Português

The acoustooptic modulation of gigawatt level laser pulses in ambient air can be applied to other optical components such as lenses and waveguides

819
2023-10-12 13:59:58
Ver tradução

An interdisciplinary research group, including the German synchrotron radiation accelerator DESY and the Helmholtz Institute in Jena, Germany, reported that invisible gratings made of air not only are not damaged by lasers, but also maintain the original quality of the beam.

The relevant research has been published in Nature Photonics under the title of "Acousto opt modulation of gigawatt scale laser pulses in ambient air".

From gravitational wave astronomy, quantum metrology, ultrafast science, to semiconductor manufacturing, controlling the intensity, shape, direction, and phase of coherent light is crucial in many fields. However, modern photonics may involve parameter regions where wavelength or high optical power limits control due to absorption, light induced damage, or optical nonlinearity in solid media. Here, researchers suggest using high-strength ultrasound customized gaseous media to avoid these limitations.

Researchers demonstrated the implementation of this method by effectively deflecting ultrashort laser pulses in ambient air using ultrasound without the need for transmitting solid media. At a peak optical power of 20 GW, the deflection efficiency of the researchers exceeded 50% while maintaining excellent beam quality, exceeding the limit of previous solid-state based acoustooptic modulation by about three orders of magnitude. The researchers' methods are not limited to laser pulse deflection; The gas-phase photon scheme controlled by sound waves may be used to implement new optical components such as lenses or waveguides, which can effectively resist damage and operate in new spectral regions.

This innovative technology utilizes sound waves to modulate the air in the area where the laser beam passes through. Researchers have generated an invisible grating using acoustic density waves.

With the help of special speakers, researchers have formed areas of high and low density in the air, forming stripe gratings. Due to the difference in air density, the light in the Earth's atmosphere bends, so this density pattern acts as a grating, changing the direction of the laser beam.

In the first laboratory test, the efficiency of reorienting strong infrared laser pulses in this way was 50%. According to the numerical model, higher efficiency should be achieved in the future.

In this animation, a laser beam passes through a speaker reflector array, which generates an air grating. The interaction between the laser beam and the grating causes deflection without contact. Source: DESY Science Communication Laboratory
The research team believes that this technology has great potential in the field of high-performance optics. In the experiment, researchers used infrared laser pulses with a peak power of 20 gigawatts, which is equivalent to the power of approximately 2 billion LED bulbs. This type of laser with even higher power levels can be used for material processing, nuclear fusion research, or the latest particle accelerators.

Scientists emphasize that the principle of acoustic control of lasers in gases is not limited to the generation of optical gratings. It is likely to be applied to other optical components such as lenses and waveguides.

The technology of directly deflecting light in ambient air has been confirmed, opening up promising applications, especially as a fast switch for high-power lasers. Modern optics is almost entirely based on the interaction between light and solid matter. The researchers' methods have opened up a new research direction.

Source: Sohu

Recomendações relacionadas
  • The research team from the School of Engineering at Columbia University in the United States has broken through the "bandwidth bottleneck" of high-performance computing in new photonic chips

    When running various artificial intelligence programs such as large language models, although data centers and high-performance computers are not limited by the computing power of their individual nodes, the amount of data transmitted between nodes is currently the root cause of the limitations on the performance and bandwidth transmission of these systems.Because some nodes in the system are more...

    2023-10-31
    Ver tradução
  • Zhuoli Laser South Korea Branch Officially Opened

    In recent years, the performance of Chinese laser technology enterprises in the international market has become increasingly eye-catching. On September 20th, under the joint witness of nearly a hundred customer representatives from various industries in South Korea, the opening ceremony of Zhuolai Laser South Korea Branch was officially held.The branch is located in the Gyeonggi do region of south...

    2023-09-23
    Ver tradução
  • Using Topological Photon Chips to Uncover the Secrets of Open Systems

    Conservation of energy is a fundamental concept in physics that can be used to explain anything from planetary orbits to the internal workings of individual atoms.Energy can be converted into other forms, but the overall energy level is usually considered to vary over time. Therefore, when attempting to describe a system, physicists usually pay attention to ensuring that it is isolated from the su...

    2024-02-02
    Ver tradução
  • Zhongke Yuchen laser welding technology opens up vast space for the welding process of new energy vehicle motors

    The application of laser welding technology in the welding process of new energy vehicle motors is a typical example of Zhongke Yuchen in many welding cases. The main accessories of the automatic laser welding equipment for new energy vehicle motors are imported products, and the welding process is mature and stable.Motor rotorMotor statorLaser welding of motor stator tapThe circumferential wel...

    2023-10-18
    Ver tradução
  • Munich Laser World of Photonics 2025 Grand Opening

    On June 24-27, 2025, the global optoelectronic event Laser World of Photonics 2025 was grandly opened in Munich, Germany. This exhibition brings together over 1350 companies from 43 countries, making it the largest in history. Among them, international laser giants Coherent, IPG, TRUMPF, and MKS showcased their latest breakthroughs and future directions in laser technology with multiple heavyweigh...

    06-25
    Ver tradução