Optical Breakdown Threshold Research Articles

Effect of an Optical Breakdown on the Stimulated Raman Scattering in Water in the Field of Picosecond Laser Pulses

Experiments on nonstationary stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of laser pulses and an optical breakdown are performed to study water samples with gas nanobubbles (bubstons) and without the bubston phase. The SRS excitation threshold in water with the bubston phase turns out to be higher than that in bubston-free water, and the optical breakdown threshold in bubston-containing water is lower than that in bubston-free water. The spectral composition of the SRS signal from bubston-free water samples is found to differ from that of bubston-containing water samples. This effect is caused by the formation of long-lived high-molecular H2O complexes near the bubston surface, which are stabilized by the dispersion forces acting from this surface. Since these complexes are located inside 1–2 monolayers adjacent to the surface, the volume density of these complexes is negligibly small as compared to the density of “free” (not bound to bubstons) molecules. To interpret the experimental results, we advance a hypothesis that the detected effect is related to the giant enhancement caused by the generation of a resonance plasmon inside a bubston during an optical breakdown. As follows from our estimates, the bubston-related plasma frequency falls in the range 2600–3200 cm–1; it is this range that contains the SRS spectral lines of water containing the bubston phase.

Mechanism of hot spots formation in pentaerythritol tetranitrate under pulsed laser irradiation

The spectral, kinetic, spatial, and amplitude characteristics of emissions of pressed samples of PETN (pentaerythritole tetranitrate) by the first harmonic of a neodymium laser (1064 nm, 12 ns) are studied. It is found that at the moment of irradiation of PETN by laser pulses, hot spots are formed on the surface of the samples. The energy density of laser radiation varies in the range of 0.5–3 J/cm2. The characteristics of hot spots are determined by absorbing inhomogeneities and parameters of laser radiation. Multi-pulse excitation leads to the annealing of absorbing irregularities and increased threshold of optical breakdown. The received results are interpreted on the basis of ideas of the low-threshold optical breakdown as evolving within local (defective) regions of the PETN in the electric field of the light wave.

Theoretical study on femtosecond laser optical breakdown threshold in water mediated by aluminum nanoparticle coated with silica.

A strongly coupled finite element model of the optical breakdown during femtosecond laser pulse interaction, with different morphology of aluminum nanoparticles in water, was developed. This model provided new insight into the optical breakdown dependence on the nanoparticles' morphology and assembly. This model was used to theoretically investigate a 300 fs laser pulse interaction with uncoupled and plasmon coupled aluminum coated silica shell nanoparticles. This study revealed how the nanoparticles' one-dimensional assembly affected the optical breakdown threshold of its surrounding mediums. The optical breakdown threshold had much stronger dependence on the optical near-field enhancement than on the nanostructure's extinction cross-section. The maximum electric field that is outside of the aluminum nanoparticles, with 2 nm silica shell and 2 nm gap, was more than 4 times greater to the one inside of the aluminum nanoparticles. For dimer and trimer configuration, the calculated lattice cross-section temperatures at each breakdown threshold were below their melting point. It is suggested that water could be ionized by aluminum/silica (core/shell) nanostructure during femtosecond laser exposures without nanoparticles consumption. This model could increase understanding of the aluminum nanoparticle-mediated optical breakdown in water.

Nonlinear and Quantum Optics on the Nature of Sugar Emission Excited by the First Harmonic of a Nd Laser

The physical nature of emissions excited in pressed-sugar samples by the first harmonic of a neodymium laser (1064 nm, 12 ns) is studied. The spectral, kinetic, spatial, and amplitude characteristics of emissions upon single- and multipulse irradiation with energy densities of 0.012–3.2 J/cm2 are measured. It is found that excitation of a sample by the first pulse causes two emission types, namely, emission of the second harmonic of a Nd laser (532 nm) and glowing of dense low-temperature plasma formed as a result of a low-temperature optical breakdown on absorbing inhomogeneities. Multipulse excitation leads to annealing of absorbing inhomogeneities and to an increase in the optical breakdown threshold.

