Pulsed Laser Heating Research Articles

Laser-Induced Ablation and Desorption of Deuterium-Containing Tungsten Films

The laser-induced desorption (LID) and laser-induced ablation (LIA) methods are compared with each other regarding the possibility of measurements an absolute quantitative analysis of hydrogen isotopes content in first wall materials of fusion reactors. Deuterium containing tungsten films with a thickness of 300–400 nm on a silicon substrate were used as model samples. To implement the LID, the samples were irradiated with laser pulses with a duration of 200 microseconds and an energy density of 50–150 J/cm2, for LIA – 12 ns and 5–15 J/cm2. The registration of residual gases was carried out by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Computer simulation of laser pulse heating was performed for the LID process. The simulation results and experimental data showed that heating at an energy density of 100–150 J/cm2 is sufficient to degas tungsten films of the studied thickness. A comparison of the amount of desorbed deuterium in the LID (150 J/cm2) and LIA (15 J/cm2) modes shows that it is identical within the measurement error and is equal to 4.15±0.15·1014 cm-2.

Thermo-diffusion of excited photothermal semiconductor under laser pulse and ramp heating with acoustic pressure

The goal of this work is to provide a novel mathematical model that explains how certain physical variables propagate (acoustic-thermal-mechanical diffusive) as waves in a photoexcited non-Gaussian laser pulse semiconductor medium. Under the impact of acoustic pressure, the isotropic and homogeneous semiconductor medium is discussed concerning the fundamental equations according to charge carrier recombination processes with optoelectronic properties. Given the impact that relaxation times have on the governing equations. Laplace transforms were utilized in a one-dimensional (1D) context to examine essential non-dimensional properties such as displacement, stress components, carrier density, temperature, and acoustic pressure in order to mathematically answer the required problem. By imposing specific initial and boundary conditions, inverse Laplace transformations were employed to generate precise solutions for the numerical modeling of different physical quantities depicted graphically. The graphical representation of wave propagation data was followed by a theoretical analysis and interpretation, emphasizing the influence of other factors (such as heat rise time, relaxation times, and laser pulse effects) on the observed occurrences.

Magneto-thermoelastic responses in an unbounded porous body with a spherical cavity subjected to laser pulse heating via an Atangana-Baleanu fractional operator

Poro-thermoelasticity models are crucial for analyzing porous materials in geotechnical engineering, such as how soil and rock respond to thermal and mechanical loads, fluid flow, and heat transmission. This study introduces a fractional dual-phase lag (DPL) porous thermoelasticity model using the Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivative to analyze thermoelastic responses in a material with unlimited porosity containing a spherical cavity under a pulsed magnetic field. The governing equations were solved using Laplace transforms, and numerical solutions were obtained by inverting the transforms. Graphical representations of deformation, temperature variation, and thermal stresses were generated for analysis. The results reveal significant insights into the behavior of porous materials like concrete and masonry under thermal and mechanical stress, aiding the development of more robust and flexible structures. For example, the proposed model predicts a 20 % reduction in the amount of thermal stress compared to conventional models, highlighting the influence of phase lag and fractional derivatives in accurately simulating realistic conditions.

Transient heating of Pd nanoparticles studied by x-ray diffraction with time of arrival photon detection.

Pulsed laser heating of an ensemble of Pd nanoparticles, supported by a MgO substrate, is studied by x-ray diffraction. By time-resolved Bragg peak shift measurements due to thermal lattice expansion, the transient temperature of the Pd nanoparticles is determined, which quickly rises by at least 100 K upon laser excitation and then decays within 90 ns. The diffraction experiments were carried out using a Cu x-ray tube, giving continuous radiation, and the hybrid pixel detector Timepix3 operating with single photon counting in a time-of-arrival mode. This type of detection scheme does not require time-consuming scanning of the pump-probe delay. The experimental time resolution is estimated at 15 ± 5 ns, which is very close to the detector's limit and matches with the 7 ns laser pulse duration. Compared to bulk metal single crystals, it is discussed that the maximum temperature reached by the Pd nanoparticles is higher and their cooling rate is lower. These effects are explained by the oxide support having a lower heat conductivity.

