High performance micromachining of sapphire by laser induced plasma assisted ablation(LIPAA)using GHz burst mode femtosecond pulses

GHz burst-mode femtosecond(fs)laser,which emits a series of pulse trains with extremely short intervals of several hundred picoseconds,provides distinct characteristics in materials processing as compared with the conventional irradiation scheme of fs laser(single-pulse mode).In this paper,we take advantage of the moderate pulse interval of 205 ps(4.88 GHz)in the burst pulse for high-quality and high-efficiency micromachining of single crystalline sapphire by laser induced plasma assisted ablation(LIPAA).Specifically,the preceding pulses in the burst generate plasma by ablation of copper placed behind the sapphire substrate,which interacts with the subsequent pulses to induce ablation at the rear surface of sapphire substrates.As a result,not only the ablation quality but also the ablation efficiency and the fabrication resolution are greatly improved compared to the other schemes including single-pulse mode fs laser direct ablation,single-pulse mode fs-LIPAA,and nanosecond-LIPAA.

Laser processing effects on Ti−45Nb alloy surface,corrosive and biocompatible properties

The Ti−45Nb(wt.%)alloy properties were investigated in relation to its potential biomedical use.Laser surface modification was utilized to improve its performance in biological systems.As a result of the laser treatment,(Ti,Nb)O scale was formed and various morphological features appeared on the alloy surface.The electrochemical behavior of Ti−45Nb alloy in simulated body conditions was evaluated and showed that the alloy was highly resistant to corrosion deterioration regardless of additional laser surface modification treatment.Nevertheless,the improved corrosion resistance after laser treatment was evident(the corrosion current density of the alloy before laser irradiation was 2.84×10^(−8)A/cm^(2),while that after laser treatment with 5 mJ was 0.65×10^(−8)A/cm^(2))and ascribed to the rapid formation of a complex and passivating bi-modal surface oxide layer.Alloy cytotoxicity and effects of the Ti−45Nb alloy laser surface modification on the MRC-5 cell viability,morphology,and proliferation were also investigated.The Ti−45Nb alloy showed no cytotoxic effect.Moreover,cells showed improved viability and adherence to the alloy surface after the laser irradiation treatment.The highest average cell viability of 115.37%was attained for the alloy laser-irradiated with 15 mJ.Results showed that the laser surface modification can be successfully utilized to significantly improve alloy performance in a biological environment.

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of duplex-phase Ti6242 alloy treated by laser shock peening

The effects of laser shock peening(LSP)on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the Ti6242 alloy,including the residual stress,surface roughness,Vickers microhardness,tensile mechanical response,and high-cycle fatigue properties,were studied.The results showed that the LSP induced residual compressive stresses on the surface and near surface of the material.The maximum surface residual compressive stress was−661 MPa,and the compressive-stress-affected depth was greater than 1000μm.The roughness and Vickers micro-hardness increased with the number of shocks,and the maximum hardness-affected depth was about 700μm after three LSP treatments.LSP enhanced the fraction of low-angle grain boundaries,changed the grain preferred orientations,and notably increased the pole density ofαphase on the near surface from 2.41 to 3.46.The surface hardness values of the LSP samples increased with the increase of the number of shocks due to work hardening,while the LSP had a limited effect on the tensile properties.The high-cycle fatigue life of the LSP-treated sample was significantly enhanced by more than 20%compared with that of the untreated sample,which was caused by the suppression of the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks.

Operation of Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser in the non-soliton regime

A Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti：sapphire laser operating in a non-soliton regime is demonstrated. Dispersive wave generation is observed as a result of third order dispersion in the vicinity of zero dispersion. The characteristics of the Ti：sapphire l^ser operating in a positive dispersion regime are presented, where the oscillator directly generates pulses with duration continuously tunable from 0.37 ps to 2.11 ps, and 36 fs pulses are achieved atter extracavity compression. The oscillation is numerically simulated with an extended nonlinear Schr6dinger equation, and the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results.

An all-solid-state high power quasi-continuous-wave tunable dual-wavelength Ti：sapphire laser system using birefringence filter

This paper describes a tunable dual-wavelength Ti：sapphire laser system with quasi-continuous-wave and high-power outputs. In the design of the laser, it adopts a frequency-doubled Nd：YAG laser as the pumping source, and the birefringence filter as the tuning element. Tunable dual-wavelength outputs with one wavelength range from 700 nm to 756.5 nm, another from 830 nm to 900mn have been demonstrated. With a pump power of 23 W at 532 nm, a repetition rate of 7 kHz and a pulse width of 47.6 ns, an output power of 5.1 W at 744.8 nm and 860.9 nm with a pulse width of 13.2 ns and a line width of 3 nm has been obtained, it indicates an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 22.2%.