Processes of interaction of laser radiation with porous transparent materials during their ablation

The effect of ytterbium fibre laser radiation with λ = 1.07 μm on the pressed micropowders of transparent oxides and fluorides (CaF2, Y2O3, Al2O3, YSZ, etc.) having low absorption coefficients is theoretically studied. Using the numerical modelling, it is established that the radiation scattering in the medium of particles 0.5 – 4.6 μm in diameter leads to the concentration of radiation in the local regions of the medium, with the intensity level exceeding the intensity of the incident radiation (0.46 MW cm−2) by many times. It is shown that with the growth of the refractive index n of the material from 1.38 (MgF2) to 2.12 (YSZ) the intensity of radiation in the region of the strongest local maximum increases from 3.8 to 31 MW cm−2. In our opinion, this factor can be dominant in determining the possibility of achieving the ablation of such a medium by means of the radiation having an intensity of no greater than 1 MW cm−2. This hypothesis is experimentally checked by the example of preparing a nanopowder of CaF2 (n = 1.43) and 1 % Nd : Y2O3 (n = 1.91) by evaporating the pressed target with the porosity 50 % by the continuous-wave radiation of the ytterbium fibre laser with the power 600 W and the intensity 0.4 MW cm−2. Inside the CaF2 target, the scattered radiation intensity is smaller than the optical breakdown threshold, and the target is not evaporated. Under the same conditions, the target made of higher-melting 1 % Nd : Y2O3 evaporates well, and the efficiency of the nanopowder production amounts to 23 g h−1.

Formation of periodic surface structures on dielectrics after irradiation with laser beams of spatially variant polarisation: a comparative study

A comparative study is performed to explore the periodic structure formation upon intense femtosecond pulsed irradiation of dielectrics with radially and azimuthally polarised beams. Laser conditions have been selected appropriately to produce excited carriers with densities below the optical breakdown threshold in order to highlight the role of phase transitions in surface modification mechanisms. The frequency of the laser induced structures is calculated based on a theoretical model that comprises estimation of electron density excitation, heat transfer, relaxation processes, and hydrodynamics-related mass transport. The influence of the laser wavelength in the periodicity of the structures is also unveiled. The decreased energy absorption for azimuthally polarised beams yields periodic structures with smaller frequencies which are more pronounced as the number of laser pulses applied to the irradiation spot increases. Similar results are obtained for laser pulses of larger photon energy and higher fluences. All induced periodic structures are oriented parallel to the laser beam polarisation.

Laser ignition of liquid petroleum gas at elevated pressures

Recent development of laser spark plugs for internal combustion engines have shown lack of data on laser ignition of fuel mixtures at multi-bar pressures needed for laser pulse energy and focusing optimisation. Methane and hydrogen based mixtures are comparatively well investigated, but propane and butane based ones (LPG), which are widely used in vehicles, are still almost unstudied. Optical breakdown thresholds in gases decrease with pressure increase up to ca. 100 bar, but breakdown is not a sufficient condition for combustion ignition. So minimum ignition energy (MIE) becomes more important for combustion core onset, and its dependency on mixture composition and pressure has several important features. For example, unlike breakdown threshold, is poorly dependent on laser pulse length, at least in pico- and to microsecond range. We have defined experimentally the dependencies of minimum picosecond laser pulse energies (MIE related value) needed for ignition of LPG based mixtures of 1.0 to 1.6 equivalence ratios and pressure of 1.0 to 3.5 bar. In addition to expected values decrease, low-energy flammability range broadening has been found at pressure increase. Laser ignition of LPG in Wankel rotary engine is reported for the first time.

Numerical modeling for investigating the optical breakdown threshold of laser-induced air plasmas at different laser characteristics

In this work, we report a numerical investigation of two sets of experimental measurements that were previously carried out to study the breakdown threshold dependence on laser characteristics (wavelength, pulse width, and spot size) in the breakdown of laboratory air at different pressures. The study aimed to inspect the significance of the physical mechanisms in air breakdown as related to the applied experimental conditions. In doing so, we adopted a simple theoretical formulation relying on the numerical solution of a rate equation that describes the growth of electron density due to the joined effect of multi-photon and avalanche ionization processes given in our earlier work [Gaabour et al., J. Mod. Phys. 3, 1683–1691 (2012)]. Here, the rate equation is adapted to include the effect of electron loss due to attachment processes. This equation is then solved numerically using the Runge–Kutta fourth order technique. The influence of electron gain and loss processes on the breakdown threshold is studied...

