Jinbo Liu

Phase-interfacial stimulated Raman scattering generated in strongly pumped water.

We have observed unusual blue-shifted radiations in water pumped by a strong 532-nm nanosecond laser. Properties including divergence, polarizations, and pulse shapes of the unusual radiations are measured and compared with those of the regular stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in water. The unusual radiations are attributed to the parametric anti-Stokes SRS that occurs on the interface of water and ionization plasma (or gas) formed in the laser-induced breakdown of water.

H2 stimulated Raman scattering in a multi-pass cell

Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) is an effective means of laser wavelength conversion. Hydrogen is an excellent Raman medium for its high stimulated Raman gain coefficient and good flowability which can rapidly dissipate the heat generated by SRS process. In this paper we reported the H2 SRS in multiple-pass cell pumped by the fundamental frequency output of a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser. Two concave reflection mirrors (with 1000 mm curvature radius and 50 mm diameter) were used in our experiment, both mirrors with a hole near the edge and were positioned to form co-center cavity, therefore the laser could repeatedly pass and refocus in the Raman cell to achieve a high SRS conversion efficiency and reduce SRS threshold for pump laser. By changing the pass number (1～17) of optical path in the Raman cell and the pump power(0～2.5MW), the Stokes conversion efficiency is optimized. Experimental results indicated that the Raman threshold was 0.178MW and the highest photon conversion efficiency was 50 %.

Red laser based on intra-cavity Nd:YAG/CH4 frequency doubled Raman lasers

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is a powerful tool for the extension of the spectral range of lasers. To obtain efficient Raman conversion in SRS, many researchers have studied different types of Raman laser configurations. Among these configurations, the intra-cavity type is particularly attractive. Intra-cavity SRS has the advantages of high intra-cavity laser intensity, low-SRS threshold, and high Raman conversion efficiency. In this paper, An Q-switched intra-cavity Nd: YAG/CH4 frequency-doubled Raman lasers is reported. A negative branch confocal resonator with M= 1.25 is used for the frequency-doubling of Nd: YAG laser. The consequent 532nm light is confined in intra- cavity SRS with travelling wave resonator, and the focal of one mirror of cavity is overlap with the center of the other mirror of the cavity. We found this design is especially efficient to reduce the threshold of SRS, and increase conversion efficiency. The threshold is measured to be 0.62 MW, and at the pump energy of 16.1 mJ, the conversion efficiency is 34%. With the smaller magnification M, the threshold could further decrease, and the conversion efficiency could be improved further. This is a successful try to extend the spectral range of a laser to the shorter wavelength by SRS, and this design may play an important role in the fulfillment of high power red lasers.

Spectrum characteristic study of sodium-ethane excimer pairs

Excimer pumped sodium laser (XPNaL) can accurately achieve lasing at 589.16 nm without any complicated control system to reduce the wavelength error, so XPNaL will provide a novel technical system for sodium beacon laser. In this paper, we studied the Na-C2H6 system, which was an efficient excimer pair. We excited the Na-C2H6 system using a pulsed dye laser with wavelength of 553 nm, and measured lifetime of sodium D2 line based on the fluorescence spectra. Meanwhile, we have also detected strong amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) signal in Na-C2H6 system, through the experimental study, the Na-C2H6 system is considered to own the potential to be utilized in high power XPNaL.

Blue satellites of absorption spectrum study of sodium based excimer-pumped alkali vapor laser

Sodium based excimer-pump alkali laser (Na-XPAL) is expected to be an efficient method to generate sodium beacon light, but the information about the spectroscopic characters of Na-XPAL remains sparse so far. In this work, we utilized the relative fluorescence intensity to study the absorption spectrum of blue satellites of complexes of sodium with different collision partners. The yellow fluorescence of Na D1 and D2 line was clearly visible. After processing the fluorescence intensity and the input pumping laser relative intensity, we obtained the Na-CH4 system’s blue satellites was from 553nm to 556nm. Meanwhile, we experimentally demonstrated the Na-Ar and Na-Xe system’s wavelength range of blue satellites. Also, it was observed that the Na-Xe system’s absorption was stronger than the other two systems.

