The paper aims to compare the results obtained with the same laser source with a large beam and with small beams. These latest were shaped from phase objects implemented to obtain several small beams from a single larger beam. The consistency of the results from both sets of measurements is shown. It validates the assumptions made and the specific mathematical treatments implemented to establish the link between the two approaches. It also validates and strengthens the approach developed from the rasterscan procedure used to measure damage densities from the scanning with beams of small dimensions. This shows that small beam tests are reasonably representative of tests carried out with large beams.
Specification of visual defects (scratch and digs) on optics used in high-power laser facilities has always been a headache. Indeed, the wave degradation and the ensuing laser performances losses with regard to focal spot or downstream laser induced damage seem hard to predict. Indeed, one often has only partial information on each of the (often numerous) defects whereas the light behavior downstream strongly depends on the defect nature and morphology. So, determining general rules seem to be an impossible task. Borderline cases are then generally processed through timeconsuming optical profilometer measurements that are used in complex numerical laser propagation. We show in this paper that a simple analytic model can predict light intensification (responsible for some fratricide laser damage) with a high reliability. Defects are modeled by concentric quasi-circular rings of different radii, transmissions and phase shifts. The accuracy of these predictions will depend on the degree of knowledge of the model parameters set. In any case, upper bounds of intensifications can be provided as well as safe areas where intensification has decreased enough. These results allowed to specify defects dimensions and nature. We show good agreement between observed diffraction patterns downstream of real defects and model predictions, in terms of “hot spots” generation.
KEYWORDS: Geometrical optics, Diffraction, Visualization, Phase measurement, High power lasers, Near field optics, Optical testing, Carbon dioxide lasers, Laser ablation
The Laser MégaJoule (LMJ) is a French high power laser that requires thousands of large optical components. For all
those optics, scratches, digs and other defects are severely specified. Indeed, diffraction of the laser beam by such
defects can lead to dangerous “hot spots” on downstream optics. With the help of a near-field measurement setup, we
make quantitative comparison between simulated and measured near-fields of reference objects (such as circular phase
steps). This leads to a better understanding which parameters impact the diffracted field. In this paper, we proposed to
study two types of reference objects: phase disks and phase rings. We actually made these objects by CO2 laser ablation.
The experimental setup to observe the diffracted intensity by these objects will be described and calibrated. Comparisons
between simulations and measurements of the light propagation through these objects show that we are able to predict
the light behavior based on complete phase measurement of these objects.
In the context of high power laser systems, the laser damage resistance of fused silica surfaces at 351 nm in the nanosecond regime is a major concern. Under successive nanosecond laser irradiations, an initiated damage can grow which can make the component unsuitable. The localized CO2 laser processing has demonstrated its ability to mitigate (stopping) laser damage growth. In order to mitigate large damage sites (millimetric), a method based on fast microablation of silica has been proposed by Bass et al. [Bass et al., Proc. SPIE 7842, 784220 (2010)]. This is accomplished by scanning of the CO2 laser spot with a fast galvanometer beam scanner to form a crater with a typical conical shape. The objective of the present work is to develop a similar fast micro-ablation process for application to the Laser MegaJoule optical components. We present in this paper the developed experimental system and process. We describe also the characterization tools used in this study for shape measurements which are critical for the application. Experimental and numerical studies of the downstream intensifications, resulting of cone formation on the fused silica surface, are presented. The experimental results are compared to numerical simulations for different crater shape in order to find optimal process conditions to minimize the intensifications in the LMJ configuration. We show the laser damage test experimental conditions and procedures to evaluate the laser damage resistance of the mitigated sites and discuss the efficiency of the process for our application.
We report on the development of a mitigation process to prevent the growth of UV nanosecond laser-initiated damage sites under successive irradiations of fused silica components. The developed process is based on fast microablation of silica as it has been proposed by Bass et al. [Bass et al., Proc. SPIE 7842, 784220 (2010)]. This is accomplished by the displacement of the CO2 laser spot with a fast galvanometer beam scanner to form a crater with a typical conical shape to mitigate large (millimetric) and deep (few hundred microns) damage sites. We present the developed experimental system and process for this application. Particularly, we detail and evaluate a method based on quantitative phase imaging to obtain fast and accurate three-dimensional topographies of the craters. The morphologies obtained through different processes are then studied. Mitigation of submillimetric nanosecond damage sites is demonstrated through different examples. Experimental and numerical studies of the downstream intensifications, resulting in cone formation on the surface, are presented to evaluate and minimize the downstream intensifications. Eventually, the laser damage test resistance of the mitigated sites is evaluated at 355, 2.5 ns, and we discuss on the efficiency of the process for our application.
