The rapidly increasing amount of space debris is a critical problem of modern and future space infrastructure. Repetitively pulsed high energy lasers are frequently discussed as a technological option for the remotely based removal of multiple small space debris objects from the low Earth orbit (LEO) by recoil from laser ablation. Aiming for a realistic assessment of the concept’s efficiency in debris mitigation, awareness of thermal constraints is needed. In our study, we employ finite element analysis (FEM) of the laser ablation process regarding imparted momentum from laser-ablative recoil as well as laser-induced heat inside the target after ablation. The simulation results are underpinned by observations of velocity change and temperature increase from single pulse laser irradiation of cm-sized targets in a drop experiment in vacuum (10 ns pulse duration, 1064 nm wavelength, 60 J nominal pulse energy) from the nhelix laser of the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. Both polished and sandblasted samples of common space debris materials like aluminum, copper, steel, and titanium are employed in our analysis. Our findings suggest that exhaustive target reconnaissance is required to ensure operational safety in laser-based orbit modification regarding predictability of the modified trajectory as well as thermal constraints in target heating.
Amplifying ps-laser radiation to high pulse-energies as well as a high average output power is a challenging task. In the past it was shown that thin-disk multipass amplifiers can achieve excellent properties for ultrashort laser pulses at over 1 kW of average power. Furthermore, systems combining multipass and regenerative thindisk amplifiers achieved 700 mJ of pulse energy at a repetition rate of 1000 Hz. These systems reaching such excellent properties are complex, extensive and typically need dozens of mirror-optics and the corresponding space associated with those. With the introduction of our monolithic wedged thin-disk (WTD) concept we were able to demonstrate small signal laser amplification of up to 10 (+10 dB) for cw-systems with a drastically reduced amount of mirror optics as well as space needed. By adding a redirecting mirror to introduce two multipasses in the WTD we were able to amplify a 2 ps-laser source with a small signal gain of up to 55 (+17 dB) and at 20W seed power by a factor of 5 (+7 dB) reaching up to 100W of output power.
Due to the low absorption of pump light in a thin disk laser, the pump light has to be redirected multiple times onto the active medium in order to achieve high pumping efficiency. Therefore, the pump optics in current systems require a large volume compared to the thin disk itself and multiple optics have to be aligned correctly with each other. Our wedged optical lasing chamber for ytterbium disks (WOLCYD) consists of an optical long-pass filter placed at a small angle directly in front of the thin disk. By this, an in-place multiplication of the number of pump passes is achieved. This results in a compact pump optic without the need of sophisticated alignment efforts. We demonstrate a laser oscillator setup and a laser amplifier setup on the basis of the WOLCYD geometry.
Small space debris objects of even a few centimeters can cause severe damage to satellites. Powerful lasers are often proposed for pushing small debris by laser-ablative recoil toward an orbit where atmospheric burn-up yields their remediation. We analyze whether laser-ablative momentum generation is safe and reliable concerning predictability of momentum and accumulation of heat at the target. With hydrodynamic simulations on laser ablation of aluminum as the prevalent debris material, we study laser parameter dependencies of thermomechanical coupling. The results serve as configuration for raytracing-based Monte Carlo simulations on imparted momentum and heat of randomly shaped fragments within a Gaussian laser spot. Orbit modification and heating are analyzed exemplarily under repetitive laser irradiation. Short wavelengths are advantageous, yielding momentum coupling up to ∼40 mNs / kJ, and thermal coupling can be minimized to 7% of the pulse energy using short-laser pulses. Random target orientation yields a momentum uncertainty of 86% and the thrust angle exhibits 40% scatter around 45 deg. Moreover, laser pointing errors at least redouble the uncertainty in momentum prediction. Due to heat accumulation of a few Kelvin per pulse, their number is restricted to allow for intermediate cooldown. Momentum scatter requires a sound collision analysis for conceivable trajectory modifications.
We present a technique for correcting image artifacts caused by refractive index distributions in Scanning Laser Optical Tomography (SLOT) and Optical Projection Tomography (OPT). Projection images can be distorted due to the presence of a refractive index distribution around the sample. We consider the special case of a refractive index distribution given by a capillary around a sample. The particular application we are interested in is in vitro imaging of cell spheroids in a glass capillary. Numerical simulations and experimental results are used to illustrate the connection between the Radon transform and the refracted projection. Thereupon we will describe a technique that transforms refracted projections to parallel ray Radon projections and thus allows artifact free reconstruction within the sample volume.
Imaging of biological samples necessitates high requirements on multi modal 3D imaging techniques. Lately, the
range of application fields has extended from transparent biological samples up to biological compartments on
intransparent objects. We introduce SLOT as an innovative and highly efficient tool for multi modal visualization by
intrinsic and extrinsic contrast mechanisms in biological model organisms with sizes up to several millimeters. One
aim is the exploration of SLOTs capability to image organs of biological model organisms. Therefore, intrinsic
contrast mechanisms were addressed regarding their ability for visualizing and quantitating structural details within
the murine lung. Additionally we present SLOT as a valuable tool for the in vitro structural and volumetric large
scale investigation of biofilm formation on implants with sizes up to several millimeters.
