Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use lasers for patterning images on solid substrates, by solving the problem with conventional laser engraving, which yields grayscale images with image contrast determined by machining depth and is sensitive to laser irradiation parameters.SOLUTION: Systems and methods for providing laser texturing of solid substrates are disclosed. In some embodiments, images may be obtainable from the substrate by modifying the reflective, diffractive, and/or absorptive features of the substrate or the substrate surface by forming random, periodic, and/or semi-periodic micro-structure features on the substrate (or substrate surface) by an ultrafast laser pulse train. The micro-structure features may have average sizes slightly larger, comparable to, and/or smaller than the wavelength of light of the ultrafast pulse train. The ultrafast pulse train may be modulated in order to vary, for example, optical exposure time, pulse train intensity, laser polarization, laser wavelength, or a combination thereof.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and inexpensive high output chirp pulse amplifier from 100 mW to 10 W, and a compressor suitable for the high output chirp pulse amplifier.SOLUTION: The high output chirp pulse amplifier generating an ultrashort pulse includes a source 10 for generating an elongation pulse, i.e., elongated pulse light, an output amplification stage 20 for amplifying the elongation pulse, and a compressor 40 for receiving the elongation pulse from the output amplification stage 20 and compressing the elongation pulse. The output amplification stage 20 has a double clad fiber and a pump. Preferably, the compressor 40 includes a fiber grid for compressing a laser pulse signal to have a duration less than a threshold of nonlinear effect, and a grating which accepts the pulse signal compressed by the fiber grid so as to compress the pulse signal furthermore. Chirp pulse amplification action of a clad pump fiber ensures high output chirp pulse amplification with a compact and inexpensive amplifier.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct a full fiber-based chirped pulse amplification laser system suitable for industrial applications.SOLUTION: A modular ultrafast pulse laser system is constructed of individually pre-tested components manufactured as modules. The individual modules include an oscillator, pre-amplifier and power amplifier stages, a non-linear amplifier, and a stretcher and compressor. The individual modules can typically be connected by means of simple fiber splices.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser source for producing a pulsed laser beam comprising a plurality of ultrashort optical pulses having a variable repetition frequency.SOLUTION: The laser source comprises a fiber oscillator, which outputs optical pulses, and a pulse stretcher disposed to receive the optical pulses. The optical pulses have an optical pulse width. The pulse stretcher has dispersion that increases the optical pulse width yielding stretched optical pulses. The laser source further comprises a fiber amplifier disposed to receive the stretched optical pulses. The fiber optical amplifier has gain so as to amplify the stretched optical pulses. The laser source includes an automatically adjustable grating compressor having dispersion that reduces the optical pulse width. The grating compressor automatically adjusts this dispersion for different repetition frequencies.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high-productivity fiber chirped pulse amplification system which exhibits a high pulse stretching ratio and compression ratio. SOLUTION: The fiber chirped pulse amplification system includes a seed pulse light source for producing short optical pulses, a stretcher for stretching the pulses, and a plurality of concatenated sections of polarization maintaining fibers, at least one of which is an amplifier. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fiber in which amount of polarization mode coupling and polarization mode dispersion are reduced and in which polarization maintaining capacity is increased, and to provide a high efficient fiber amplifier or laser with a polarization maintaining large outer-diameter such that pump light is guided inside a cladding while a large outer cladding ensures decrease in mode-coupling inside the fiber core. SOLUTION: The polarization maintaining fiber includes a fiber core, a first cladding surrounding this core, a coating surrounding this first cladding, and a means for minimizing polarization mode-coupling that couples with a fiber having a minimum fiber outer diameter ≥125 μm. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for stabilizing a short pulse fiber laser capable of reducing timing jitter caused by variations in an environmental condition such as vibration, the disturbance of air, a change in temperature to a minimum. SOLUTION: The method for stabilizing the short pulse fiber laser has a segregating step which segregates the fiber laser from an outside environment, a twisting step which twists the fiber laser around a fiber spool, and an operating step which operates the fiber laser while the fiber laser has been twisted around the fiber spool. The fiber laser is stabilized without the influence of the variations in the environmental condition, since the fiber laser is winded around the fiber spool, and segregated from the outside environment. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means to generate a femtosecond high output optical pulse with which a short optical pulse with a signal wavelength (SW) is efficiently converted into a short optical pulse with a wavelength of fold harmonics (FDW). SOLUTION: The apparatus for generating a high output optical pulse has a fiber oscillator 10 to generate signal light, an amplifying fiber 11 having nonlinear retardation and also serving as a soliton Raman compressor (SRC) to receive, amplify and compress the signal light and PPLN (periodic poling LiNbO 3 ) 20, a frequency converter to convert a frequency of an amplified optical pulse into a high output optical pulse. A dispersion-compensating fiber 18 compensates dispersion. Also, in the generating apparatus, a double-pass mode, in which an optical pulse is reflected with a Faraday rotation mirror (FRM) 19, is adopted. By obtaining energy from pump light injected from a pump 16, the signal light is amplified and compressed and the femtosecond high output optical pulse is obtained with a wavelength frequency-converted with the PPLN frequency converter 20. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser drilling and processing method for forming a hole of a profile having an exit opening larger than an entrance opening. SOLUTION: To form a through-hole 28 which is counter-tapered, a laser beam 26 of sufficient energy for ablating the material is directed onto an impingement location on a first surface 22 of the material along an incidence axis, the incidence axis being offset from a normal to the first surface at the impingement location. The material and the laser beam 26 are relatively rotated by at least 360° so that the through-hole having the exit opening larger than the entrance opening can be formed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a material-processing system using a pulsed laser for the purpose of removing a material to make a clean microfabrication surface. SOLUTION: The material-processing system using a pulsed laser is composed of a process for generating a pulsed laser beam, a process for converging the beam on a plane above the surface of a sample, a process for causing breakdown of the material at a point to be irradiated with the laser beam, and a process for removing or reforming the material of the sample. Arranging a focal plane above the sample permits the use of a pulsed laser beam of higher intensity, minimizing the adverse effect on the condition of the sample surface for laser energy absorption. In the secondary aspect, the material-processing system further includes the utilization of vacuum for removing the beam- processed material desirably by means of a push/pull type air vacuum system arranged slightly above the surface of the sample, thereby providing a clean sample and surface for operation.