Ionization behavior and dynamics of picosecond laser filamentation in sapphire

Currently,laser-induced structural modifications in optical materials have been an active field of research.In this paper,we reported structural modifications in the bulk of sapphire due to picosecond(ps)laser filamentation and analyzed the ionization dynamics of the filamentation.Numerical simulations uncovered that the high-intensity ps laser pulses generate plasma through multi-photon and avalanche ionizations that leads to the creation of two distinct types of structural changes in the material.The experimental bulk modifications consist of a void like structures surrounded by cracks which are followed by a submicrometer filamentary track.By increasing laser energy,the length of the damage and filamentary track appeared to increase.In addition,the transverse diameter of the damage zone increased due to the electron plasma produced by avalanche ionizations,but no increase in the filamentary zone diameter was observed with increasing laser energy.

A High-Pulse-Energy High-Beam-Quality Tunable Ti:Sapphire Laser Using a Prism-Dispersion Cavity

A high-pulse-energy high-beam-quality tunable Ti：sapphire laser pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd：YAG laser is demonstrated. Using a fused-silica prism as the dispersion element, a tuning range of 740-855 nm is obtained. At an incident pump energy of 774mJ, the maximum output energy of 104mJ at 790nm with a pulse width of 100μs is achieved at a repetition rate of 5 Hz. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest pulse energy at 790 nm with pulse width of hundred micro-seconds for an all-solid-state laser. The linewidth of output is 0.5 nm, and the beam quality factor M2 is 1.16. The high-pulse-energy high-beam-quality tunable Ti：sapphire laser in the range of 740-855 nm can be used to establish a more accurate and consistent absolute scale of second-order optical-nonlinear coefficients for KBe2BO3F2 measured in a wider wavelength range and to assess Miller＇s rule quantitatively.

Diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti: sapphire laser with broad wavelength tunability

We report a direct blue-diode-pumped wavelength tunable Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti: sapphire laser.Central wavelength tunability as broad as 89 nm(736-825 nm) is achieved by adjusting the insertion of the prism.Pulses as short as 17 fs are generated at a central wavelength of 736 nm with an average output power of 31 mW.The maximum output power is 46.8 mW at a central wavelength of 797 nm with a pulse duration of 46 fs.

A 100-TW Ti:Sapphire Laser System at a Repetition Rate of 0.1 Hz

We demonstrate a 100-TW-class femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser running at a repetition rate of 0.1Hz based on a 20TW/10 Hz laser facility (XL-Ⅱ).Pumping the new stage amplifier with a 25J green Nd:glass laser,we successfully improve the laser energy to 3.4J with duration of 29 fs,corresponding to a peak power of 11 7 TW.

Tunable Supercontinuum Generated in a Yb^3＋-Doped Microstructure Fiber Pumped by Ti：Sapphire Femtosecond Laser

We experimentally demonstrate that a tunable supercontinuum（SC） can be generated in a Yb3＋-doped microstructure fiber by the concept of wavelength conversion with a Ti：sapphire femtosecond（fs） laser as the pump.Experimental results show that an emission light around 1040 nm in an anomalous dispersion region is first generated and amplified by fs pulses in the normal dispersion region. Then, SC spectra from 1100 to 1380 nm and 630 to 840 nm can be achieved by combined effects of higher-order soliton fission and Raman soliton self-frequency shift in the anomalous dispersion region and self-phase modulation, dispersive wave, and four-wave mixing in the normal dispersion region. It is also demonstrated that the 20 nm change of pump results in a 280 nm broadband shift of soliton and the further red-shift of soliton is limited by OH-absorption at 1380 nm.

LASER LIFT-OFF OF GaN THIN FILMS FROM SAPPHIRE SUBSTRATES

Gallium Nitride film was successfully separated from sapphire substrate by laser radiation. The absorption of the 248 nm radiation by the GaN at the interface results in rapid thermal decomposition of interfacial layer, yielding metallic Ga and N2 gas. The substrate can be easily removed by heating above the Ga melting point (29°C). X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence of GaN before and after lift-off process have been performed, which demonstrated that the separation and transfer process do not alter the structural quality of the GaN films. And further discussions on the threshold energy and crack-free strategies of laser lift-off process have also been presented.

