Increasing Pulse Energy Research Articles

Theoretical Analysis of Laser Shock Bulging Forming

Laser shock forming (LSF) is a novel plastic forming process which utilizes high-pressure plasma to deform thin metals to 3D configurations. The plastic response of a circular plate in laser shock bulging forming was theoretically studied. A simplified shock pressure model was established and then an analytical model was proposed to calculate the deflection. The results show that the deflection increases with increasing pulse energy and the deformation profiles calculated by the analytical model agree well with those of experiment.

Pulse duration and energy scaling of femtosecond all-normal dispersion fiber oscillators

We investigate the scaling properties of mode-locked all-normal dispersion fiber oscillators in terms of output pulse energy and compressed pulse duration. Experimental results are achieved by stepwise variation of the resonator dispersion, total fiber length, and the spectral filter bandwidth. Adjustment of these parameters enables pulse duration scaling down to 31 fs and increase of output pulse energy up to 84 nJ.

Optimal Power Settings for Holmium:YAG Lithotripsy

We determined the optimal Ho:YAG lithotripsy power settings to achieve maximal fragmentation, minimal fragment size and minimal retropulsion. Stone phantoms were irradiated in water with a Ho:YAG laser using a 365 μm optical fiber. Six distinct power settings were tested, including 0.2 to 2.0 J and 10 to 40 Hz. For all cohorts 500 J total radiant energy were delivered. A seventh cohort (0.2 J 40 Hz) was tested post hoc to a total energy of 1,250 J. Two experimental conditions were tested, including with and without phantom stabilization. Total fragmentation, fragment size and retropulsion were characterized. In mechanism experiments using human calculi we measured crater volume by optical coherence tomography and pressure transients by needle hydrophone across similar power settings. Without stabilization increased pulse energy settings produced increased total fragmentation and increased retropulsion (each p <0.0001). Fragment size was smallest for the 0.2 J cohorts (p <0.02). With stabilization increased pulse energy settings produced increased total fragmentation and increased retropulsion but also increased fragment size (each p <0.0001). Craters remained symmetrical and volume increased as pulse energy increased. Pressure transients remained modest at less than 30 bars even at 2.0 J pulse energy. Holmium:YAG lithotripsy varies as pulse energy settings vary. At low pulse energy (0.2 J) less fragmentation and retropulsion occur and small fragments are produced. At high pulse energy (2.0 J) more fragmentation and retropulsion occur with larger fragments. Anti-retropulsion devices produce more efficient lithotripsy, particularly at high pulse energy. Optimal lithotripsy laser dosimetry depends on the desired outcome.

Numerical simulation and experimental study of thermal-induced-depolarization in 2 m Cr,Tm,Ho:YAG laser

The theory of thermal-induced-depolarization is analyzed, the distribution of depolarization is numerically simulated, and the result is verified by the polarized light interferometry. The experimental result is coincident with the numerical simulation, which shows that the distribution of depolarization in the cross section of Cr,Tm,Ho:YAG is crisscross, and increases with the pump energy increasing. The direction of the worst depolarization is 45 with respect to the polarization direction of the polarizer. According to the numerical simulation, we employ a /4-plate to compensate the depolarization of a high-energy Cr,Tm,Ho:YAG laser. The pulse energy increases by 24% after compensation.

A comparison of light spot hydrophone and fiber optic probe hydrophone for lithotripter field characterization

The performance of a newly developed light spot hydrophone (LSHD) in lithotripter field characterization was compared to that of the fiber optic probe hydrophone (FOPH). Pressure waveforms produced by a stable electromagnetic shock wave source were measured by the LSHD and FOPH under identical experimental conditions. In the low energy regime, focus and field acoustic parameters matched well between the two hydrophones. At clinically relevant high energy settings for shock wave lithotripsy, the measured leading compressive pressure waveforms matched closely with each other. However, the LSHD recorded slightly larger |P_| (p < 0.05) and secondary peak compressive pressures (p < 0.01) than the FOPH, leading to about 20% increase in total acoustic pulse energy calculated in a 6 mm radius around the focus (p = 0.06). Tensile pulse durations deviated ~5% (p < 0.01) due to tensile wave shortening from cavitation activity using the LSHD. Intermittent compression spikes and laser light reflection artifacts have been correlated to bubble activity based on simultaneous high-speed imaging analysis. Altogether, both hydrophones are adequate for lithotripter field characterization as specified by the international standard IEC 61846.