Small signal gain measurement of liquid oxygen under different wavelength laser pump

Oxygen molecules existed in pairs under liquid condition, the radiation from vibrational ground state of 1 Δ state to the first vibrational excited state of 3 ∑ state was electronic dipole moment transition allowed, and a photon with wavelength of 1580 nm was emitted. In our experiment, dye laser with wavelength of 581 nm, 634 nm, 764 nm was used to excite liquid oxygen to different excited states, while a tunable OPO was used as the seeder laser, and the small signal gain was measured to be 0.23 cm-1, 0.3 cm-1 and 0.076 cm-1 respectively. The small signal gain (pump by photon of 634 nm) was significantly higher than that of common solid state lasers and chemical lasers. When the fundamental output of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was used as the pump source, the corresponding small signal gain was 0.12 cm-1. The profiles of small signal gain form 1579.2 nm to 1580.8 nm were also presented. These results were consistent with theoretical calculation. The high positive gain indicated that the liquid oxygen was a potential medium for high energy laser. A comprehensive parameter optimization was still necessary in order to improve the mall signal gain.

O2 (1Δg) detection using broadband CARS

1 Delta(g) oxygen was the active medium of chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL), the concentration and distribution of 1 Delta(g) oxygen was important for the output power and beam quality. However, the current test technique, such as fluorescence detection method, absorption spectrum method could not get accurate 1 Delta(g) oxygen information, due to the interference from the iodine fluorescence or the rigorous request of the laser source and optics and detection elements. The anti-stokes Raman spectrum of 1 Delta(g) oxygen was regarded as a potential technique to obtain desirable signal, and the coherent anti-stokes Raman scatter (CARS) was the most feasible technique to get better signal to noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, we reported a broadband nanosecond coherent anti-stokes Raman scatter (CARS) detecting system built up for the detection of the concentration and distribution of O-2(1 Delta(g)) in COIL: The second harmonic of a Nd: YAG pulse laser was separated into two parts, one part was used to pump a broadband nanosecond dye laser to generate light of 578-580 nm, which covered both stokes lines of O-2 (1 Delta(g)) and O-2 (3S); The other part was combined with dye laser output by a dichroic mirror, and then introduced into the detection region of COIL through a focus lens. CARS signals for O2(1 Delta(g)) and O-2 (3S) have different wavelengths, and their intensity was proportional to the square of the concentration of O-2(1 Delta(g)) and O-2(3S). By changing the focus spot of pump and stokes laser, the concentration distribution of O-2(1 Delta(g)) and O-2(3S) at different position could be obtained.1 Δg oxygen was the active medium of chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL), the concentration and distribution of 1 Δg oxygen was important for the output power and beam quality. However, the current test technique, such as fluorescence detection method, absorption spectrum method could not get accurate 1 Δg oxygen information, due to the interference from the iodine fluorescence or the rigorous request of the laser source and optics and detection elements. The anti-stokes Raman spectrum of 1 Δg oxygen was regarded as a potential technique to obtain desirable signal, and the coherent anti-stokes Raman scatter (CARS) was the most feasible technique to get better signal to noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, we reported a broadband nanosecond coherent anti-stokes Raman scatter (CARS) detecting system built up for the detection of the concentration and distribution of O2( 1 Δg) in COIL：The second harmonic of a Nd: YAG pulse laser was separated into two parts, one part was used to pump a broadband nanosecond dye laser to generate light of 578-580 nm, which covered both stokes lines of O2 ( 1 Δg）and O2 (3 ∑）; The other part was combined with dye laser output by a dichroic mirror, and then introduced into the detection region of COIL through a focus lens. CARS signals for O2（1 Δg）and O2 （3 ∑）have different wavelengths, and their intensity was proportional to the square of the concentration of O2（1 Δg） and O2( 3 ∑). By changing the focus spot of pump and stokes laser, the concentration distribution of O2（1 Δg） and O2（3 ∑）at different position could be obtained.The Chinese Optical Society,China Academy of Engineering Physics,Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers