Mohammadreza Ghasemkhani

Progress towards cryogenic temperatures in intra-cavity optical refrigeration using a VECSEL

We report on the use of a high power InGaAs quantum well vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) emitting at a wavelength of 1020 nm for intra-cavity cooling of a 5% Yb-doped YLF crystal to 148 K from room temperature. Similar crystals have now reached temperatures below the NIST-defined cryogenic temperature of 123 K when pumped outside a laser cavity. We discuss the progress, advantages, and challenges of laser cooling inside a VECSEL cavity, including the VECSEL active region design, cavity design, and cooling sample choice for optimal cooling.

Thermal management and design for optical refrigeration

We present our recent work in developing a robust and versatile optical refrigerator. This work focuses on minimizing parasitic energy losses through efficient design and material optimization. The cooler’s thermal linkage system and housing are studied using thermal analysis software to minimize thermal gradients through the device. Due to the extreme temperature differences within the device, material selection and characterization are key to constructing an efficient device. We describe the design constraints and material selections necessary for thermally efficient and durable optical refrigeration.

Astigmatic Herriott cell for optical refrigeration

Abstract. Cooling rare-earth-doped crystals to the lowest temperature possible requires enhanced resonant absorption and high-purity crystals. Since resonant absorption decreases as the crystal is cooled, the only path forward is to increase the number of roundtrips that the laser makes inside the crystal. To achieve even lower temperatures than previously reported, we have employed an astigmatic Herriott cell to improve laser absorption at low temperatures. Preliminary results indicate improvement over previous designs. This cavity potentially enables us to use unpolarized high-power fiber lasers, and to achieve much higher cooling power for practical applications.

Intracavity-enhanced optical refrigeration of Yb:YLF crystal to cryogenic temperatures

Laser cooling of solids has great potential to achieve an all-solid-state optical cryo-cooler. The advantages of compactness, no vibrations, no moving parts or fluids, and high reliability have motivated intensive research. Increasing the pump power absorption is essential to reach lower temperatures. Here, using a high power broadly tunable InGaAs/GaAs vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) we demonstrate how we have increased the pump power absorption in an intra-cavity geometry cooling a 10% Yb:YLF crystal. We also discuss the progress, advantages, and challenges of laser cooling inside a VECSEL cavity, including the VECSEL active region design, cavity design, and cooling sample choice for optimal cooling. A novel method to increase the absorption of the pump power in the crystal has also been proposed.

Adaptive perfect coherent absorber for photoacoustic spectroscopy

Using adaptive coupled Fabry-Perot cavities, we have utilized the concept of perfect coherent absorbers in a compact and sensitive photoacoustic spectrometer. Normalized noise-equivalent absorption (NNEA) coefficient of 1×10⁻¹⁰ cm⁻¹W/√Hz is measured.

Optical refrigeration inches toward liquid-nitrogen temperatures

Superconductivity, longand mid-wave IR detectors, and ultrastable laser cavities that operate in the 77–150K temperature range can all benefit from vibration-free cooling.1 Currently, such low temperatures can only be achieved using cryogenic gases or liquids, solid cryogens, or mechanical refrigerators. Unfortunately, these coolers require regular attention, introduce vibrational noise, and are subject to mechanical wear over time. Many space-based applications (particularly ultra-stable laser cavities) cannot tolerate these drawbacks. All-solid-state cryocoolers are therefore desirable because of their inherent vibration-free operation and potentially long lifetime. Optical refrigeration (i.e., anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling) is the only solid-state cooling technology capable of reaching cryogenic temperatures. Anti-Stokes cooling—in which a doped crystal is excited by a laser with a wavelength that is longer than the average wavelength of the resulting fluorescence, thus leading to cooling of the crystal—was first suggested by Peter Pringsheim almost 90 years ago.2 It was not actually observed, however, until years after the invention of lasers and the availability of high-purity host materials. The first demonstration of optical refrigeration, reported in 1995, used a fluorozirconate glass doped with ytterbium (Yb). The resulting material is known as Yb3C: ZBLANP.3 Cooling occurs when low-entropy laser light (tuned to a slightly lower energy than the mean fluorescence of a material) is absorbed, thus giving rise to efficient fluorescence generation and escape. On average, each pump photon removes vibrational energy (i.e., phonons) from the cooling sample after being absorbed and re-emitted. Figure 1. Schematic of our astigmatic Herriott cell. The geometry of the cell enables laser light (red) to be trapped inside of the crystal, ensuring more than 95% absorption. R1x;y D 50cm, R2x D 1, and R2y D 50cm, where R1 and R2 are the radii of curvature of the spherical and cylindrical mirrors, respectively. x;y : Launching angle. W : Crystal length, width, and height (Wx D Wy D W ).