Impact of release dynamics of laser-irradiated polymer micropallets on the viability of selected adherent cells

We use time-resolved interferometry, fluorescence assays and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to examine the viability of confluent adherent cell monolayers to selection via laser microbeam release of photoresist polymer micropallets. We demonstrate the importance of laser microbeam pulse energy and focal volume position relative to the glass-pallet interface in governing the threshold energies for pallet release as well as the pallet release dynamics. Measurements using time-resolved interferometry show that increases in laser pulse energy result in increasing pallet release velocities that can approach 10 m s(-1) through aqueous media. CFD simulations reveal that the pallet motion results in cellular exposure to transient hydrodynamic shear stress amplitudes that can exceed 100 kPa on microsecond timescales, and which produces reduced cell viability. Moreover, CFD simulation results show that the maximum shear stress on the pallet surface varies spatially, with the largest shear stresses occurring on the pallet periphery. Cell viability of confluent cell monolayers on the pallet surface confirms that the use of larger pulse energies results in increased rates of necrosis for those cells situated away from the pallet centre, while cells situated at the pallet centre remain viable. Nevertheless, experiments that examine the viability of these cell monolayers following pallet release show that proper choices for laser microbeam pulse energy and focal volume position lead to the routine achievement of cell viability in excess of 90 per cent. These laser microbeam parameters result in maximum pallet release velocities below 6 m s(-1) and cellular exposure of transient hydrodynamic shear stresses below 20 kPa. Collectively, these results provide a mechanistic understanding that relates pallet release dynamics and associated transient shear stresses with subsequent cellular viability. This provides a quantitative, mechanistic basis for determining optimal operating conditions for laser microbeam-based pallet release systems for the isolation and selection of adherent cells.

Changes of the Electric and Magnetic Fields on the Ground and in the Ionosphere before and After Several Great Earthquakes

AbstractWe have studied the changes of the geoelectric and geomagnetic fields around the epicentral areas of the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan (2008), the Ms7.3 Yutian quake in Xinjiang (2008) and the Ms7.1 Yushu quake in Qinghai (2010) and their strong aftershocks, and the changes of the ionospheric magnetic field over Wenchuan, Yutian and Yushu. This study is based on processing of the data from the satellite Demeter using the non‐linear power spectrum estimation method (maximum entropy method) and the statistical method of the electric/magnetic field pulse energy. Some significant electromagnetic phenomena are seen, which include the increased power spectrum density and the increased pulse energy of the ELF components of the geoelectric and geomagnetic fields. It is very interesting that such electromagnetic anomalous phenomena appeared on the ground and in the ionosphere in about the same time period. Finally, we have discussed the mechanism of the abnormal electromagnetic phenomena on the ground and in the ionosphere.

Femtosecond laser capsulotomy

To evaluate a femtosecond laser system to create the capsulotomy. Porcine and cadaver eye studies were performed at OptiMedica Corp., Santa Clara, California, USA; the human trial was performed at the Centro Laser, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Experimental and clinical study. Capsulotomies performed by an optical coherence tomography-guided femtosecond laser were evaluated in porcine and human cadaver eyes. Subsequently, the procedure was performed in 39 patients as part of a prospective randomized study of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. The accuracy of the capsulotomy size, shape, and centration were quantified and capsulotomy strength was assessed in the porcine eyes. Laser-created capsulotomies were significantly more precise in size and shape than manually created capsulorhexes. In the patient eyes, the deviation from the intended diameter of the resected capsule disk was 29 μm ± 26 (SD) for the laser technique and 337 ± 258 μm for the manual technique. The mean deviation from circularity was 6% and 20%, respectively. The center of the laser capsulotomies was within 77 ± 47 μm of the intended position. All capsulotomies were complete, with no radial nicks or tears. The strength of laser capsulotomies (porcine subgroup) decreased with increasing pulse energy: 152 ± 21 mN for 3 μJ, 121 ± 16 mN for 6 μJ, and 113 ± 23 mN for 10 μJ. The strength of the manual capsulorhexes was 65 ± 21 mN. The femtosecond laser produced capsulotomies that were more precise, accurate, reproducible, and stronger than those created with the conventional manual technique.

