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Articles 91 - 120 of 156
Full-Text Articles in Plasma and Beam Physics
Production And Characterization Of Femtosecond-Laser-Induced Air Plasma, David R. Armbruster
Production And Characterization Of Femtosecond-Laser-Induced Air Plasma, David R. Armbruster
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to produce, characterize, and optimize laser induced air plasma as a preliminary step in using the plasma as a source of terahertz radiation. An 800 nanometer, 50 femtosecond, 0.75 Watt, pulsed Ti:Sapphire laser system was used as the source infrared beam. A beam expander was used to expand the beam to a diameter of approximately 6.5 mm, and the beam was focused through a 25 mm focal length achromatic lens to produce laser-induced plasma in ambient air. A 40 kHz ultrasonic transducer was used to detect the plasma. A second harmonic generation crystal was …
Ultrafast Spectroscopy Of Mid-Infrared Semiconductors Using The Signal And Idler Beams Of A Synchronous Optical Parametric Oscillator, Richard M. Derbis
Ultrafast Spectroscopy Of Mid-Infrared Semiconductors Using The Signal And Idler Beams Of A Synchronous Optical Parametric Oscillator, Richard M. Derbis
Theses and Dissertations
Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) semiconductors are of use to the Air Force for several applications. Ultrafast spectroscopy can be used to better quantify the effectiveness of semiconductor opto-electronic devices. The objective of this thesis was to improve the procedure for taking ultrafast, time-resolved measurements of photoluminescence from MWIR semiconductors. Previous work has used a mode-locked titanium sapphire (Ti:Saph) laser to excite the semiconductor sample and to upconvert the photoluminescence from the semiconductor. Work completed in this thesis improved on the techniques developed during previous work. A synchronous Optical Parameter Oscillator (OPO) will be used to convert the Ti:Saph laser (0.830 µm) …
Measuring Dispersion In Laser Cavity Mirrors Using White-Light Interferometry, Allison S. Goodspeed
Measuring Dispersion In Laser Cavity Mirrors Using White-Light Interferometry, Allison S. Goodspeed
Theses and Dissertations
Terahertz radiation is an emerging field that has far reaching applications. There is a need for portable and affordable terahertz sources that may be used for detection of structural weaknesses in aerospace composites. One possibility for terahertz generation is a femtosecond Cr:LiSAF laser. However, controlling intracavity dispersion is necessary in order to get the ultrashort pulses needed to generate terahertz radiation. This research measures dispersion of the chirped femtosecond intracavity mirrors by employing white-light interferometry and explains the theory behind the curve-fitting process used to calculate dispersion. To compensate for the narrow reflectivity band of the mirrors, a CaF2 …
Investigation Of Radio Frequency Discharges And Langmuir Probe Diagnostic Methods In A Fast Flowing Electronegative Background Gas, Nathaniel P. Lockwood
Investigation Of Radio Frequency Discharges And Langmuir Probe Diagnostic Methods In A Fast Flowing Electronegative Background Gas, Nathaniel P. Lockwood
Theses and Dissertations
Discharges in a flowing background gas are used to produce charged and excited species for numerous applications including etching semiconductors and pumping gas discharge lasers (Pinhero and others, 1998). The effect of a flowing background gas on the charged and excited neutral species generation by an RF discharge in a flow tube and the diagnostics of the resulting plasma with a Langmuir probe have been investigated for pressures between 0.001 to 1 Torr and flow velocities up to 1000 m/s. This investigation was performed using a fluid method coupled to a chemical kinetic model and a hybrid Particle-In-Cell/Monte Carlo Collision …
Time Resolution Of Collapse Events During The Progation Of Ultraviolet Filaaments, Teresa J. Fondren
Time Resolution Of Collapse Events During The Progation Of Ultraviolet Filaaments, Teresa J. Fondren
Theses and Dissertations
