Laser Light Propagation Research Articles

On the role of nanopore formation and evolution in multi-pulse laser nanostructuring of glasses

Laser nanostructuring of glasses has attracted particular attention during laser decades due to its numerous applications in optics, telecommunications, sensing, nanofluidics, as well as in the development of nanocomposite materials. Despite a significant progress achieved in this field with the development and use of femtosecond laser systems, many questions remain puzzling. This study is focused on the numerical modeling of ultrashort laser interactions with glasses. Firstly, we consider laser light propagation and nonlinear ionization. Then, nanocavitation processes in glasses are modeled, followed by the hydrodynamic evolution of pores and cavities. The required conditions for nanopore formation and volume nanogratings erasure in the typical femtosecond laser-irradiation regimes are discussed in the frame of the developed model.

Optical emulation of photon-pair generation in nonlinear lossy waveguides

We establish theoretically and demonstrate experimentally that photon-pair generation through spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a nonlinear waveguide with scattering or material losses can be effectively emulated by classical laser light propagation through a specially designed linear waveguide circuit. This platform can represent arbitrary photon and pump losses, with a potential for the emulation of non-Markovian decay. We characterize the photon-pair correlation spectrum and observe its characteristic transformation from the well-known sinc-shape in lossless waveguides towards a Lorentzian shape in the presence of photon loss.

Shelf solutions and dispersive shocks in a discrete NLS equation: Effects of nonlocality

We study shelf-like breathers and dispersive shock phenomena in a discrete nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation with a nonlocal nonlinearity. The system models laser light propagation in waveguide arrays made from a nematic liquid crystal substratum. Shelf-like breathers are studied in the regime of small linear intersite coupling, and we report some new theoretical existence and stability results. We also study numerically the evolution from nearby dam-break and more general jump initial conditions for stronger linear intersite coupling. In the defocusing case, we see rarefaction and shock wave profiles, superposed with oscillations. Some of the hyperbolic features of the observed profiles are described approximately by continuous NLS hydrodynamics. Nonlocality is seen to lead to some smoothing of the rapid oscillations seen in the local DNLS.

Control of transmission of right circularly polarized laser light in overdense plasma by applied magnetic field pulses.

The effect of a transient magnetic field on right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) laser light propagation in overcritical-density plasma is investigated. When the electron gyrofrequency is larger than the wave frequency, RHCP light can propagate along the external magnetic field in an overcritical density plasma without resonance or cutoff. However, when the magnetic field falls to below the cyclotron resonance point, the propagating laser pulse will be truncated and the local plasma electrons resonantly heated. Particle-in-cell simulation shows that when applied to a thin slab, the process can produce intense two-cycle light pulses as well as long-lasting self-magnetic fields.

Propagation of intense short-pulse laser in homogeneous near-critical density plasmas

Ultra intense laser light propagation in a homogeneous overdense plasma was investigated using a plastic foam target filling a polyimide tube. Laser propagation into overdense plasma was measured via Doppler red shift of the reflected laser light from the moving plasma at 0.3-0.4 of speed of light. We also observed strongly collimated electron beam possibly caused by the magnetic field surrounding the plasma channel, and high energy X-rays emitted via synchrotron radiation by the oscillating electrons inside the channel. These features imply that UIL propagates inside the overdense plasma as predicted in PIC calculation, and are very important for direct irradiation scheme of fast ignition.

Thermal impact of near-infrared laser in advanced noninvasive optical brain imaging.

The propagation of laser light in human tissues is an important issue in functional optical imaging. We modeled the thermal effect of different laser powers with various spot sizes and different head tissue characteristics on neonatal and adult quasirealistic head models. The photothermal effect of near-infrared laser (800nm) was investigated by numerical simulation using finite-element analysis. Our results demonstrate that the maximum temperature increase on the brain for laser irradiance between 0.127 (1mW) and [Formula: see text] (100mW) at a 1mm spot size, ranged from 0.0025°C to 0.26°C and from 0.03°C to 2.85°C at depths of 15.9 and 4.9mm in the adult and neonatal brain, respectively. Due to the shorter distance of the head layers from the neonatal head surface, the maximum temperature increase was higher in the neonatal brain than in the adult brain. Our results also show that, at constant power, spot size changes had a lesser heating effect on deeper tissues. While the constraints for safe laser irradiation to the brain are dictated by skin safety, these results can be useful to optimize laser parameters for a variety of laser applications in the brain. Moreover, combining simulation and adequate in vitro experiments could help to develop more effective optical imaging to avoid possible tissue damage.

A 20-m/40-Gb/s 1550-nm DFB LD-Based FSO Link

An innovative free-space optical (FSO) link using laser light propagation to achieve transmission rate of 40 Gb/s at a wavelength of 1550 nm is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Over a 20-m free-space link, brilliant bit-error-rate performance and clear eye diagram are obtained in the proposed 1550-nm distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode (LD)-based FSO links. As far as we know, it is the first time that a 1550-nm externally modulated laser transmitter cascaded with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier and a pair of fiber collimators to successfully set up a 20-m/40-Gb/s FSO link has been employed. Compared with the 680-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser-based FSO link, this proposed 1550-nm DFB LD-based FSO link is attractive not only because it has longer free-space transmission distance but because it supplies higher bandwidth operation as well. Such a 1550-nm DFB LD-based FSO link provides the benefits of optical wireless communications for longer transmission distance and higher transmission rate, which is thoroughly helpful for optical wireless network applications.