Microstructure, wear behaviour and laser ablation behaviour of double glow plasma alloyed Ta[sbnd]W coating

TaW alloy is considered a crucial candidate for barrel protective coatings due to its high melting point, excellent high-temperature performance, and ablative resistance. In this study, TaW coating was deposited on the surface of PCrNi3MoVA gun steel by double glow plasma alloying (DGPA) technique. The morphology, phase structure, wear property, and laser ablation behaviour of the TaW deposited coating was studied and analyzed by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy detector (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), ball-on-disk friction test, and laser pulse heating experiment. The results showed that the coating was dense and metallurgically bonded to the substrate. The coating was primarily composed of the α-Ta phase, and W was solidly dissolved in the Ta to form a mutual solution with solid-solution strengthening effect. The wear mechanisms of TaW coating were adhesive wear and oxidative wear. During the laser pulse heating (LPH) process, the transition region, center region, and splash region appeared successively in the ablation area of the coating. After 10 s of ablation, only a region with a diameter of 0.1 mm was penetrated, highlighting the effective protective role of the TaW infiltrated layer on the substrate.

A mathematical expression to predict a laser pulse shape

A mathematical expression to predict the shape of a laser pulse is obtained. It is compatible with an experimental one published elsewhere. Comparative computations with other published trials that follow the same trend are made. As a result, our trial is recommended for forthcoming theoretical studies to be published in the field of pulsed laser heating.

Kinetics of Laser-Induced Thermal Emission of Porous Carbon Materials: Dependence on Laser Wavelength

For the porous carbon material excited by the first and second harmonics of a neodymium laser, the shape of pulsed signals of laser-induced thermal emission is investigated. It is found that the duration of thermal emission pulses significantly depends on the wavelength of the laser excitation, which is caused by the differences in the depth of penetration of laser radiation into the surface layer. The mentioned effect is actual, if the penetration depth of laser radiation exceeds the length of thermal diffusion in the studied material for a time of the order of the laser pulse duration. The computer modeling is carried out for the processes of pulsed laser heating and formation of thermal emission signal. The simulation results showed satisfactory agreement with the measurement results.

Reconstruction of laser-induced microstructures temperature profiles

Metallic microstructures are currently widely used in micro-optoelectronics, sensorics, microfluidics, and other applications. A promising direction in the creation of such microstructures is pulsed laser processing of thin metal films. To improve laser technologies and simulate ongoing processes, data on the temperature fields that arise during laser exposure are needed. The article shows that the temperature distribution on the surface of a material during pulsed laser heating can be obtained from optical, scanning electron or atomic force micrographs. The proposed approach opens up the possibility of estimating temperature fields from archival photographs of various microstructures.

Effect of inclined magnetic field and chemical reaction on Casson fluid flow over a stretching surface with Cattaneo–Christov double diffusion

This investigation discusses the significance of studying the behavior of non-Newtonian fluids, specifically the Casson fluid, subjected to an electrically conducting and stretching sheet. The study also explores the effects of an aligned magnetic field, Cattaneo–Christov double diffusion, viscous dissipation and chemical reactions on heat and mass transfer, respectively. The partial differential equations governing the flow problem are transformed into ordinary differential equations through the utilization of similarity transformations. Furthermore, the shooting technique is implemented in MATLAB to solve the ODEs. The influence of physical parameters, such as the magnetic field parameter, Eckert number, Prandtl number and chemical reaction parameter, on the velocity profile, temperature distribution, concentration profile, skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number and Sherwood number is studied and presented in graphical and tabular forms. It is found that increasing the Prandtl number causes a drop in the temperature profile. Moreover, the presence of thermal radiation and the Eckert number significantly amplifies the temperature distribution. When the magnetic number undergoes a substantial increase, there is a notable decrease in the velocity profile, and simultaneously, the temperature profile experiences a noticeable rise. Additionally, increase in the chemical reaction parameters leads to a decrease in the concentration profile. The skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number and Sherwood number exhibit significant reductions as the Casson parameter increases. Additionally, a MATLAB built-in function named bvp4c is incorporated to verify the computed results. The practical implications of the Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model include microelectronics, microfluidic devices, processes involving rapid heating or cooling, such as laser welding or pulsed laser ablation and heat transfer in biological tissues.