选区激光熔化Ti-6Al-4V合金在模拟乏燃料后处理环境中的腐蚀行为

研究选区激光熔化(SLM)制备的Ti-6Al-4V合金在乏燃料后处理环境中的腐蚀行为。借助光学显微镜、X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、电子背散射衍射以及电化学测试等手段研究SLMTi-6Al-4V合金的显微组织及耐蚀性。结果表明,相较于铸造合金,SLM Ti-6Al-4V合金在含氧化性离子的6 mol/L热硝酸溶液中的耐腐蚀性更好。进一步分析表明,SLMTi-6Al-4V合金具有α'+β的微观结构,β-Ti相含量较高且分布均匀,同时其晶粒尺寸较小、晶界密度较高,这种微观结构可提高其在含氧化性离子的硝酸中的钝化能力以及耐腐蚀性。SLM Ti-6Al-4V合金有望在乏燃料后处理过程中得到广泛应用。

激光选区熔化Ti-6Al-4V合金的微纳压痕尺寸效应

目的研究不同状态激光选区熔化Ti-6Al-4V合金的纳米压痕尺寸效应。方法对原始态合金分别进行600、700、800、900℃退火处理,利用扫描电子显微镜观察原始态和4种退火态合金的显微组织。基于纳米压痕技术测量原始态及4种退火态合金的纳米硬度和弹性模量。基于比例试样阻力模型、Nix-Gao模型和Meyer定律对纳米硬度进行函数拟合。结果随着退火温度的升高,原始态组织从魏氏体逐渐演变为网篮组织。5种形态的Ti-6Al-4V合金的硬度和弹性模量均出现随压入深度的增加而减小的现象,表现出典型的压痕尺寸效应,基于试验测得的原始态及4种退火态合金的纳米硬度分别为3.66、4.36、3.96、3.88、4.77 GPa,弹性模量分别为113.1、125.2、102.1、100.3、108.7 GPa;基于比例试样阻力模型计算的纳米硬度分别为3.53、4.34、3.92、3.52、4.04 GPa;基于Nix-Gao模型计算的纳米硬度分别为3.68、3.94、4.07、3.85、4.47 GPa;基于Meyer定律拟合出的迈耶指数分别为1.75、1.86、1.82、1.80、1.81,均小于2,均表现为正压痕尺寸效应。结论激光选区熔化Ti-6Al-4V合金的硬度及弹性模量均有典型的压痕尺寸效应;3种模型均能较好地描述原始态和退火态合金的压痕尺寸效应,Nix-Gao模型直接建立了纳米硬度和压痕深度的关系,其拟合结果更接近于试验结果,计算的硬度值也最为准确。

激光选区熔化生物医用Ti-6Al-4V合金的弯曲疲劳行为

分析了SLM Ti-6Al-4V合金的弯曲疲劳行为及相应的微观组织和断口形貌,设置与SLM试样化学成分相同的轧制态Ti-6Al-4V合金进行对比研究.采用X射线衍射(XRD)、结合电子背散射衍射(EBSD)的扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对合金的微观组织进行分析.结果表明,三点弯曲疲劳裂纹起始于准解理断裂表面附近的应力集中,随后向内扩展.SLM成形Ti-6Al-4V合金的弯曲疲劳寿命高于轧制成形Ti-6Al-4V合金,SLM Ti-6Al-4V合金内部孔洞缺陷导致表面附近应力集中,促进疲劳裂纹形核;而SLM Ti-6Al-4V合金中随机取向的α+β晶粒、二次裂纹和孔洞延缓了裂纹扩展,提高了疲劳寿命.对于轧制态Ti-6Al-4V合金,由大量近似取向α晶粒组成的宏观区引起应力集中,形成微裂纹,导致疲劳裂纹形核,而且宏观区对裂纹扩展的阻碍作用较小,不利于材料的疲劳寿命.

Wavefront evolution of the signal beam in Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplifier

We studied the evolution of wavefront aberration(WFA) of a signal beam during amplification in a Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplification(CPA) system. The results verified that the WFA of the amplified laser beam has little relation with the change of the pump beam energies. Transverse parasitic lasing that might occur in CPA hardly affects the wavefront of the signal beam. Thermal effects were also considered in this study, and the results show that the thermal effect cumulated in multiple amplification processes also has no obvious influence on the wavefront of the signal beam for a single-shot frequency. The results presented in this paper confirmed experimentally that the amplification in a Ti:sapphire CPA system has little impact on the WFA of the signal beam and it is very helpful for wavefront correction of single-shot PW and multi-PW laser systems based on Ti:sapphire.

激光熔覆(Ti,W)C增强镍基涂层的性能

为了提高热轧高速钢工作辊的耐磨性,通过激光熔覆技术,在球墨铸铁基体上制备了(Ti,W)C质量分数分别为0%,10%,20%,30%的Inconel 625合金涂层.研究了(Ti,W)C颗粒对涂层微观结构、硬度和耐磨性的影响.(Ti,W)C颗粒均匀分布在涂层中,并与Inconel 625有良好的结合;涂层的硬度随着(Ti,W)C颗粒含量增加从HV0.2280提高到HV0.2424;在摩擦磨损过程中,(Ti,W)C颗粒作为硬质相抑制了磨损中基体材料的局部塑性变形,质量分数30%(Ti,W)C颗粒的Inconel 625合金涂层磨损量仅为0.015 mm^(3),平均摩擦系数为0.0616.证明添加适量的(Ti,W)C颗粒会显著提高Inconel 625合金涂层的硬度及耐磨性,并降低了摩擦系数.