Quantum cascade laser light propagation through hollow silica waveguides

In this paper, the transmission characteristics of hollow silica waveguides with bore diameters of 300 and 1000 μm are investigated using a 7.8-μm quantum cascade laser system. We show that the bore diameter, coiling and launch conditions have an impact on the number of supported modes in the waveguide. Experimental verification of theoretical predictions is achieved using a thermal imaging camera to monitor output intensity distributions from waveguides under a range of conditions. The thermal imaging camera allowed for more detailed images than could be obtained with a conventionally used beam profiler. The results show that quasi-single-mode transmission is achievable under certain conditions although guided single-mode transmission in coiled waveguides requires a smaller bore diameter-to-wavelength ratio than is currently available. Assessment of mode population is made by investigating the spatial frequency content of images recorded at the waveguide output using Fourier transform techniques.

Effects of tissue water content on the propagation of laser light during low-level laser therapy.

This work reports that the laser fluence rate inside porcine skin varied notably with the change of tissue water content under the same laser irradiation conditions. The laser fluence rate inside skin tissue samples with varying water content was measured using an optical fiber sensor, while the target was irradiated either by a low-level 635 or 830 nm laser (50 mW/cm2). It was demonstrated that the distribution of laser fluence rate inside the target is strongly affected by tissue water content and its profile is determined by the water content dependency of optical properties at the laser wavelength.

Simulated ablation of carbon wall by alpha particles for a laser fusion reactor

Thermal reactions of materials heated by charged particles may lead to serious damage in a laser fusion reactor. When charged particles irradiate and heat the wall material with high intensity like at above 109W/cm2, the material can be ablated. Once the wall is ablated, expanding gas or plasma can disturb the propagation of laser light irradiating the fuel target if it stagnates long enough for next laser shot. In order to understand the ablation dynamics in detail, we have performed 1-D hydro simulation to evaluate this ablation. As a new feature, we introduce the calculation of energy deposition by charged particles focusing on the interaction between ablated material and charged particles.

Propagation of light in photonic lattices with saturable nonlinearity comprising a defect

Linear and nonlinear effects accompanying the propagation of visible laser light through geometrically different one-dimensional photonic lattices made of material with a saturable nonlinearity are investigated, both theoretically and experimentally. Existence, stability and dynamics of various types of nonlinear localized modes (solitons) found to occur in lattices with a defect are explored. Additionally, the phenomenon of spontaneous symmetry breaking of a certain type of solitons is observed in symmetric lattices comprising a defect.

Physical and mathematical modeling of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising method to treat local bacterial infections. The therapy is painless and does not cause bacterial resistances. However, there are gaps in understanding the dynamics of the processes, especially in periodontal treatment. This work describes the advances in fundamental physical and mathematical modeling of aPDT used for interpretation of experimental evidence. The result is a two-dimensional model of aPDT in a dental pocket phantom model. In this model, the propagation of laser light and the kinetics of the chemical reactions are described as coupled processes. The laser light induces the chemical processes depending on its intensity. As a consequence of the chemical processes, the local optical properties and distribution of laser light change as well as the reaction rates. The mathematical description of these coupled processes will help to develop treatment protocols and is the first step toward an inline feedback system for aPDT users.

Modulational instability of optically induced nematicon propagation

We report the modulational instability (MI) analysis for the modulation equations governing the propagation of coherent polarized light through a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) slab, in the limit of low light intensity and local material response. The linear stability analysis of the nonlinear plane wave solutions is performed by considering both the wave vectors (k,l) of the basic states and wave vectors (K,L) of the perturbations as free parameters. We compute the MI gain, and the MI gain peak is reduced and the stable bandwidth is widened with the increase of the strength of the applied electric field. Further, we invoke the extended homogeneous balance method and Exp-function method aided with symbolic computation and obtain a series of periodic solitonic humps of nematicon profiles admitting the propagation of laser light in the NLC medium.

Laser-photophoretic migration and fractionation of human blood cells

Laser photophoretic migration behavior of human blood cells in saline solution was investigated under the irradiation of Nd:YAG laser beam (532nm) in the absence and the presence of the flow in a fused silica capillary. Red blood cells (RBC) were migrated faster than white blood cells (WBC) and blood pellets to the direction of propagation of laser light. The observed photophoretic velocity of RBC was about 11 times faster than those of others. This was understood from the larger photophoretic efficiency of RBC than that of WBC, which was simulated based on the Mie scattering theory. Furthermore, it was found that, during the photophoretic migration, RBCs spontaneously orientated parallel to the migration direction so as to reduce the drag force. Finally, it was demonstrated that RBC and WBC were separated in a micro-channel flow system by the laser photophoresis.