Discrete laser spot transformation hardening of AISI O1 tool steel using pulsed Nd:YAG laser

Discrete laser spot transformation hardening is a process that creates isolated laser hardening spots, usually distributed in a certain pattern, on a component surface, covering only a fraction of the surface region that is being treated. The process offers several unique advantages for tribological applications, including improved lubrication conditions and wear performance and increased productivity. However, very limited information is available on the appropriate selection of processing parameters to achieve optimal results. In this paper, discrete laser spot hardening of AISI O1 tool steel has been studied using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Effect of various laser processing parameters, including laser pulse energy, pulse duration and defocus distance, on characteristics of the laser treated spots are investigated. Maps are experimentally established for processing parameter selections in discrete laser spot transformation hardening of the AISI O1 tool steel. Results show that the maximum diameter and depth of transformation hardening zones with no surface melting increase with the increase of laser pulse energy. However, they are not markedly affected by laser pulse duration. On the other hand, longer pulse durations at a given pulse energy reduce the size of softening zone surrounding the central hardening zone and are thus more favourable for most practical applications. Short laser pulse durations below 8 ms tend to produce shallower hardening zones and are not recommended for wear applications.

A thermally-insensitive passively Q-switched Cr 4+:YAG/Nd:YAG laser

A passively Q-switched laser with Cr 4+:YAG/Nd:YAG composite crystal using a corner cube prism cavity has been realized, in which the corner cube prism is the key element as it aids the compensation of the thermal lens effect of laser crystal. Compared with plane–plane mirror cavities under the same conditions, the stability of the laser performance using the corner cube prism cavity was improved remarkably over temperatures ranging from −40 to 65 °C. The decrease of Nd:YAG stimulated emission cross section with temperature was considered to be the main reason for the increase of average output pulse energy under the same cycle for the two different cavities when the ambient temperature changed −40 to 65 °C. The mode properties produced by the prism cavity were analyzed, and the theoretical results were verified by experimental observations.

Composite, all-ceramics, high-peak power Nd:YAG/Cr^4+:YAG monolithic micro-laser with multiple-beam output for engine ignition

A passively Q-switched Nd:YAG/Cr(4+):YAG micro-laser with three-beam output was realized. A single active laser source made of a composite, all-ceramics Nd:YAG/Cr(4+):YAG monolithic cavity was pumped by three independent lines. At 5 Hz repetition rate, each line delivered laser pulses with ~2.4 mJ energy and 2.8-MW peak power. The M(2) factor of a laser beam was 3.7, and stable air breakdowns were realized. The increase of pump repetition rate up to 100 Hz improved the laser pulse energy by 6% and required ~6% increase of the pump pulse energy. Pulse timing of the laser-array beams can by adjusted by less than 5% tuning of an individual line pump energy, and therefore simultaneous multi-point ignition is possible. This kind of laser can be used for multi-point ignition of an automobile engine.

Investigation of ultrashort pulse laser ablation of solid targets by measuring the ablation-generated momentum using a torsion pendulum

50 fs - 12 ps laser pulses are employed to ablate aluminum, copper, iron, and graphite targets. The ablation-generated momentum is measured with a torsion pendulum. Corresponding time-resolved shadowgraphic measurements show that the ablation process at the optimal laser fluence achieving the maximal momentum is primarily dominated by the photomechanical mechanism. When laser pulses with specific laser fluence are used and the pulse duration is tuned from 50 fs to 12 ps, the generated momentum firstly increases and then remains almost constant, which could be attributed to the change of the ablation mechanism involved from atomization to phase explosion. The investigation of the ablation-generated momentum also reveals a nonlinear momentum-energy conversion scaling law, namely, as the pulse energy increases, the momentum obtained by the target increases nonlinearly. This may be caused by the effective reduction of the dissipated energy into the surrounding of the ablation zone as the pulse energy increases, which indicates that for femtosecond laser the dissipated energy into the surrounding target is still significant.