Long distance propagation, or filamentation, of short, intense laser pulses is suggested to be possible through the balance of two effects: self-focusing, when a nonlinear index of refraction of air is induced by high intensities, and de-focusing, due to the plasma created by the pulse. Applications for filamentation include areas such as remote sensing and directed energy. A split-step spectral propagation simulation is used to model the behavior of a high intensity ultraviolet laser pulse propagating through air. Convergence of femtosecond duration collapses that form on the leading edge of the pulse in the time domain is achieved with an …
Raman Fiber Lasers And Amplifiers Based On Multimode Fibers And Their Applications To Beam Cleanup, Nathan B. Terry
Raman Fiber Lasers And Amplifiers Based On Multimode Fibers And Their Applications To Beam Cleanup, Nathan B. Terry
Theses and Dissertations
Raman fiber lasers (RFLs) and Raman fiber amplifiers (RFAs) in multimode fibers were explored. The RFL based on a graded-index fiber was shown to be very efficient relative to RFLs based on singlemode fibers. Several configurations of the RFL were examined; the beam quality of the Stokes beam depended on the reflectivity of the output coupler and the Stokes power. When used as a beam combiner, the RFL was a highly efficient brightness converter. RFL configurations which used dichroic mirrors were shown to be potentially useful for RFLs based on very large fibers. The forward- and backward-seeded geometries of an …
An Infrared Camera Simulation For Estimating Spatial Temperature Profiles And Signal-To-Noise Ratios Of An Airborne Laser-Illuminated Target, David F. Orth
Theses and Dissertations
Airborne Laser testing and evaluation can be aided by developing a spectrally-based infrared camera simulation to explore how the target surface's specular and diffuse reflectivities affect the observed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and how the target's temperature in the laser spot can estimated. This simulation provides for the observed irradiance, scaled by atmospheric absorption, to consist of the target's self-emission, reflected background emission, and the path emission from the observer to the target. The observed irradiance is scaled and distributed onto a focal plane array by way of a simulated optical system, whose effects are described by modulation transfer functions. The …
Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Beam Cleanup And Beam Phasing Through Two Passive Channels, Omar Gamboa
Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Beam Cleanup And Beam Phasing Through Two Passive Channels, Omar Gamboa
Theses and Dissertations
Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) beam cleanup and SBS piston correction properties are explored. This research measures the beam cleaning and phase-conjugating properties of stimulated Brillouin scattering in an optical fiber. The first stage of this research began by coupling an aberrated beam into a long multimode 62.5 micron core fiber to demonstrate its beam cleanup properties. The Stokes beam obtained was shown to be the fundamental fiber mode, LP01. The second stage spatially divided the pump beam into two equal halves. Each half was then sent through two different channels. The path length of one channel remained fixed while the …
Portable Diode Pumped Femtosecond Laser, David A. Jones
Portable Diode Pumped Femtosecond Laser, David A. Jones
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis discusses the work to make ultrashort pulsed lasers smaller and more economical. While sharing many of the basic properties of normal beam optics there are some specific properties in both creating and exploiting those pulses that must be understood. The discussion will focus on mode locking as the primary way of producing ultrashort pulses. Particular attention will be paid to intracavity group velocity dispersion and how to correct it inside the cavity. The discussion then turns to the basis of our work including initial cavity design and component selection with focus on the specific crystals used in the …
Thermally Activated, Variable Blazed Grating For Coherent Beam Steering, Matthew T. Johnson
Thermally Activated, Variable Blazed Grating For Coherent Beam Steering, Matthew T. Johnson
Theses and Dissertations
