) under resonance conditions. The spatial shape of laser beam, optimum laser beam width parameter, decentred parameter, extreme value of electron thermal velocity and cyclotron frequency is proposed for much more excitation. This proposed theory of electron Bernstein wave excitation may be applicable for plasma heating.

Electron Bernstein wave aided beat wave of Hermite-cosh-Gaussian laser beam absorption in a collisional nanocluster plasma

In this paper, we investigate the electron Bernstein wave aided beat wave of Hermite-cosh-Gaussian laser beam absorption in a collisional nanocluster plasma. The interactions of electric field profile of Hermite-cosh-Gaussian laser beams with electron clouds of nanoclusters cause the beat wave. The nonlinear ponderomotive force is generated through the beat wave of two Hermite-cosh-Gaussian laser beams. The time average power absorption per electron per unit area per unit time by electron Bernstein wave aided electric field of laser beat wave is derived. The graphical discussions were promised to achieve extreme absorption via spatial shape of Hermite-cosh-Gaussian laser beam and resonance condition of beat wave to surface plasmon frequency. The electron Bernstein waves parameters such as thermal velocity, cyclotron frequency and perpendicular component of wavenumber is also leading with beat wave for control and enhancement of absorption process in plasma embedded with nanocluster. The absorption is controlled by tuning the laser beam width, mode index, collisional frequency, clustered radius, and density.

Correct measurement methodology spatial-energy characteristics of laser beams

A methodology for correct measurements of the spatial and energy characteristics of a laser beam is considered, based on the determination of the initial moments of the spatial intensity distribution in the beam cross section. The classification of radiation fields participating in the measuring process is given: emitted, measured and measured. It is shown that ISO 11146:2005 “Lasers and laser-related equipment. Test methods for laser beam widths, divergence angles and beam propagation ratios, Part 1-3” for measuring the spatial and energy characteristics of laser beams leads to incorrect measurements. This is due to the fact that the recommendations for the application of ISO 11146:2005 do not take into account the dynamic range of the used matrix radiation detectors, and the characteristics of the emitted field of interest to the user turn out to be diverging, which violates the uniformity of measurements. Moreover, the conditions ensuring the convergence of the results are practically impracticable. To solve these problems, it is proposed to establish and regulate the lower level of the dynamic range of measurements of the intensity of the used matrix receivers and to consider the spatial and energy characteristics of the emitted field of interest to the user, depending on the set value of the lower level. It is shown that measurements with this methodology become correct and make it possible to compare the characteristics of laser beams obtained by different array detectors. Formulas are given that take into account the effect of the lower level of the dynamic range of the matrix radiation detectors on the measurement result. These formulas should be recommended for inclusion in the updated edition of the national standard GOST R ISO 11146-2008 “Lasers and laser installations (systems). Methods for measuring widths, divergence angles and propagation coefficients of laser beams. Parts 1-3”.

Small Angle Scattering Intensity Measurement by an Improved Ocean Scheimpflug Lidar System

Quantification of the horizontal patterns of phytoplankton and the distribution of suspended particles across the sea’s surface has been greatly improved by traditional passive oceanic color remote sensing technology. Lidar technology has already been proven to be effective positive remote sensing technology to construct high-resolution bathymetry models. Lidar technology significantly improves our ability to model biogeochemical processes in the upper ocean and provides advanced concepts regarding the vertical distribution of suspended particles and oceanic optical properties. In this paper, we present a novel optical approach to measuring the scattering intensity and characteristics of suspended particles within small angles backwards and distinguish water medium with different attenuation coefficients by a laboratory demonstration of the ocean Scheimpflug lidar system. The approach allows the direct determination of the scattering intensity over a small angle at the backward direction (175.8~178.8°) with an angular resolution of 0.38. Corrections for the effects of refraction at the air-glass-water interface were demonstrated. The data production (initial width and width attenuation rate of the laser beam) of the ocean Scheimpflug lidar system were utilized to distinguish water with different algae concentrations. Application for the measurement of backward scattering intensity and laser beam width were explored in distances up to several meters with spatial resolutions of millimeter precision.

Optimizing laser focal spot size using self-focusing in a cone-guided fast-ignition ICF target

This paper presents a scheme for strong self-focusing of a laser beam interacting with a cone-guided fast-ignition inertial confinement fusion target using cone pre-plasma filling as an optical medium for reducing the laser beam waist. The objective is to reduce the focal spot size at the interior of the tip of the re-entrant cone to that required for efficient coupling to the dense imploded fuel core. This is challenging to achieve in a large laser system using the standard optical components of a chirped-pulse-amplified (CPA) laser-beam chain where the spot sizes produced are often significantly larger than would be desirable for fast ignition. The approach described also makes use of the presence of pre-plasma in the cone. Such pre-plasma filling is difficult to avoid entirely when illuminating a cone with a high-energy CPA laser system due to the challenges of reducing laser pre-pulse to below the threshold for plasma production. For deriving the differential equation which governs the progress of the laser beam-width with propagation distance, paraxial theory in a WKB approximation has been used. A simulation is performed assuming strong self-focusing in accordance with the laser parameters and plasma density profile chosen.