Abstract:
Various embodiments may be used for laser-based modification of target material of a workpiece while advantageously achieving improvements in processing throughput and/or quality. Embodiments of a method of processing may include focusing and directing laser pulses to a region of the workpiece at a pulse repetition rate sufficiently high so that material is efficiently removed from the region and a quantity of unwanted material within the region, proximate to the region, or both is reduced relative to a quantity obtainable at a lower repetition rate. Embodiments of an ultrashort pulse laser system may include a fiber amplifier or fiber laser. Various embodiments are suitable for at least one of dicing, cutting, scribing, and forming features on or within a semiconductor substrate. Workpiece materials may include metals, inorganic or organic dielectrics, or any material to be micromachined with femtosecond, picosecond, and/or nanosecond pulses.
Abstract:
Embodiments of optical fiber may include cladding features that include a material (e.g., fluorine-doped silica glass) that may produce a very low relative refractive index difference with respect to cladding material in which the cladding features are disposed. This relative refractive index difference may be characterized by (n1−n2)/n1, where n1 is the index of refraction of the cladding material in which the cladding features are included, and n2 is the index of refraction of the cladding features. In certain embodiments, the relative refractive index difference may be less than about 4.5×10−3. In various embodiments, the configuration of the cladding features including, for example, the size and spacing of the cladding features, can be selected to provide for confinement of the fundamental mode yet leakage for the second mode and higher modes, which may provide mode filtering, single mode propagation, and/or low bend loss.
Abstract:
A composite nanoparticle, for example a nanoparticle containing one or a plurality of cores embedded in another material. A composite nanoparticle can be formed by a one step process that includes: ejecting material from a bulk target material using physical energy source, with the bulk target material disposed in a liquid. Composite nanoparticles are formed by cooling at least a portion of the ejected material in the liquid. The composite fine particles may then be collected from the liquid. A product that includes composite fine particles may be formed with laser ablation, and ultrashort laser ablation may be utilized so as to preserve composite nanoparticle stoichiometry. For applications of the composite fine particles, optical properties and/or magnetic properties may be exploited for various applications.
Abstract:
A method of producing compound nanorods and thin films under a controlled growth mode is described. The method involves ablating compound targets using an ultrafast pulsed laser and depositing the ablated materials onto a substrate. When producing compound nanorods, external catalysts such as pre-deposited metal nanoparticles are not involved. Instead, at the beginning of deposition, simply by varying the fluence at the focal spot on the target, a self-formed seed layer can be introduced for nanorods growth. This provides a simple method of producing high purity nanorods and controlling the growth mode. Three growth modes are covered by the present invention, including nanorod growth, thin film growth, and nano-porous film growth.
Abstract:
A rechargeable energy storage device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment the energy storage device includes an air electrode providing an electrochemical process comprising reduction and evolution of oxygen and a capacitive electrode enables an electrode process consisting of non-faradic reactions based on ion absorption/desorption and/or faradic reactions. This rechargeable energy storage device is a hybrid system of fuel cells and ultracapacitors, pseudocapacitors, and/or secondary batteries.
Abstract:
Various embodiments include large cores fibers that can propagate few modes or a single mode while introducing loss to higher order modes. Some of these fibers are holey fibers that comprising cladding features such as air-holes. Additional embodiments described herein include holey rods. The rods and fibers may be used in many optical systems including optical amplification systems, lasers, short pulse generators, Q-switched lasers, etc. and may be used for example for micromachining.
Abstract:
A laser head generating ultrashort pulses is integrated with an active beam steering device in the head. Direct linkage with an application system by means of an adequate interface protocol enables the active device to be controlled directly by the application system.
Abstract:
An intracavity resonant Fabry-Perot saturable absorber (R-FPSA) induces modelocking in a laser such as a fiber laser. An optical limiter such as a two photon absorber (TPA) can be used in conjunction with the R-FPSA, so that Q-switching is inhibited, resulting in laser output that is cw modelocked. By using both an R-FPSA and a TPA, the Q-switched modelocked behavior of a fiber laser is observed to evolve into cw modelocking.
Abstract:
An imaging apparatus uses focusing and collecting optics in combination with steering optics for efficient imaging of a target using an extended terahertz electro-magnetic range challenged by weak sources and low sensitivity of detection. By proper location of optics to utilize angular conversion of the beam to a lateral scan, a rastering imaging apparatus is demonstrated without moving target or entire imaging system. In at least one embodiment a mirror-lens set is used to steer the terahertz (THz) beam along and (or) to collect the THz beam from each point of the target. The target is imaged with a much higher speed than when moving the target or the entire imaging system. A THz wave image can be taken at video frequency for practical usage of the apparatus in diverse application areas, where it has not been considered to be feasible.
Abstract:
A laser head generating ultrashort pulses is integrated with an active beam steering device in the head. Direct linkage with an application system by means of an adequate interface protocol enables the active device to be controlled directly by the application system.