The ability to perform non-mechanical optical beam steering is of critical importance in laser communication and remote sensing; it is as vital as a phased-array antenna is for RADAR. Directed energy transmission and direction-selective reception increase performance and produce tactical advantage in DoD applications. However, specific geometric features of non-mechanical beam steering devices must be designed in proportion to the wavelength of the monochromatic light to be steered. Also, the ability to handle higher energies by reducing the energy per unit requires large areas of uniform properties on the micrometer scale. These challenges have been addressed in the past using …
An Experimental Study Of A Pulsed Dc Plasma Flow Control Actuator, Jennifer D. Wall
An Experimental Study Of A Pulsed Dc Plasma Flow Control Actuator, Jennifer D. Wall
Theses and Dissertations
An experiment on the effects of a pulsed DC plasma actuator on a separated flow in a low speed wind tunnel was conducted. The actuator consisted of two asymmetric copper electrodes oriented normal to the flow separated by a dielectric barrier and mounted on a flat plate in the center of the tunnel. A contoured insert was constructed and used to create an adverse pressure gradient in the test section comparable to a Pak-B low pressure turbine blade distribution. Suction was applied from the upper wall to induce separation along the flat plate over the electrodes. The DC power supply …
Backward Amplification And Beam Cleanup Of A Raman Fiber Laser Oscillator Using A Multi-Mode Graded Index Fiber Amplifier, Jesse D. S. Morgan Iii
Backward Amplification And Beam Cleanup Of A Raman Fiber Laser Oscillator Using A Multi-Mode Graded Index Fiber Amplifier, Jesse D. S. Morgan Iii
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis tested a CW fiber-based Raman amplifier implemented in a backward pumped geometry. To create a seed for the amplifier, a CW Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.064µm was used to pump a 50µm multimode graded index fiber using fiber Bragg gratings to create a Raman Fiber Laser (RFL) Oscillator with a Stokes beam at 1.116µm. The Stokes beam was then used to seed two lengths, 5.3km and 2.5km, of 50µm multimode graded index fiber. The fiber amplifier was pumped by a second CW Nd:YAG laser in the backward geometry. Spectral data taken for both fibers indicated that the backward …
A Study Of Collapse Events In Ultraviolet Light Filaments Due To Transient Edge Effects, Paul L. Muller
A Study Of Collapse Events In Ultraviolet Light Filaments Due To Transient Edge Effects, Paul L. Muller
Theses and Dissertations
Intense, short light pulses can form filaments capable of propagating kilometers through the atmosphere. This is due to the nonlinear index of refraction of the atmosphere in response to the pulse's high intensity, which creates a self-focusing effect that further intensifies the pulse. This focusing is balanced by the formation of defocusing plasma by the pulse. A split-step propagation model was used to simulate the propagation of these pulses through the atmosphere and investigate the collapse of long ultraviolet pulses of 10-100 picoseconds in duration due to transient edge effects. The structures of individual collapse events in the pulse were …
Passive Multiple Beam Combination In Optical Fibers Via Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, Kirk C. Brown
Passive Multiple Beam Combination In Optical Fibers Via Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, Kirk C. Brown
Theses and Dissertations
Many active methods of scaling laser brightness have been demonstrated in recent years. The goal of this research was to demonstrate the feasibility of passively combining multiple laser beams using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) in a long multimode optical fiber. This method of combination employed a “Gatling gun” fiber array that allowed several collimated beams to be focused by a lens into an optical fiber. The retroreflected Stokes beam is passed through the center of the beam combiner for analysis. In addition to experimental methodology and equipment used, the theoretical and historical background of SBS in optical fibers is provided. …
Development Of A Multiple Beam Combiner Using Stimulated Raman Scattering In Multimode Fiber, Brian M. Flusche
Development Of A Multiple Beam Combiner Using Stimulated Raman Scattering In Multimode Fiber, Brian M. Flusche
Theses and Dissertations