New optical techniques have the potential to fill the gap between radiological and microscopic approaches to assess the lung's internal structure. Since its quantitative assessment requires unbiased sampling and measurement principles, imaging of the whole lung with sufficient resolution for visualizing details is important. To address this request, we applied scanning laser optical tomography (SLOT) for the three dimensional imaging of mouse lung ex vivo. SLOT is a highly efficient flourescence and transmission microscopy technique allowing for 3D imaging of specimen of sizes up to several millimeters. Previously fixed lung lobes and whole lungs were optically cleared and subsequently imaged with SLOT while making use of intrinsic contrast mechanisms like absorption and autofluorescence. Imaging of airways, blood vessels and parenchyma is demonstrated. Volumetric SLOT datasets of the lung's internal structure can be analyzed in any preferred planar orientation. Moreover, the sample preparation preserves microscopic structure of the lung and allows for subsequent correlative histologic studies. In summary, SLOT is a useful technique to visualize and survey the internal structure of mouse lung at different scales and with various contrast mechanisms. Potential applications of SLOT in lung research are e.g. quantitative phenotype analysis of mouse models of human lung disease in combination with stereological methods.
In ophthalmology, femtosecond laser transections (photodisruption) in the vicinity of the retina need to be
performed with minimized threshold energy to not harm peripheral retinal tissue. However, the aberrations
of the anterior eye elements cause a distortion of the wavefront and therefore a raised threshold energy when
focussing into the posterior segment. We present an optical system that allows for correcting aberrations in eyes
using adaptive optics consisting of a deformable mirror and a Hartmann-Shack-Sensor with a novel light source.
If combined with femtosecond laser pulses this system offers the possibility for minimally invasive laser surgery
in the posterior eye segment.
Cross-linking of stromal collagen with Riboflavin and UVA radiation is an alternative treatment of keratoconus. After
the cross-linking a wound healing process starts with the regeneration of the abraded epithelial layer and the stromal
keratocyte-network. To clarify possible side effects by visualization we established an imaging platform for the
multimodal three-dimensional imaging of the cornea and looked for differences between normal and cross-linked rabbit
corneae. The microscopy system utilizes femtosecond laser light for two photon excitation of autofluorescent metabolic
compounds, second harmonic imaging in forward and backward direction for the study of stromal collagen-I structure
and confocal detection of the backscattered femtosecond laser light for cell detection. Preliminary results show
signatures of treatment 5 weeks after the intervention in all imaging modalities.
Light microscopy is one of the major tools in modern biology. The steady development of new microscopic
techniques leads to an correspondent improvement of biological methods. To expand the catalog of biological
experiments, we investigate the possibilities of optical projection tomography (OPT). This technique is based on
the already established X-Ray computed tomography. In contrast to most other three-dimensional microscopy
techniques it is able to create three dimensional data sets of the specimens natural absorption, staining and
fluorescence. Unfortunately, these advantages are opposed by a low resolution, reconstruction artifacts, and a
relatively big loss of fluorescence light. We reduced the disadvantage in resolution by applying physical filters in
the Fourier plane of the image path, which is not possible in X-Ray imaging yet.
Lately, several groups successfully used ultrashort laser pulses to selectively permeabilize the membrane of living cells
to achieve transport of foreign molecules, like DNA, into the cells. For this, the high field intensities of tightly focused
laser pulses are used to induce multiphoton absorption and the creation of a small scale optical breakdown at the
membrane of the target cell. Afterwards, DNA or other foreign molecules are able to diffuse into the cell and achieve,
for example, transfection of living cells. However, the cell throughput of this method is low, as, due to tight focusing.
We present a technique to achieve fs-laser transfection in living cells at higher throughput by implementing optical traps
into microfluidic chips. For this, a trapping laser beam, is coupled into a microscope setup and combined with a Ti:Sa fslaser
beam to achieve simultaneous trapping and optical perforation.
To be able to understand and improve various optical systems including fs-laser lightsources, we developed a
numerical simulation based on the coherent transfer function (CTF). Our work created a simulation tool, which
is able to simulate all three dimensions and time while accounting for coherent light, short pulses, aberrations,
chirp, pulse delay, numerical aperture, the intensity distribution and the polarization of the incident light. We
explain the theoretical approach and aspects necessary for the simulations. Then we show the capabilities of our
tool in simulation aberrations, 4Pi point spread functions, two objective fs-pulse interaction and multi objective
confocal fluorescence microscopy.
Keywords: numerical, femtosecond, focus, coherent transfer function (CTF), optical transfer function (OTF),
fourier optics, aberration, polarization
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