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy as a tool to measure the absorption coefficient in skin: system calibration

An individualised laser skin treatment may enhance the treatment and reduces risks and side-effects. The optical properties (absorption and scattering coefficients) are important parameters in the propagation of laser light in skin tissue. The differences in the melanin content of different skin phototypes influence the absorption of the light. The absorption coefficient at the treatment wavelength for an individual can be determined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, using a probe containing seven fibres. Six of the fibres deliver the light to the measurement site and the central fibre collects the diffused reflected light. This is an in vivo technique, offering benefits for near-real-time results. Such a probe, with an effective wavelength band from 450 to 800 nm, was used to calibrate skin-simulating phantoms consisting of intralipid and ink. The calibration constants were used to calculate the absorption coefficients from the diffuse reflectance measurements of three volunteers (skin phototypes, II, IV and V) for sun-exposed and non-exposed areas on the arm.

The Propagation of Laser Light in Skin by Monte Carlo- Diffusion Method: A Fast and Accurate Method to Simulate Photon Migration in Biological Tissues

INTRODUCTION : Due to the importance of laser light penetration and propagation in biological tissues, many researchers have proposed several numerical methods such as Monte Carlo, finite element and green function methods. Among them, the Monte Carlo method is an accurate method which can be applied for different tissues. However, because of its statistical nature, Monte Carlo simulation requires a large number of photon pockets to be traced, so it is computationally expensive and time- consuming. Although other numerical methods based on the diffusion method are fast, they have two important limitations: first, they are not valid near the bounder of sample and source, and second, their accuracy is less than Monte Carlo method. METHODS: In this study, we combine the accuracy of Monte Carlo method and speed of the diffusion method. This hybrid method is faster than Monte Carlo Method and its accuracy is higher than the diffusion method. RESULTS: We first evaluate this hybrid model and the reflectance of a biological phantom is calculated by Monte Carlo method and this hybrid model. Then the propagation of laser light in the skin tissue has been studied. CONCLUSION : In this study, a combined method based on the Monte Carlo method and the diffuse equation is introduced. This hybrid method is five times faster than Monte Carlo Method, and its accuracy is higher than the diffusion method. The propagation of laser light in skin has also been studied by this hybrid method and its accuracy shows that it can be applied for laser penetration in biological tissues. It seems that this method is good for photo dynamic therapy (PDT) and optical imaging

Shaping the light transmission through a multimode optical fibre: complex transformation analysis and applications in biophotonics

We present a powerful approach towards full understanding of laser light propagation through multimode optical fibres and control of the light at the fibre output. Transmission of light within a multimode fibre introduces randomization of laser beam amplitude, phase and polarization. We discuss the importance of each of these factors and introduce an experimental geometry allowing full analysis of the light transmission through the multimode fibre and subsequent beam-shaping using a single spatial light modulator. We show that using this approach one can generate an arbitrary output optical field within the accessible field of view and range of spatial frequencies given by fibre core diameter and numerical aperture, respectively, that contains over 80% of the total available power. We also show that this technology has applications in biophotonics. As an example, we demonstrate the manipulation of colloidal microparticles.

Effects of surface roughness and absorption on light propagation in graded-profile waveguides

This paper examines the effects of surface roughness and absorption on laser light propagation in graded-profile waveguiding structures. We derive analytical expressions for the scattering and absorption coefficients of guided waves and analyse these coefficients in relation to parameters of the waveguiding structure and the roughness of its boundary. A new approach is proposed to measuring roughness parameters of precision dielectric surfaces. Experimental evidence is presented which supports the main conclusions of the theory.

Geometrical study of a hexagonal lattice photonic crystal fiber for efficient femtosecond laser grating inscription

We have studied transverse propagation of femtosecond pulse duration laser light through the microstructure of hexagonal lattice photonic crystal fibers. Our results provide insight in the role of the microstructure on the amount of optical power that reaches the core of the PCF, which is of particular importance for grating inscription applications. We developed a dedicated approach based on commercial FDTD software and defined a figure of merit, the transverse coupling efficiency, to evaluate the coupling process. We analyzed the propagation of femtosecond laser pulses to the core of a wide range of PCFs and studied the influence of the PCF orientation angle, the air hole pitch and air hole radius on the energy reaching the core. We have found that the transverse coupling efficiency can benefit from a dedicated design of the microstructured cladding and an accurate fiber orientation. We designed a dedicated PCF microstructure that enhances transverse coupling to the core at a wavelength of 800 nm.

Hyper-Solitons in Nematic Liquid Crystals

We study laser light propagation in a cell containing a liquid crystal in the nematic phase. We launch hyper-Gaussian beams and follow their behavior within the cell, in time and in three spatial dimensions, utilizing an appropriately developed theoretical model and a numerical procedure based on the fast Fourier transform. We demonstrate the formation of stable “hyper-soliton” breathers in a narrow region of beam intensities, for fixed other parameters. Hyper-solitons are similar in appearance and behavior to the usual solitons, formed by launching the usual Gaussian beams; however noticeable dierences persist.