Enhanced cooling of Yb:YLF using astigmatic Herriott cell (Conference Presentation)

Optical refrigeration of solids requires crystals with exceptional qualities. Crystals with external quantum efficiencies (EQE) larger than 99% and background absorptions of 4×10-4cm-1 have been cooled to cryogenic temperatures using non resonant cavities. Estimating the cooling efficiency requires accurate measurements of the above mentioned quantities. Here we discuss measurements of EQE and background absorption for two high quality Yb:YLF samples. For any given sample, to reach minimum achievable temperatures heat generated by fluorescence must be removed from the surrounding clamshell and more importantly, absorption of the laser light must be maximized. Since the absorption coefficient drops at lower temperatures the only option is to confine laser light in a cavity until almost 100% of the light is absorbed. This can be achieved by placing the crystal between a cylindrical and spherical mirror to form an astigmatic Herriott cell. In this geometry light enters through a hole in the middle of the spherical mirror and if the entrance angle is correct, it can make as many round trips as required to absorb all the light. At 120 K 60 passes and 150 passes at 100K ensures more than 95% absorption of the laser light. 5 and 10% Yb:YLF crystals placed in such a cell cool to sub 90K temperatures. Non-contact temperature measurements are more challenging for such a geometry. Reabsorption of fluorescence for each pass must be taken into account for accurate temperature measurements by differential luminescence thermometry (DLT). Alternatively, we used part of the spectrum that is not affected by reabsorption.

Recent advances in optical refrigeration of a load (Conference Presentation)

Laser cooling of solids has advanced immensely in recent years and temperatures well below 100 K have been demonstrated in Yb:YLF crystals. We will discuss our progress towards developing a functional all-solid-state cryocooler based on this principle. We present data and analysis concerning laser coupling efficiency, thermal link between the cooling crystal and the cold-finger, shielding the load from the fluorescence, and overall thermal load management. Considerations for building a cooler prototype for specific applications will also be discussed.

Non-resonant optical cavity design for optical refrigeration

We present a study of non-resonant optical cavities for optical refrigerators. Designs have been studied to maximize pump light-trapping to improve absorption and thereby increase the efficiency of optical refrigeration. The approaches of non-resonant optical cavities by Herriott-cell and total-internal-reflection were studied. Ray-tracing simulations and experiments were performed to analyze and optimize the different light-trapping configurations. We present a trade-off analysis between performance, reliability, and manufacturability.

Cooling enhancement in optical refrigeration by non-resonant optical cavities

We present a study of cooling enhancement in optical refrigerators by the implementation of advanced non-resonant optical cavities. Cavity designs have been studied to maximize pump light-trapping to improve absorption and thereby increase the efficiency of optical refrigeration. The approaches of non-resonant optical cavities by Herriott-cell and totalinternal- reflection were studied. Ray-tracing simulations and experiments were performed to analyze and optimize the different light-trapping configurations. Light trapping was studied for laser sources with high quality beams and for beams with large divergences, roughly corresponding to the output from fiber lasers and from diode lasers, respectively. We present a trade-off analysis between performance, reliability, and manufacturability.