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Theses and Dissertations

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Articles 61 - 90 of 122

Full-Text Articles in Plasma and Beam Physics

Investigation Of Radio Frequency Discharges And Langmuir Probe Diagnostic Methods In A Fast Flowing Electronegative Background Gas, Nathaniel P. Lockwood Dec 2007

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 …

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Time Resolution Of Collapse Events During The Progation Of Ultraviolet Filaaments, Teresa J. Fondren Oct 2007

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 …

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Raman Fiber Lasers And Amplifiers Based On Multimode Fibers And Their Applications To Beam Cleanup, Nathan B. Terry Sep 2007

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 …

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An Infrared Camera Simulation For Estimating Spatial Temperature Profiles And Signal-To-Noise Ratios Of An Airborne Laser-Illuminated Target, David F. Orth Jun 2007

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 …

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Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Beam Cleanup And Beam Phasing Through Two Passive Channels, Omar Gamboa Mar 2007

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 …

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Portable Diode Pumped Femtosecond Laser, David A. Jones Mar 2007

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 …

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Thermally Activated, Variable Blazed Grating For Coherent Beam Steering, Matthew T. Johnson Mar 2007

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 …

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An Experimental Study Of A Pulsed Dc Plasma Flow Control Actuator, Jennifer D. Wall Jun 2006

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 …

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Backward Amplification And Beam Cleanup Of A Raman Fiber Laser Oscillator Using A Multi-Mode Graded Index Fiber Amplifier, Jesse D. S. Morgan Iii Mar 2006

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 …

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A Study Of Collapse Events In Ultraviolet Light Filaments Due To Transient Edge Effects, Paul L. Muller Mar 2006

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 …

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Passive Multiple Beam Combination In Optical Fibers Via Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, Kirk C. Brown Mar 2006

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. …

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Development Of A Multiple Beam Combiner Using Stimulated Raman Scattering In Multimode Fiber, Brian M. Flusche Mar 2006

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. …

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Shockwave Interactions With Argon Glow Discharges, Nicholas S. Siefert Mar 2006

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 …

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The Simulation Of Off-Axis Laser Propagation Using Heleeos, Scott L. Belton Mar 2006

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 …

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Spatially-Resolved Temperature Diagnostic For Supersonic Flow Using Cross-Beam Doppler-Limited Laser Saturation Spectroscopy, Grady T. Phillips Mar 2006

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 …

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Macroscopic Computational Model Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators, Timothy R. Klein Feb 2006

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 …

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Multiple Channel Laser Beam Combination And Phasing Using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In Optical Fibers, Brent W. Grime Dec 2005

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 …

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Liquid Crystal On Silicon Non-Mechanical Steering Of A Laser Vibrometer System, Kevin S. Kuciapinski Sep 2005

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 …

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Electro-Optic Beam Steering Using Domain Engineered Lithium Tantalate, Daren J. Chauvin Mar 2005

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 …

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The Kinetics Following Photolysis Of Nitrosyl Bromide, Lori A. Mahoney Dec 2004

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. …

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Spacecraft Charging At Geosynchronous Altitudes: Current Balance And Critical Temperature In A Non-Maxwellian Plasma, Jose T. Harris Mar 2003

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.

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Single-Mode Raman Fiber Laser In A Multimode Fiber, Matthew B. Crookston Mar 2003

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.

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Optical Characterization Of Antimony-Based, Types-I And Ii, Multiple Quantum-Well Semiconductor Structures For Mid-Infrared Laser Applications, Edward G. Ferguson Mar 2003

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 …

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Building Blocks For Time-Resolved Laser Emission In Mid-Infrared Quantum Well Lasers, Gabriel D. Mounce Mar 2003

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 …

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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 Dec 2002

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 …

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High Energy Laser Pointing Through Extended Turbulence, Jason A. Tellez Sep 2002

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 …

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Distributed Beacon Requirements For Branch Point Tolerant Laser Beam Compensation In Extended Atmospheric Turbulence, Virgil E. Zetterlind Iii Mar 2002

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 …

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Development Of A Tm:Ho:Ylf-Laser-Pumped Orientation-Patterned Gallium Arsenide Optical Parametric Oscillator, Michael D. Harm Mar 2002

Development Of A Tm:Ho:Ylf-Laser-Pumped Orientation-Patterned Gallium Arsenide Optical Parametric Oscillator, Michael D. Harm

Theses and Dissertations

Coherent optical sources in the mid-infrared region (mid-IR) are important fundamental tools for infrared countermeasures and battlefield remote sensing. Nonlinear optical effects can be applied to convert existing near-IR laser sources to radiate in the mid-IR. This research focused on achieving such a conversion with a quasi-phase matched optical parametric oscillators using orientation-patterned gallium arsenide (OPGaAs), a material that can be quasi-phased matched by periodically reversing the crystal structure during the epitaxial growth process. Although non-linear optical conversion was not ultimately achieved during this research, many valuable lessons were learned from working with this material. This thesis reviews the theory …

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Fabrication And Cold-Flow Testing Of Subscale Space-Based Laser Geometry, Scott E. Bergren Mar 2002

Fabrication And Cold-Flow Testing Of Subscale Space-Based Laser Geometry, Scott E. Bergren

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to build a facility that could simulate the expected fluid flow properties in the conceptual Space Based Laser Integrated Flight Experiment (SBL IFX) gas dynamic laser using cold-flow, and to investigate the performance of the model. A 1/5th scale model was fabricated and mated to a blow-down/vacuum wind tunnel. Using rapid data acquisition and schlieren photography the diffuser was determined to initially produce similar fluid flow to the SBL IFX, but rapidly became subsonic due to a transient normal shock wave formed when the wind tunnel was started.

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Carrier Dynamics In Mid-Infrared Quantum Well Lasers Using Time-Resolved Photoluminescence, Steven M. Gorski Mar 2002

Carrier Dynamics In Mid-Infrared Quantum Well Lasers Using Time-Resolved Photoluminescence, Steven M. Gorski

Theses and Dissertations

Research in mid-infrared laser technology has uncovered numerous applications for commercial and government use. A limiting factor for mid-infrared semiconductors is nonradiative recombination, which is a process that produces excess heat without emitting a photon. Nonradiative recombination mechanisms occur over a short time period and difficult to measure. Growth methods have significantly reduced the nonradiative recombination in some materials. The objective of this research is to further the understanding of how quantum well structures impact carrier recombination. InAsSb/InAlASb and InAs/GaInSb quantum well structures were studied with time-resolved photoluminescence utilizing upconversion, a non-linear wave mixing technique. This research reports Shockley-Read-Hall, radiative, …

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