Holmium: YAG lithotripsy varies with power settings.

The holmium:YAG laser fragments stones by photothermal mechanism. Increased pulse energy (PE) produces larger ablation craters, implying faster lithotripsy. However, increased PE increases retropulsion, implying slower lithotripsy. Optimal power settings were studied. Uniform stone phantoms were ablated in water (500 J total energy). Six power settings were tested: ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 at 10–40 Hz. Two conditions were tested: no stabilization vs stabilization devices placed behind the stone. Total fragmentation (TF) and fragment sizes were quantified. In the no stabilization cohorts, retropulsion was measured. Pressure transients were measured by needle hydrophone. Stone crater volumes were quantified by optical computed tomography. With or without stabilization, TF increased as PE increased, p<0.0001; and fragment size increased as PE increased, p<0.05. Without stabilization, retropulsion increased as PE increased, p<0.0001. TF was greater with vs without stabilization, p<0.01. Pressure transients were <30 bars even at 2.0 J. Crater volumes increased as PE increased, p<0.01 but remained symmetric. Increased PE produces more lithotripsy but also larger fragments. Even at high PE (2.0 J) Ho:YAG lithotripsy is photothermal. Low PE produces small fragments but less lithotripsy. Modest PE (0.2–0.5 J) at high‐repetition rate produces more fragmentation, small fragments, and less retropulsion. [Work supported by Percsys and Boston Scientific.]

Dissipative soliton resonance in a passively mode-locked fiber laser

The phenomenon of dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) predicts that an increase of pulse energy by orders of magnitude can be obtained in laser oscillators. Here, we prove that DSR is achievable in a realistic ring laser cavity using nonlinear polarization evolution as the mode-locking mechanism, whose nonlinear transmission function is adjusted through a set of waveplates and a passive polarizer. The governing model accounts explicitly for the arbitrary orientations of the waveplates and the polarizer, as well as the gain saturation in the amplifying medium. It is shown that DSR is achievable with realistic laser settings. Our findings provide an excellent design tool for optimizing the mode-locking performance and the enhancement of energy delivered per pulse by orders of magnitude.

1396 COST CONTROL USING FLEXIBLE URETEROSCOPY ON A LARGER, MORE COMPLEX STONE BURDEN

increased as pulse energy increased. OCT showed symmetric craters with regular contours (Figure). Crater size varied proportionally to pulse energy, p 0.01. Pressure transients increased as pulse energy increased, with typical peak transients of 10 bars at 0.5J, and 20–30 bars at 2.0J, p 0.01. With direct ablation, both Accordion and BackStop showed increased damage as pulse energy increased. Even at 2.0J pulse energy, they retained shape and function. CONCLUSIONS: When a given amount of total energy is applied, retropulsion increases as pulse energy increases. Energy is wasted and lithotripsy is compromised. Low pulse energy (0.2J–0.5J) produces minimal retropulsion and tiny fragments. High pulse energy (1.0J–2.0J) produces faster lithotripsy but larger fragments. Anti-retropulsion devices are useful when high pulse settings are applied. The ideal power setting depends on whether the urologist wants tiny debris or is willing to basket larger fragments; and whether an anti-retropulsion device is used. At all pulse settings, pressure transients remain low and ablation craters remain predictable consistent with photothermal mechanisms.

Laser induced reverse transfer of gold thin film using femtosecond laser

Abstract Laser induced reverse transfer (LIRT) has been executed first time using a Mega Hertz pulse frequency femtosecond laser radiation under ambient conditions. Research has been conducted to understand the evolution of deposited structures with regard to pulse energy. Solid deposition of gold could be deposited on quartz substrate only if pulse energy falls within a certain range. For the experiment conducted in this work, it is 36–40 nJ. For energies above this range, crests appear in the middle of the deposition. There is a threshold in maximum applicable pulse energy, 82 nJ in this exepriment, beyond which further increase in pulse energy results in only traces of deposited material. Results also show that the width of deposited line increases with the increase in pulse energy and decreases with the increase in scan speed. These observations have been explained using the dynamics of ablated plume.