Angular distribution separation of the extreme ultraviolet emission and suprathermal ions with energy reduction

We have demonstrated angular distribution separation of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission and suprathermal ions with a significant energy reduction for ions produced using dual pulse irradiation of a planar gadolinium (Gd) target. The pulse separation time between the pre-pulse and the main laser heating pulse was set at 30 ns, and the pre-plasma was irradiated at a distance of 50 μm above the target. Angular distributions of the EUV emission and the suprathermal ions were almost isotropic and followed a cos4θ distribution, respectively. The suprathermal ions were emitted normal to the target along the pre-pulse laser axis. The most probable energy of the suprathermal ions was less than 2 keV, while their maximum charge state was Gd6+ with the pre-plasma, compared to an energy of about 10 keV with a maximum charge state Gd15+ without the pre-plasma. The results suggest that the collector mirror position may be chosen to achieve a long lifetime, by avoiding damage from fast ion collisions.

Laser induced temperature-jump time resolved IR spectroscopy of zeolites.

Combining pulsed laser heating and time-resolved infrared (TR-IR) absorption spectroscopy provides a means of initiating and studying thermally activated chemical reactions and diffusion processes in heterogeneous catalysts on timescales from nanoseconds to seconds. To this end, we investigated single pulse and burst laser heating in zeolite catalysts under realistic conditions using TR-IR spectroscopy. 1 ns, 70 μJ, 2.8 μm laser pulses from a Nd:YAG-pumped optical parametric oscillator were observed to induce temperature-jumps (T-jumps) in zeolite pellets in nanoseconds, with the sample cooling over 1-3 ms. By adopting a tightly focused beam geometry, T-jumps as large as 145 °C from the starting temperature were achieved, demonstrated through comparison of the TR-IR spectra with temperature dependent IR absorption spectra and three dimensional heat transfer modelling using realistic experimental parameters. The simulations provide a detailed understanding of the temperature distribution within the sample and its evolution over the cooling period, which we observe to be bi-exponential. These results provide foundations for determining the magnitude of a T-jump in a catalyst/adsorbate system from its absorption spectrum and physical properties, and for applying T-jump TR-IR spectroscopy to the study of reactive chemistry in heterogeneous catalysts.

Overcoming aggregation with laser heated nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry: thermal stability and pathways for loss of bicarbonate from carbonic anhydrase II.

Variable temperature electrospray mass spectrometry is useful for multiplexed measurements of the thermal stabilities of biomolecules, but the ionization process can be disrupted by aggregation-prone proteins/complexes that have irreversible unfolding transitions. Resistively heating solutions containing a mixture of bovine carbonic anhydrase II (BCAII), a CO2 fixing enzyme involved in many biochemical pathways, and cytochrome c leads to complete loss of carbonic anhydrase signal and a significant reduction in cytochrome c signal above ∼72 °C due to aggregation. In contrast, when the tips of borosilicate glass nanoelectrospray emitters are heated with a laser, complete thermal denaturation curves for both proteins are obtained in <1 minute. The simultaneous measurements of the melting temperature of BCAII and BCAII bound to bicarbonate reveal that the bicarbonate stabilizes the folded form of this protein by ∼6.4 °C. Moreover, the temperature dependences of different bicarbonate loss pathways are obtained. Although protein analytes are directly heated by the laser for only 140 ms, heat conduction further up the emitter leads to a total analyte heating time of ∼41 s. Pulsed laser heating experiments could reduce this time to ∼0.5 s for protein aggregation that occurs on a faster time scale. Laser heating provides a powerful method for studying the detailed mechanisms of cofactor/ligand loss with increasing temperature and promises a new tool for studying the effect of ligands, drugs, growth conditions, buffer additives, or other treatments on the stabilities of aggregation-prone biomolecules.