Beam combination was demonstrated by splitting the beam from a diode pumped Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and pumping a multiple input, single output fiber squid. Beam cleanup of the resulting output beam using stimulated Raman scattering was then demonstrated in both 100 μm fiber (Stokes M2 = 1.86) and 200 μm fiber (Stokes M2 = 1.40). The performance of the 200 μm fiber was compared to that of the 100 μm fiber. Energy conversion efficiency into the Stokes beam was measured as a function of input energy and found to be limited by the attenuation characteristics of the fiber. …
Shockwave Interactions With Argon Glow Discharges, Nicholas S. Siefert
Shockwave Interactions With Argon Glow Discharges, Nicholas S. Siefert
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was study shock wave interactions with argon glow discharges. Specifically, this thesis sought to answer whether it is possible to compress nonequilibrium electrons at the shock wave. The results in the thesis found that both equilibrium and nonequilibrium electrons could be compressed at the shock front. The double layer at the shock front, normalized by electron temperature, matched the calculated values for the double layer within a factor or two in all cases. The results also demonstrate that excited metastable states can be compressed at the shock front, as well. The culmination of this effort …
The Simulation Of Off-Axis Laser Propagation Using Heleeos, Scott L. Belton
The Simulation Of Off-Axis Laser Propagation Using Heleeos, Scott L. Belton
Theses and Dissertations
Emerging technology high energy laser (HEL) weapon systems create a myriad of new threats to safety as well as security. One of the primary causes of these concerns is off-axis laser propagation caused by ever-present particulate and molecular scattering medium in the atmosphere. The scatter from these aerosols and molecules can redirect some of the HEL's concentrated energy towards unintended targets such as the eyes of pilots, friendly fighters on the surface, or innocent bystanders. Of particular interest to the laser intelligence (LASINT) community is the possibility that off-axis irradiance from HEL weapon systems could be covertly measured with enough …
Spatially-Resolved Temperature Diagnostic For Supersonic Flow Using Cross-Beam Doppler-Limited Laser Saturation Spectroscopy, Grady T. Phillips
Spatially-Resolved Temperature Diagnostic For Supersonic Flow Using Cross-Beam Doppler-Limited Laser Saturation Spectroscopy, Grady T. Phillips
Theses and Dissertations
Optical techniques for measuring the temperature in three-dimensional supersonic reactive flows have typically depended on lineshape measurements using single-beam laser absorption spectroscopy. However, absorption over extended path lengths in flows with symmetric, turbulent eddies can lead to systematically high extracted temperatures due to Doppler shifts resulting from flow along the absorption path. To eliminate these problems, Cross-Beam Saturation Absorption Spectroscopy (CBSAS) and Cross-Beam Inter-Modulated Fluorescence (CBIMF) have been developed which utilize two crossed and nearly copropogating laser beams.to record the spectral signal of an I2 ro-vibrational line in a small three-dimensional volume using a tunable CW dye laser. Temperature …
Macroscopic Computational Model Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators, Timothy R. Klein
Macroscopic Computational Model Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators, Timothy R. Klein
Theses and Dissertations
Recent progress in the generation and sustainment of gas discharges at atmospheric pressure has energized research in the field of plasma-aerodynamics. Plasma actuators are promising devices that achieve flow control with no moving parts, do not alter the airfoil shape and place no parts in the flow. The operation of a plasma actuator is examined using a macroscopic (force and power addition) computational fluid dynamic model of a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, in Fluent. A parametric approach is adopted to survey the range of requisite magnitudes of momentum and energy delivered to the flow field and to identify the effects …
Multiple Channel Laser Beam Combination And Phasing Using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In Optical Fibers, Brent W. Grime
Multiple Channel Laser Beam Combination And Phasing Using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In Optical Fibers, Brent W. Grime
Theses and Dissertations
