Interaction of Ultrashort Pulse Laser Beams and Laser-Induced Filaments with Materials and Aerosols
Abstract
This DURIP will allow acquisition of equipment to equip an ultrafast laser facility for experimental research and simulation validat,ion in the fields of directed laser energy, beam propagation and atmospheric characterization, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, la,ser- and plasma-material interactions, and nonlinear optics. In general, laser sources that deliver pulses with a duration below 1 p,s (1 picosecond = 10-12 s) are referred to as ultrafast or ultrashort pulsed lasers (USPL). The facility funded by this DURIP consis,ts of a femtosecond (fs = 10-15 s) laser amplifier fully equipped with beam diagnostics tools, spectroscopy and imaging instruments,, and an interactions and diagnostics chamber for beam propagation and laser-material interactions. The femtosecond laser amplifier (,800 nm) delivers pulsed laser beams of >7 mJ beam energy and <35 fs pulse width at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. The diagnostics tools, incorporated into this facility allow measuring the pulse width, and beam energy and profile. The spectroscopy and imaging instrume,ntation consists of two independent systems will allow high resolution and broadband spectroscopy measurements, as well as high repe,tition rate imaging. Finally, the diagnostics and interactions chamber is a modular and transparent testing chamber designed to char,acterize the interaction of the laser beam and filaments with a wide range materials (e.g., solid particles, dielectrics, and optics,) and to simulate the propagation of the laser beams and filaments through aqueous cloud-like and solid-particle-bearing environment,s (e.g., marine environments).Due to the high peak power (i.e., terawatts), this facility will allow to study of nonlinear optics an,d related phenomena. One of the major applications is las,ith powers above a critical value (not attenable with most conventional nanosecond lasers). This critical power is dependent on the,medium?s linear index of refraction, the Kerr nonlinear index of refraction, and the laser wavelength. The study of the interaction,of USPL beams with aqueous/solid particles that may be present in the atmosphere, especially in battleground areas and marine enviro,nments, is of critical importance to understand and establish the development, improvement, and deployment of laser-based directed e,nergy weapons (DEW), as well as in applications such as target designation, and optical damage. Similarly, the effects of USLP and f,ilaments on solid particles can be used to elucidate the potential ?soft? and ?hard? damages of laser-based DEW. Due to the potentia,lly complex nature of particles present in real-word applications, we propose to enhance and establish new research and research-rel,ated education on the fields of characterization of laser and filament propagation in particle-laden environments. Our research will, include the study of the influence of material type, particle size distribution (PSD), and concentration number on self-focusing an,d de-focusing lengths, single and multiple filamentation, and filamentation competition; and the interaction of solid particles with, the USLP beams, filaments, and the energy reservoir.The USLP-solid interactions and ensuing phenomena are markedly different from t,hat observed for pulses of larger duration (e.g., ps and ns). Unlike the interaction of ns pulses with solids where thermal phenomen,a are important, in USLP-material interaction induces nonthermal structural changes driven by electronic excitation. Among the engin,eering applications of USLP research are lightning protection, propulsion, machining, remote sensing, and weather control.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 04, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142312031
Entities
People
- Daniel Diaz Ordonez
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Arizona