The wavelength dependence of gold nanorod‐mediated optical breakdown during infrared ultrashort pulses

This paper investigates the wavelength dependence of the threshold of gold nanorod‐mediated optical breakdown during picosecond and femtosecond near infrared optical pulses. It was found that the wavelength dependence in the picosecond regime is governed solely by the changes of a nanorod's optical properties. On the other hand, the optical breakdown threshold during femtosecond pulse exposure falls within one of two regimes. When the ratio of the maximum electric field from the outside to the inside of the nanorod is less then 7 (the absorption regime) the seed electrons are initiated by photo‐thermal emission, and the wavelength dependence in the threshold of optical breakdown is the result of optical properties of the nanoparticle. When the ratio is greater than 7 (the near‐field regime) more seed electrons are initiated by multiphoton ionization, and the wavelength dependence of the threshold of optical breakdown results from a combination of nanorod's optical properties and transitions in the order of multiphoton ionization. The findings of this study can guide the design of nanoparticle based optical breakdown applications. This analysis also deepens the understanding of nanoparticle‐mediated laser induced breakdown for picosecond and femtosecond pulses at near infrared wavelengths. image

Techniques of surface optical breakdown prevention for low-depths femtosecond waveguides writing

We demonstrated technique of direct femtosecond waveguide writing at record low depth (2-15 μm) under surface of lithium niobate, that play a key role in design of electrooptical modulators with low operating voltage. To prevent optical breakdown of crystal surface we used high numerical aperture objectives for focusing of light and non-thermal regime of inscription in contrast to widespread femtosecond writing technique at depths of tens micrometers or higher. Surface optical breakdown threshold was measured for both x- and z- cut crystals. Inscribed waveguides were examined for intrinsic microstructure. It also reported sharp narrowing of operating pulses energy range with writing depth under the surface of crystal, that should be taken in account when near-surface waveguides design. Novelty of the results consists in reduction of inscription depth under the surface of crystals that broadens applications of direct femtosecond writing technique to full formation of near-surface waveguides and postproduction precise geometry correction of near-surfaces optical integrated circuits produced with proton-exchanged technique.

Wavelength dependence of femtosecond laser-induced breakdown in water and implications for laser surgery

The wavelength dependence of the threshold for femtosecond optical breakdown in water provides information on the interplay of multiphoton, tunneling, and avalanche ionization and is of interest for parameter selection in laser surgery. We measured the bubble threshold from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths and found a continuous decrease of the irradiance threshold with increasing wavelength $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. Results are compared to the predictions of a numerical model that assumes a band gap of 9.5 eV and considers the existence of a separate initiation channel via excitation of valence band electrons into a solvated state followed by rapid upconversion into the conduction band. Fits to experimental data yield an electron collision time of $\ensuremath{\approx}1\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{fs}$ and an estimate for the capacity of the initiation channel. Using that collision time, the breakdown dynamics were explored up to $\ensuremath{\lambda}=2\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$. The irradiance threshold first continues to decrease but levels out for wavelengths longer than 1.3 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$. This opens promising perspectives for laser surgery at wavelengths around 1.3 and 1.7 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$, which are attractive because of their large penetration depth into scattering tissues.

The role of morphology and coupling of gold nanoparticles in optical breakdown during picosecond pulse exposures.

This paper presents a theoretical study of the interaction of a 6 ps laser pulse with uncoupled and plasmon-coupled gold nanoparticles. We show how the one-dimensional assembly of particles affects the optical breakdown threshold of its surroundings. For this purpose we used a fully coupled electromagnetic, thermodynamic and plasma dynamics model for a laser pulse interaction with gold nanospheres, nanorods and assemblies, which was solved using the finite element method. The thresholds of optical breakdown for off- and on-resonance irradiated gold nanosphere monomers were compared against nanosphere dimers, trimers, and gold nanorods with the same overall size and aspect ratio. The optical breakdown thresholds had a stronger dependence on the optical near-field enhancement than on the mass or absorption cross-section of the nanostructure. These findings can be used to advance the nanoparticle-based nanoscale manipulation of matter.

Rational Design of Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cavitation and Cell Perforation.