Frictional properties of diamond-like carbon, glassy carbon and nitrides with femtosecond-laser-induced nanostructure

This paper reports macro and micro frictional properties of DLC, TiN, CrN films and GC substrate of which surfaces are nanostructured with femtosecond (fs) laser pulses. The friction coefficient μ of the nanostructured surface was measured at a usual load with a ball-on-disk friction test machine. The results have shown that carbon materials of DLC and GC provide lower values of μ than TiN and CrN, and μ of DLC and TiN measured with a hardened steel ball decreases with an increase of the laser pulse energy. On the other hand, μ of nanostructured surfaces of thin films monotonously increases with an increase in laser pulse energy, which was measured with a micro-scratch test at an ultralight load of 1.5 mN utilizing a diamond tip. The friction coefficient of the GC substrate irradiated at a low fluence around the ablation threshold has shown a lower value than that of the non-irradiated surface.

Pulsed Nd:YAG laser treatment of monocrystalline silicon substrate

To minimize reflection and increase the opportunity for photovoltaic (PV) devices to absorb incident light, we produced rough-textured surfaces using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. We investigated the effect of various operating parameters on surface features and optical performance. The parameters investigated were pulse repetition frequency, pulse energy, and textured surface exposure time. Following laser surface treatment, no chemical solution etching or anti-reflective coatings were necessary. Reflectance values were measured by spectrophotometer. Structural properties including surface morphology and surface roughness of the textured surfaces were analyzed by a three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscope. The resulting surface reflection curves indicated that, of the different laser machining paths, the vertical and circular paths produced identical optical properties in the samples. Surface reflection values decrease as the pulse energy and exposure times increase. By contrast, surface roughness increases with exposure time. An increase in pulse frequency reduces surface roughness, although the extent of the reduction depends upon the pulse energy. Following surface texturing of the monocrystalline silicon samples, the total reflection was reduced from 40% to approximately 10% of incident light. Our experimental results indicate that the rougher surfaces attained by laser surface treatment provide better light-trapping properties for PV devices.

High average power, high energy 155 μm ultra-short pulse laser beam delivery using large mode area hollow core photonic band-gap fiber

We demonstrate high average power, high energy 1.55 μm ultra-short pulse (<1 ps) laser delivery using helium-filled and argon-filled large mode area hollow core photonic band-gap fibers and compare relevant performance parameters. The ultra-short pulse laser beam-with pulse energy higher than 7 μJ and pulse train average power larger than 0.7 W-is output from a 2 m long hollow core fiber with diffraction limited beam quality. We introduce a pulse tuning mechanism of argon-filled hollow core photonic band-gap fiber. We assess the damage threshold of the hollow core photonic band-gap fiber and propose methods to further increase pulse energy and average power handling.

Nonlinear change in refractive index and transmission coefficient of silicon at long-pulse, mJ-range, 1.54-μm excitation

An experimental study and theoretical modeling of the nonlinear changes in transmission coefficient and refractive index of mono-crystalline Silicon (Si) at long-pulse, mJ-range, single-beam Z-scan probing at 1.54 μm wavelength are reported. It is shown experimentally that at increasing pulse energy density the photo-induced darkening permanently increases in Si while its photo refraction properties demonstrate a more complicate character, being a product of various type nonlinearities. A theoretical analysis based on simple assumptions of a square-shape pulse in the time domain and Gaussian spatial distribution of the probe beam allows fitting of a whole of the experimentally measured open- and closed-aperture Z-scans through an account of the main contributions in the light-induced absorption and refractive index nonlinearities. These are revealed to originate from non-direct two-photon absorption and Kerr effect, induced absorption and dispersion of light-generated free carriers, and light-induced thermal lensing.