S. Chaurasia

Green fluorescence of terbium ions in lithium fluoroborate glasses for fibre lasers and display devices

In this paper, for the first time, the visible fluorescence properties, resonance energy transfer mechanism responsible for non-radiative decay rates of 5D4 → 7F5 transition and also quenching of fluorescence intensity of the 5D3 → 7F5 transition of various concentrations of Tb3+ ions in LBZLFB glasses are reported. Optical absorption, fluorescence spectra and quantum efficiencies are measured and analysed. Green fluorescence related to 5D4 → 7F5 (548 nm) transition is registered under excitation of 378 nm of Tb3+ ions. Based on excitation and fluorescence measurements, several spectroscopic parameters for Tb3+ ions are examined as a function of concentration by Judd–Ofelt theory to judge the suitability of studied glasses for display devices and fibre lasers.

Enhancement of keV X-rays from low-density cellulose triacetate (TAC) foam targets

The interaction of a high-power laser with a low-density foam target can in some instances result in a significant enhancement in x-ray generation relative to that when the same laser is incident upon a homogenous solid. In this paper, we present x-ray emission studies from foam targets where the density is varied from under-dense to over-dense. The targets are irradiated with the first harmonic of Nd:Glass laser. The laser intensity on the target was approximately 2 × 1014 W/cm2 with the pulse duration of 500 ps. Mass-matched cellulose triacetate foam targets with densities of 2 mg/cc, 4 mg/cc, 7 mg/cc, and 20 mg/cc were used. The areal density presented by the targets on the laser beam axis was held constant at 0.2 mg/cm2 by varying the target thickness in inverse proportion to the density. The x-ray yield in the spectral range (5–8 keV) and (4.5–16 keV) was found to be enhanced by approximately 2.3 times in foam targets with the density of 2 mg/cc (under-dense) compared with foam targets with the densi...

Pump probe based Raman spectroscopic studies of PTFE under laser driven shock compression

High pressure spontaneous Raman spectroscopic studies of poly tetra fluro ethylene (PTFE) have been carried out under laser driven shock compression in confinement geometry target. The Raman modes under shock compression as a function of pressure were measured and compared with the corresponding Raman modes in static pressure experiments. Our results indicate that PTFE undergoes transition to phase III across this pressure.

Development of in situ time-resolved Raman spectroscopy facility for dynamic shock loading in materials

The transient state of excitation and relaxation processes in materials under shock compression can be investigated by coupling the laser driven shock facility with Raman spectroscopy. For this purpose, a time resolved Raman spectroscopy setup has been developed to monitor the physical and the chemical changes such as phase transitions, chemical reactions, molecular kinetics etc., under shock compression with nanosecond time resolution. This system consist of mainly three parts, a 2 J/8 ns Nd:YAG laser system used for generation of pump and probe beams, a Raman spectrometer with temporal and spectral resolution of 1.2 ns and 3 cm−1 respectively and a target holder in confinement geometry assembly. Detailed simulation for the optimization of confinement geometry targets is performed. Time resolved measurement of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) targets at focused laser intensity of 2.2 GW/cm2 has been done. The corresponding pressure in the Aluminum and PTFE are 3.6 and 1.7 GPa respectively. At 1.7 GPa in PTFE, a red shift of 5 cm−1 is observed for the CF2 twisting mode (291 cm−1). Shock velocity in PTFE is calculated by measuring rate of change of ratios of the intensity of Raman lines scattered from shocked volume to total volume of sample in the laser focal spot along the laser axis. The calculated shock velocity in PTFE is found to be 1.64 ± 0.16 km/s at shock pressure of 1.7 GPa, for present experimental conditions.

Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy of Polytetrafluoroethylene Under Laser-Shock Compression

Shock-wave-induced high pressure and nanosecond time-resolved Raman spectroscopic experiments were performed to examine the dynamic response of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in confinement geometry targets. Time-resolved Raman spectroscopy was used to observe the pressure-induced molecular and chemical changes on nanosecond time scale. Raman spectra were measured as a function of shock pressure in the 1.2–2.4 GPa range. Furthermore, the symmetric stretching mode at 729 cm–1 of CF2 was compared to corresponding static high-pressure measurements carried out in a diamond anvil cell, to see if any general trend can be established. The symmetric stretching mode of CF2 at 729 cm–1 is the most intense Raman transition in PTFE and is very sensitive to change in pressure. Therefore, it can also be utilized as a pressure gauge for large amplitude shock wave compression experiments. A maximum blueshift of 12 cm–1 for the 729 cm–1 vibrational mode has been observed for the present experimental pressure range. A comparative study on the similarities and differences from the earlier work has been done in detail. One-dimensional radiation hydrodynamic simulations were performed to validate our shock compression results and are in very good agreement.

In situ measurement of ions parameters of laser produced ion source using high resolution Thomson Parabola Spectrometer

The laser produced plasma based heavy ion source has become an outstanding front end for heavy ion accelerators. Before being implemented in the heavy ion accelerators its detailed characterization is required. For this purpose, a high resolution and high dispersion Thomson parabola spectrometer comprising of Time-of-Flight diagnostics has been developed for the characterization of ions with energy in the range from 1 keV to 1 MeV/nucleon and incorporated in the Laser plasma experimental chamber. The ion spectrometer is optimized with graphite target. The carbon ions of charge states C1+ to C6+ are observed in the energy range from 3 keV to 300 keV, which has also been verified by Time-of-Flight measurement. Experimental results were matched with simulation done by SIMION 7.0 code which is used for the design of the spectrometer. We also developed data analysis software using Python language to measure in situ ions parameters and the results are in better agreement to the experimental results than the commercially available software SIMION 7.0. The resolution of the spectrometer is ΔE/E = 0.026 @ 31 keV for charge state (C4+) of carbon.

Shock pressure measurements in Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films using multi-frame optical shadowgraphy

The knowledge of the equation of state (EOS) of materials at high pressures in excess of 10 Mbar is important in several branches of physics including astrophysics and inertial confinement fusion. It is possible to access this high pressure regime in the laboratory using shock waves launched by the interaction of a high power laser with a solid target. To study laser driven shock waves in plastic (Polyvinyl alcohol) (C2H4O)n targets, a multiframe optical shadowgraphy technique has been developed, with spatial and temporal resolution of 12 μm and 500 ps respectively. The experiments were performed using the 1064 nm 20 J /500 ps Nd: Glass laser at BARC. The focused laser intensity on target was varied between 6 × 1013 W/cm2 and 2.7 × 1014 W/cm2. The experimental data have been compared with the results of previous experimental and theoretical studies. The results are also found to be in agreement with SESAME data. The maximum pressure attained in the experiments was 30 Mbar, achieved with a laser intensity of 2.7 × 1014 W/cm2.