Metallic nanoparticles are routinely used as nanoscale antenna capable of absorbing and converting photon energy with subwavelength resolution. Many applications, notably in nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology, benefit from the enhanced optical properties of these materials, which can be exploited to image, damage, or destroy targeted cells and subcellular structures with unprecedented precision. Modern inorganic chemistry enables the synthesis of a large library of nanoparticles with an increasing variety of shapes, composition, and optical characteristic. However, identifying and tailoring nanoparticles morphology to specific applications remains challenging and limits the development of efficient nanoplasmonic technologies. In this work, we report a strategy for the rational design of gold plasmonic nanoshells (AuNS) for the efficient ultrafast laser-based nanoscale bubble generation and cell membrane perforation, which constitute one of the most crucial challenges toward the development of effective gene therapy treatments. We design an in silico rational design framework that we use to tune AuNS morphology to simultaneously optimize for the reduction of the cavitation threshold while preserving the particle structural integrity. Our optimization procedure yields optimal AuNS that are slightly detuned compared to their plasmonic resonance conditions with an optical breakdown threshold 30% lower than randomly selected AuNS and 13% lower compared to similarly optimized gold nanoparticles (AuNP). This design strategy is validated using time-resolved bubble spectroscopy, shadowgraphy imaging and electron microscopy that confirm the particle structural integrity and a reduction of 51% of the cavitation threshold relative to optimal AuNP. Rationally designed AuNS are finally used to perforate cancer cells with an efficiency of 61%, using 33% less energy compared to AuNP, which demonstrate that our rational design framework is readily transferable to a cell environment. The methodology developed here thus provides a general strategy for the systematic design of nanoparticles for nanomedical applications and should be broadly applicable to bioimaging and cell nanosurgery.

High repetition rate and high beam quality joule level Nd: YAG nanosecond laser for Thomson scattering diagnosis

A joule-level Nd: YAG nanosecond laser of high repetition frequency and high beam quality is developed for Thomson scattering diagnosis. The laser is designed as a master oscillator power-amplifier system mainly including single longitudinal mode seed, pre-amplifier unit and energy extraction unit. The single-longitudinal-mode Q-switched laser of a high stability is taken as the seed laser of output pulse at J level. The pre-amplifier unit amplifies the J-level pulse laser beam into hundreds of mJ level. In order to obtain the high-quality laser beam output, phase conjugation is adopted to compensate for the laser beam distortion. The ultra-filtered FC-770 is taken as an SBS gain medium of 0.0011 cm-1 absorption coefficient, 197.9 GW/cm2 optical breakdown threshold and 3.5 cm/GW gain coefficient. The double-pass amplification of SBS phase conjugation could realize a real-time repair towards the non-uniformity, deformation and wavefront aberration caused by thermal distortion of the optical components and the laser amplifier to achieve the uniform amplified beam output of high quality close to the diffraction limit. In the energy extraction unit, the amplifier of large-diameter slab is used for energy amplification. The size of the slab is 7 mm 35 mm138.2 mm of 56 cutting angle and 0.6% Nd3+ doping concentration. The slab is plated by a layer of SiO2 against light leak. Horizontal pumping mode is adopted. And the slow axis of the laser diode is almost the same as the length of the slat and the direction of laser transmission. The single-plane array is composed of 8 groups of vertical stacks and each group consists of 12 laser diode bars of power 200 W. At 200 Hz repetition frequency, 250 s pump pulse width and 140 A pump current, the up to 2.3 J stored energy can be achieved The energy extraction unit achieves high gain amplification and finally outputs high-quality laser beam. Under the condition of 200 Hz high repetition frequency and 8.23 J single pulse energy injected by the single longitudinal mode seed, 1.85 J output energy is gained. The energy extract efficiency of the laser system is 52.46%. The output laser possesses a pulse width of 5.36 ns, a far field beam spot 1.72 times the diffraction-limited value, and 1.3% energy stability (RMS).

Wavelength dependency and threshold measurements for nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Nanoparticles of zinc monoxide are selected for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with 5ns pulsed 1064nm, 532nm, and 355nm radiation from a Nd:YAG laser device. Fluences of 2 to 20J/cm2 are used, and plasma conditions are determined by recording emission spectra in the temporal window of 1 to 2μs after optical breakdown initiation. The bulk- versus nano-particle plasmas in laboratory air show that the averaged electron density and temperature values are practically identical. Enhanced signals are recorded for nanoparticles in the amount of ×10 to ×120 for 355nm radiation. The nanoparticles cause lower optical breakdown thresholds and show signal enhancements as evidenced from the analysis of the Zn I line at 481.0nm. The measured Hα line at 656.3nm usually occurs in laser-induced plasma experiments in standard ambient temperature and pressure laboratory air, and it is used in the interpretation of the bulk- and nanomaterial results. The theoretical model largely predicts and confirms the excitation wavelength-dependent experimental results.