Brightness scaling lasers using stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in optical fibers is explored. A multiple-channel amplifier approach is used to increase the total power of a laser system while avoiding a significant burden on a single channel. The work explores two approaches utilizing both SBS beam cleanup and SBS piston error conjugation. A unique beam combiner that takes advantage of the SBS beam cleanup properties of a long, gradient-index multimode fiber was designed and tested. The beam combiner was developed to combine multiple-channel laser beams simultaneously with high input and output coupling efficiency. The design for the SBS beam combiner …
Liquid Crystal On Silicon Non-Mechanical Steering Of A Laser Vibrometer System, Kevin S. Kuciapinski
Liquid Crystal On Silicon Non-Mechanical Steering Of A Laser Vibrometer System, Kevin S. Kuciapinski
Theses and Dissertations
This research examined the possibility of using a non-mechanical beam steering device to steer the beam of a coherent laser radar system. Non-mechanical beam steering devices offer many advantages in size, weight, power requirements, and steering speeds. Additionally, non-mechanical beam steering devices present the capabilities of splitting a single beam into multiple beams as well as beam forming and expanding. The coherent laser radar system used was a Laser Vibrometer System. The beam of the laser vibrometer was steered from 0 mrad to 3 mrad at 1 mrad increments using the liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device. The laser vibrometer …
Electro-Optic Beam Steering Using Domain Engineered Lithium Tantalate, Daren J. Chauvin
Electro-Optic Beam Steering Using Domain Engineered Lithium Tantalate, Daren J. Chauvin
Theses and Dissertations
The operation of a 14-channel five stage electro-optic beam steering device was studied. Beam deflection scanned from 0° to 10.1° was demonstrated. The maximum angle is within 0.3% of design. Many laser systems in operation today implement mechanical beam steering methods that are often expensive in terms of cost, weight and power. They are slow and subject to wear and vibration. A non-inertial beam scanning mechanism, such as one based on the device studied in this research could enhance the performance of these systems. The device studied here is fabricated in LiTaO3 using micro-patterned domain reversal. The 14 channels …
The Kinetics Following Photolysis Of Nitrosyl Bromide, Lori A. Mahoney
The Kinetics Following Photolysis Of Nitrosyl Bromide, Lori A. Mahoney
Theses and Dissertations
One candidate for the development of a tunable laser in the mid-infrared for use as a defensive countermeasure against passive sensors exploits the nitric oxide (NO) transition at 5.4 μm. However, the difficulty with this mechanism is that when bromine (Br2) and NO are present in a mixture, nitrosyl bromide (BrNO) is also created. The absorption bands present in BrNO complicate the design of such a laser. This thesis determines the forward and reverse rate constants of the reaction of Br2 and NO to form BrNO following the photolysis of BrNO using Fourier Transform Infrared absorption spectroscopy. …
Spacecraft Charging At Geosynchronous Altitudes: Current Balance And Critical Temperature In A Non-Maxwellian Plasma, Jose T. Harris
Spacecraft Charging At Geosynchronous Altitudes: Current Balance And Critical Temperature In A Non-Maxwellian Plasma, Jose T. Harris
Theses and Dissertations
Spacecraft charging threatens to disable spacecraft components and adversely impact any satellite function. Electrostatic charge, and especially discharge, can hinder the proper operation of, or destroy, spacecraft components, thereby rendering the spacecraft ineffective or inoperative. The level of charging is dependent on the particle energy (speed) distribution. Current spacecraft design and material provide limited protection against the dangers of electrostatic discharge, and active measures such as beam emission are also employed.
Single-Mode Raman Fiber Laser In A Multimode Fiber, Matthew B. Crookston
Single-Mode Raman Fiber Laser In A Multimode Fiber, Matthew B. Crookston
Theses and Dissertations
The feasibility of a transverse single-mode Raman fiber laser using a multimode fiber has been investigated. The Raman fiber laser operates in low-order transverse modes despite the fact the fiber supports multimode beam propagation. The performance characteristics of the Raman fiber laser are compared with those of the single-pass SRS beam.