Numerical simulation of laser heating effect in optical temperature measurement based on Kubelka-Munk theory

The fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique is widely used in many fields as one of the sensing methods of phosphor thermometry. In the gas turbine field, the rare earth ions are often doped to thermal barrier coating (TBC). When excited by laser pulses TBC glows phosphorescent, and it can be utilized for thermometry. The laser energy absorbed by the TBC is not only used to generate the luminescence but also introduces heat into the TBC and causes a temperature rise further increasing optical temperature measurement error. Therefore, it’s essential to predict the temperature rise and the temperature measurement error, and take measures to reduce the error due to the laser heating effect. However, there are few researches concerning this problem, and most of them focus on the relationship between the laser energy and the point temperature measured by the FIR technique. Here we show a method for evaluating the effect of laser heating on temperature fields and optical temperature measurement errors by establishing thermal equivalent model and discrete model of body luminescence, considering laser and phosphorescence scattering in coatings made of YSZ based on Kubelka-Munk theory. We found that continuous pulsed laser heating caused severe temperature rise and significant temperature measurement error. Furthermore, the temperature rise can be decreased to the level of a single pulsed laser heating by decreasing the frequency of laser. In addition, the main influencing factors of the temperature measurement error are the density of laser energy and coating thickness.

Formation of hot spots at end-on pre-compressed isochoric fuels for fast ignition

It is crucial to form a hot spot that can drive a self-heating nuclear burn propagation into the surrounding cold fuel in ignition process of laser fusion. In this paper, we discuss the formation of a hemispherical hot spot located at the edge of an end-on precompressed isochoric fuel instead of a central spherical hot spot surrounded by cold fuel in a corona plasma shell. This configuration leads to a new energy loss mechanism named hot spot collapse, which originates from mass loss of the hot spot through the interface with the vacuum. A semi-analytical model is proposed including α particle induced burning, hot spot collapse and other energy loss processes. Then a modified ignition criterion is derived. The results show that the competition between the hot spot collapse and the burn propagation is crucial in the formation of the hot spot. The formation of such a hot spot at end-on precompressed isochoric fuels would require a somewhat higher initial temperature of Th=9 keV for a hot spot with an initial areal density ρd=0.6gcm−2 . Simulations are performed with a 3D hybrid particle-in-cell/fluid code for the heating process by fast electrons and a 3D radiation hydrodynamics code for the burning process. Simulation results agree with the model. Our optimized result shows a 10 ps heating laser pulse with an energy as low as 39 kJ can lead to a fast ignition in the ideal case. This study provides an effective reference for design and evaluation of experiments planned for fast ignition schemes.

Thermal Lattice Field during Ultra-Short Laser Pulse Irradiation of Metal Targets: A Fokker–Planck Analytical Model

The ultrafast fs laser pulse heating of thin metal films is studied for the first time using the two-temperature model on the basis of the Fokker–Planck formalism. The incident laser radiation is multi-modal, while the electron temperature is described during the first 2 fs. The predictions are intended for use by experimentalists in optoelectronics, photonics, laser processing, electronics, and bio- and nanomedicine. The crucial role of the nano-sized spatial dimensions of the metal sample is highlighted. A significant result of this study is the interdependence between the target’s size, the phonon/lattice characteristics, and the coefficient β (the quotient of non-diffusive phenomena), which varies between zero (pure diffusive case) and one (pure non-diffusive case).

Application of end-face fiber optic sensor for thermooptical research

The principles of operation and implementation features of the developed fiber-optic device for pulsed thermoreflectometry based on an external Fabry-Perot interferometer are discussed. The possibility of studying local thermal processes in the near-surface layers of samples by changing the thermal reflection of probing radiation during pulsed laser heating is shown. Comparison of experimental data with modeling calculations showed the predominant influence of the thermal deformation mechanism in the case of metal samples.

A Review on Pulsed Laser Fabrication of Nanomaterials in Liquids for (Photo)catalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants in the Water System.