激光增材制备Ti-6Al-4V/TiC金属陶瓷熔覆层组织与性能强化

Ti-6Al-4V合金因具有良好的强度、塑性、韧性、耐蚀性以及可焊性,在航空航天以及化工装备制造领域具有广泛应用,但其硬度以及耐磨性不高等性能短板,一定程度上限制了其摩擦磨损工况下的服役寿命。本研究基于激光熔覆优化工艺方法,增材制备具有TiC添加相的Ti-6Al-4V合金同质金属陶瓷熔覆层,表征并验证TiC增强相对熔覆层组织以及基本力学性能的强化作用。结果表明:熔覆层主要物相包括α-Ti,β-Ti以及TiC,其中TiC在熔覆层内过饱和析出,且受熔覆层不同位置过冷度差异影响,析出的TiC在熔覆层顶部以细小的颗粒状为主,而在熔覆层中部则主要呈树枝及花瓣状析出,熔覆层底部新增了麦穗状的析出形状,而稀释区则未见明显TiC析出。熔覆层平均显微硬度为530HV0.5,较基体提升了61%;在35 N载荷下,熔覆层平均摩擦因数为0.3583,较基体降低了11%,体积磨损率约为基材的87%,磨损形式为黏着磨损和磨粒磨损。

激光选区熔化制备Ti-15Mo合金微观结构和力学性能的各向异性

采用激光选区熔化(SLM)技术在不同构建方向(与水平方向成0°,30°,45°,60°,90°)下制备Ti-15Mo合金,分析了其微观结构和力学性能的各向异性。结果表明:当构建方向由0°变为90°时,合金的织构取向变化为(001)→(101)→(111);0°和90°构建方向的合金中2°~10°小角度晶界的体积分数较低;0°,30°,45°,60°和90°构建方向的合金的平均晶粒尺寸分别为59.95,33.47,99.98,42.63,72.41μm,平均显微硬度分别为313.92,327.29,294.11,327.48,311.67 HV;0°,45°,60°,90°构建方向制备的合金的抗拉强度分别为866.35,898.78,1055.97,913.7 MPa,屈服强度分别为716.40,767.98,1027.45,808.83 MPa,断后伸长率分别为14.00%,18.97%,12.51%和14.29%。不同构建方向的SLM成形合金存在力学性能各向异性。

High stability and low noise laser-diode end-pumped Nd:YAG ceramic passively Q-switched laser at 1123 nm based on a Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)-PVA saturable absorber

We report a high repetition frequency, high power stability and low laser noise laser-diode(LD) end-pumped Nd: YAG ceramic passively Q-switched laser at 1123 nm based on a Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)-polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) film as a saturable absorber(SA). A Brewster polarizer(BP) and a birefringent crystal(BC) are incorporated to enable frequency selection and filtering for the passively Q-switched 1123 nm pulsed laser to improve the power stability and reduce the noise. When the pump power is 5.1 W, an average output power of 457.9 m W is obtained, corresponding to a repetition frequency of 1.09 MHz,a pulse width of 56 ns, a spectral line width of 0.65 nm, a power instability of ±0.92%, and a laser noise of 0.89%.The successful implementation of the “Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)-PVA film passively Q-switching” combined with “frequency selection and filtering of BP + BC” technology path provides a valuable reference for developing pulsed laser with high repetition frequency, high stability and low noise.

激光定向能量沉积Ti-6Al合金的组织与性能研究

激光定向能量沉积成形钛合金具有高效快速、材料利用率高等优势,但其较大的冷却速率及温度梯度等固有特性使得成形的钛合金容易出现各向异性,因此有必要对激光定向能量沉积钛合金不同平面及不同方向上的组织与性能进行研究。选定Ti-6Al合金作为研究对象,采用光学显微镜、X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜和电子背散射衍射对激光定向能量沉积Ti-6Al合金物相、微观组织形貌和晶粒特征进行研究。结果表明,合金中只存在单一的α相,该物相为HCP结构;Ti-6Al合金不同成形高度表现出不同的微观组织特征,即沿着构建方向,底部为细小的等轴晶,中间为柱状晶,顶部为等轴晶/近等轴晶。在XOY面的平均晶粒尺寸最小,为22.2519μm;YOZ面存在最大的晶粒尺寸,为38.9408μm。在3个不同平面中,XOY面的小角度晶界体积分数最高,为19.5%;YOZ面小角度晶界体积分数最低,为12.2%。沿Z方向上,即与建造方向平行时抗拉强度最高,为669.94 MPa,相应的伸长率为13.9%;沿X方向上抗拉强度为560.55 MPa,其相应的伸长率最低,为11.4%。