Investigation of electrooptical breakdown threshold in gas mixtures of complex chemical composition

The results of combined electrooptical breakdown (DC E∼0-13.2 kV/cm + laser λ-213, 266, 355, 532, 1064 nm, τ0,5∼18 ns, I0∼109-1011 W/cm2) of gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr) and their binary and triple mixtures at subatmospheric pressure (101-105 Pa) experimental investigation are presented for the first time. Thresholds of optical, electrical and combined electrooptical breakdown for those were experimentally determined. The possibility of breakdown threshold components decrease at simultaneous optical and electrical impact on the gas, and the possibility of lowering the thresholds of the combined breakdown of doped gases have been investigated.

Optical lattice gas heating simulation under application of intrapulse frequency chirping

Direct simulation Monte Carlo was used to investigate the interaction between molecular nitrogen, argon, and methane, initially at 300 K and 0.8 atm, and frequency-chirped, pulsed optical lattices. The simulated optical lattice parameters are consistent with published optical lattice-based experiments to ensure that pulse energies and durations do not exceed optical breakdown (ionization) thresholds. In an effort to maximize optical lattice gas heating, laser pulses were chirped to produce lattice velocities which more effectively facilitate energy deposition throughout the pulse duration. The maximum end pulse translational temperature obtained in nitrogen, argon, and methane was 763, 715, and 1018 K, respectively.

Wavelength dependence of nanosecond infrared laser-induced breakdown in water: Evidence for multiphoton initiation via an intermediate state

Abstract : Investigation of the wavelength dependence (725 1025 nm) of the threshold for nanosecond optical breakdown in water revealed steps consistent with breakdown initiation by multiphoton ionization, with an initiation energy of about 6.6 eV. This value is considerably smaller than the autoionization threshold of about 9.5 eV, which can be regarded as band gap relevant for avalanche ionization. Breakdown initiation is likely to occur via excitation of a valence band electron into a solvated state, followed by rapid excitation into the conduction band. Theoretical analysis based on these assumptions suggests that the seed electron density required for initiating avalanche ionization drops from 2.51015 cm-3 at 725 nm to 1.11012 cm-3 at 1025 nm. These results demand changes of future breakdown modeling for water including the use of a larger band gap than previously employed, the introduction of an intermediate energy level for initiation, and consideration of the wavelength dependence of seed electron density.

Extended plasma channels created by UV laser in air and their application to control electric discharges

Results are presented from a series of experimental and theoretical studies on creating weakly ionized extended plasma channels in atmospheric air by 248-nm UV laser radiation and their application to control long high-voltage discharges. The main mechanisms of air ionization by UV laser pulses with durations from 100 fs to 25 ns and intensities in the ranges of 3×1011–1.5×1013 and 3×106–3×1011 W/cm2, respectively, which are below the threshold for optical gas breakdown, as well as the main relaxation processes in plasma with a density of 109–1017 cm−3, are considered. It is shown that plasma channels in air can be efficiently created by amplitude-modulated UV pulses consisting of a train of subpicosecond pulses producing primary photoelectrons and a long UV pulse suppressing electron attachment and sustaining the density of free electrons in plasma. Different modes of the generation and amplification of trains of subterawatt subpicosecond pulses and amplitude-modulated UV pulses with an energy of several tens of joules were implemented on the GARPUN-MTW hybrid Ti:sapphire-KrF laser facility. The filamentation of such UV laser beams during their propagation in air over distances of up to 100 m and the parameters of the corresponding plasma channels were studied experimentally and theoretically. Laser initiation of high-voltage electric discharges and control of their trajectories by means of amplitude-modulated UV pulses, as well as the spatiotemporal structure of breakdowns in air gaps with length of up to 80 cm, were studied.

Laser-Induced Breakdown and Detonation in Particle-Laden Systems

Simulation of the interaction of a laser pulse with gas-droplet and gas-particle mixtures plays an important role in environmental and engineering applications. The injection of liquid droplets or metal particle causes optical breakdown on the individual droplet or particle and leads to a drop of the detonation minimum pulse energy of the mixture. Mathematical models of various stages of the optical breakdown are developed and applied to the analysis of laser-induced breakdown in particle-laden systems. The numerical calculations are based on an in-house computer code using the finite-volume method and high-resolution scheme. The threshold of optical breakdown and its dependence on contributing factors (droplet radius, location of droplet, total energy and time of laser pulse, radius of laser spot) has been studied. Minimum pulse energy of detonation was computed in the hydrogen-oxygen mixture with metal particles and liquid droplets.