The water pollution caused by the release of organic pollutants has attracted remarkable attention, and solutions for wastewater treatment are being developed. In particular, the photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants in water systems is a promising strategy to realize the self-cleaning of ecosystems under solar light irradiation. However, at present the semiconductor-based nanocatalysts can barely satisfy the industrial requirements because their wide bandgaps restrict the effective absorption of solar light, which needs an energy band modification to boost the visible light harvesting via surface engineering. As an innovative approach, pulsed laser heating in liquids has been utilized to fabricate the nanomaterials in catalysis; it demonstrates multi-controllable features, such as size, morphology, crystal structure, and even optical or electrical properties, with which photocatalytic performances can be precisely optimized. In this review, focusing on the powerful heating effect of pulsed laser irradiation in liquids, the functional nanomaterials fabricated by laser technology and their applications in the catalytic degradation of various organic pollutants are summarized. This review not only highlights the innovative works of pulsed laser-prepared nanomaterials for organic pollutant removal in water systems, such as the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and the catalytic reduction of toxic nitrophenol and nitrobenzene, it also critically discusses the specific challenges and outlooks of this field, including the weakness of the produced yields and the relevant automatic strategies for massive production.

Development of a Treatment Planning Framework for Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT).

Develop a treatment planning framework for neurosurgeons treating high-grade gliomas with LITT to minimize the learning curve and improve tumor thermal dose coverage. Deidentified patient images were segmented using the image segmentation software Materialize MIMICS©. Segmented images were imported into the commercial finite element analysis (FEA) software COMSOL Multiphysics© to perform bioheat transfer simulations. The laser probe was modeled as a cylindrical object with radius 0.7 mm and length 100 mm, with a constant beam diameter. A modeled laser probe was placed in the tumor in accordance with patient specific patient magnetic resonance temperature imaging (MRTi) data. The laser energy was modeled as a deposited beam heat source in the FEA software. Penne's bioheat equation was used to model heat transfer in brain tissue. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was modeled as a solid with convectively enhanced conductivity to capture heat sink effects. In this study, thermal damage-dependent blood perfusion was assessed. Pulsed laser heating was modeled based on patient treatment logs. The stationary heat source and pullback heat source techniques were modeled to compare the calculated tissue damage. The developed bioheat transfer model was compared to MRTi data obtained from a laser log during LITT procedures. The application builder module in COMSOL Multiphysics© was utilized to create a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the treatment planning framework. Simulations predicted increased thermal damage (10-15%) in the tumor for the pullback heat source approach compared with the stationary heat source. The model-predicted temperature profiles followed trends similar to those of the MRTi data. Simulations predicted partial tissue ablation in tumors proximal to the CSF ventricle. A mobile platform-based GUI for bioheat transfer simulation was developed to aid neurosurgeons in conveniently varying the simulation parameters according to a patient-specific treatment plan. The convective effects of the CSF should be modeled with heat sink effects for accurate LITT treatment planning.

MHz free electron laser x-ray diffraction and modeling of pulsed laser heated diamond anvil cell

A new diamond anvil cell experimental approach has been implemented at the European x-ray Free Electron Laser, combining pulsed laser heating with MHz x-ray diffraction. Here, we use this setup to determine liquidus temperatures under extreme conditions, based on the determination of time-resolved crystallization. The focus is on a Fe-Si-O ternary system, relevant for planetary cores. This time-resolved diagnostic is complemented by a finite-element model, reproducing temporal temperature profiles measured experimentally using streaked optical pyrometry. This model calculates the temperature and strain fields by including (i) pressure and temperature dependencies of material properties, and (ii) the heat-induced thermal stress, including feedback effect on material parameter variations. Making our model more realistic, these improvements are critical as they give 7000 K temperature differences compared to previous models. Laser intensities are determined by seeking minimal deviation between measured and modeled temperatures. Combining models and streak optical pyrometry data extends temperature determination below detection limit. The presented approach can be used to infer the liquidus temperature by the appearance of SiO2 diffraction spots. In addition, temperatures obtained by the model agree with crystallization temperatures reported for Fe–Si alloys. Our model reproduces the planetary relevant experimental conditions, providing temperature, pressure, and volume conditions. Those predictions are then used to determine liquidus temperatures at experimental timescales where chemical migration is limited. This synergy of novel time-resolved experiments and finite-element modeling pushes further the interpretation capabilities in diamond anvil cell experiments.

Pulsed laser heating of diesel engine and turbojet combustor soot: Changes in nanostructure and implications

Pulsed laser heating of diesel engine and turbojet combustor soot: Changes in nanostructure and implications