Optical Characterization Of Antimony-Based, Types-I And Ii, Multiple Quantum-Well Semiconductor Structures For Mid-Infrared Laser Applications, Edward G. Ferguson
Optical Characterization Of Antimony-Based, Types-I And Ii, Multiple Quantum-Well Semiconductor Structures For Mid-Infrared Laser Applications, Edward G. Ferguson
Theses and Dissertations
This experiment characterizes antimony-based, multiple quantum-well, types-I and -II, semiconductor samples designed for laser applications. The samples emit light in the 3-5-micron range to exploit an atmospheric transmission window, making them ideal for infrared (IR)-seeking missile countermeasures. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra were collected and yielded bandgap (E(sub g)) dependence-on-temperature relationships. The type-I sample was found to follow the Varshni equation, while the type-II samples showed a rise with temperature in a portion of the curve that should be linear according to the Varshni equation. The type-II samples followed the Varshni equation well at higher temperature. The PL study indicated that the …
Building Blocks For Time-Resolved Laser Emission In Mid-Infrared Quantum Well Lasers, Gabriel D. Mounce
Building Blocks For Time-Resolved Laser Emission In Mid-Infrared Quantum Well Lasers, Gabriel D. Mounce
Theses and Dissertations
The objective of this research is to improve the performance of mid-infrared semiconductor quantum-well lasers. Lasers operating in the mid-infrared are useful for many Air Force applications which include infrared (IR) countermeasures in particular. Countermeasure applications require lasers that are compact, and able to emit at high powers while operating at room temperature. Limits to power increases are seen in the transverse modal development of laser oscillation. These modes typically form in the waveguiding active region contributing to the laser output. However, competing modes outside of this region also develop when the confining structural layers have the right characteristics. These …
Power Scaling Feasibility Of Chromium-Doped Ii-Vi Laser Sources And The Demonstration Of A Chromium-Doped Zinc Selenide Face-Cooled Disk Laser, Jason B. Mckay
Power Scaling Feasibility Of Chromium-Doped Ii-Vi Laser Sources And The Demonstration Of A Chromium-Doped Zinc Selenide Face-Cooled Disk Laser, Jason B. Mckay
Theses and Dissertations
Tunable lasers in the 2-4 µm wavelength range are needed for Air Force sensor applications. Chromium-doped II-VI materials are a promising class of laser material for tunable operation in this wavelength range, but until recently had not produced enough output power to meet application requirements. This dissertation investigates Cr2+:II-VI material properties and potential laser designs, then experimentally demonstrates and analyzes the performance of a Cr2+:ZnSe disk laser design that can produce sufficient output power. Cr2+:II-VI laser materials are found to be susceptible to overheating and thermal lensing, but are otherwise satisfactory laser materials. The …
High Energy Laser Pointing Through Extended Turbulence, Jason A. Tellez
High Energy Laser Pointing Through Extended Turbulence, Jason A. Tellez
Theses and Dissertations
The airborne laser (ABL) uses adaptive optics to compensate the atmospheric turbulence between the ABL and the target. The primary purpose of this compensation is to increase the energy density of the energy laser at the target. However, the specifics of the engagement scenario require the tracking point of reference and the adaptive optics point of reference to be located at different points on the target. This research considers the effects of tracking a target in one direction while compensating for atmospheric turbulence in a different directions. The target references used are a point source and a rectangle, while a …
Distributed Beacon Requirements For Branch Point Tolerant Laser Beam Compensation In Extended Atmospheric Turbulence, Virgil E. Zetterlind Iii
Distributed Beacon Requirements For Branch Point Tolerant Laser Beam Compensation In Extended Atmospheric Turbulence, Virgil E. Zetterlind Iii
Theses and Dissertations
Branch point tolerant phase reconstructors can vastly improve adaptive optic system performance in extended atmospheric turbulence. This thesis explores the performance bounds of two such reconstructors Goldstein's algorithm and hidden phase. A least squares reconstructor is implemented for comparison. System performance is presented for various scenarios, including correction time-delays, wave-front sensor noise, and extended beacons. These scenarios are of interest for laser communication and directed energy systems such as Airborne Laser. Performance bounds are obtained through wave-optics simulation. The extended beacon propagation geometry approximates the USAF AFRL-DE North Oscura Peak range. Results show that branch point tolerant reconstructors outperform least …