The Laser MégaJoule (LMJ) is a French high power laser project that requires thousands of large optical components. The wavefront performances of all those optics are critical to achieve the desired focal spot shape and to limit the hot spots that could damage the components. Fizeau interferometers and interferometric microscopes are the most commonly used tools to cover the whole range of interesting spatial frequencies. Anyway, in some particular cases like diffractive and/or coated and/or aspheric optics, an interferometric set-up becomes very expensive with the need to build a costly reference component or a specific to-the-wavelength designed interferometer. Despite the increasing spatial resolution of Fizeau interferometers, it may even not be enough, if you are trying to access the highest spatial frequencies of a transmitted wavefront for instance. The method we developed is based upon laser beam diffraction intermediate field measurements and their interpretation with a Fourier analysis and the Talbot effect theory. We demonstrated in previous papers that it is a credible alternative to classical methods. In this paper we go further by analyzing main error sources and discussing main practical difficulties.
The French Laser MégaJoule (LMJ) is a high power laser project, dedicated to fusion and plasma experiments. It will
include 176 square beams involving thousands of large optical components. The wavefront performances of all those
optics are critical to achieve the desired focal spot shape and limit the hot spots that could damage the components. The
CEA has developed experimental methods to qualify precisely the quality of the large optical components manufactured
for the project and measure the effect of various defects. For specific components (coated or parabola mirrors, lenses or
gratings), classical techniques like interferometric setups may fail to measure the wavefront highest spatial frequencies
(> 1 mm-1). In order to improve the measurements, we have proposed characterization methods based upon a laser beam
diffraction interpretation. They present limits and we need to improve the wavefront measurement for high spatial
frequencies (> 1 mm-1). We present in this paper the intermediate field measurement based upon the Talbot effect theory
and the Fourier analysis of acquired intensity images. The technique consists in a double pass setup: a plane wave is
transmitted through the component twice, to simplify the setup and improve the measurement. Then, intensity images are
acquired at different distances with a CCD camera and lead to the wavefront power spectral density. We describe the
experimental setup to measure the wavefront of large specific components. We show experimental results. Finally, we
discuss about the advantages and the limits of such a method, and we compare it with our previous measurement
methods.
The French Laser MégaJoule (LMJ) will include 176 square beams involving hundreds of large optical components. Wavefront performances of all these components are critical to achieve the desired focal spot shape and to limit hot spots that could damage the components. These specifications are usually checked with interferometric setups. This can be uneasy to achieve for specific components such as multi-dielectric mirrors or gratings because one has to use the exact nominal configuration (wavelength, incidence, geometry of the incident beam) to perform the measurement. For the smallest spatial periods, classical techniques like interferometric microscopes fail to measure the wavefront and propose a "surface" measurement that can lead to misinterpretations. We present in this paper measurement methods based on a laser beam diffraction interpretation that can efficiently replace the usual techniques. The first technique consists in measuring intensity level of the dim scattered "corona" around the focal spot. The second one is based upon image processing of near-field acquisitions by the means of Fourier analysis and the Talbot effect theory. Those techniques do not lead to a phase map as classical techniques do but they give access to the Power Spectral Density of wavefront defects over a large spatial frequency bandwidth. For many applications, this is enough information to estimate the component performance. We present results obtained by this way on LMJ components and a comparison with Fizeau interferometer measurement.
The Laser Mégajoule (LMJ) facility has about 40 large optics per beam. For 22 bundles with 8 beams per bundle, it will contain about 7.000 optical components. First experiments are scheduled at the end of 2014. LMJ components are now being delivered. Therefore, a set of acceptance criteria is needed when the optical components are exceeding the specifications. This set of rules is critical even for a small non-conformance ratio. This paper emphasizes the methodology applied to check or re-evaluate the wavefront requirements of LMJ large optics. First we remind how LMJ large component optical specifications are expressed and we describe their corresponding impacts on the laser chain. Depending on the location of the component in the laser chain, we explain the criteria on the laser performance considered in our impact analyses. Then, we give a review of the studied propagation issues. The performance analyses are mainly based on numerical simulations with Miró propagation simulation software. Analytical representations for the wavefront allow to study the propagation downstream local surface or bulk defects and also the propagation of a residual periodic aberration along the laser chain. Generation of random phase maps is also used a lot to study the propagation of component wavefront/surface errors, either with uniform distribution and controlled rms value on specific spatial bands, or following a specific wavefront/surface Power Spectral Distribution (PSD).
LMJ and LIL are two French high power lasers dedicated to fusion and plasma experiments. These laser beams involve
hundreds of rather large optical components, the clear aperture of the beams being 400×400 mm2. Among these
components, an adaptative mirror is used to correct wavefront distortions in the amplification section. A simple design
has been chosen with push/pull actuators glued on the backside of a thin glass plate (9 mm). To ensure the bonding
mechanical steadiness, we need enough roughness on this backside. That is why it is ground. We noticed figure
instabilities on several of these ground backside substrates. Those wavefront distortions can be of several hundreds of
nanometers. We designed a specific mount to avoid the possibility of measurement discrepancies due to mechanical
mounting. We noticed then significant evolutions over a time-scale of a few months. The possibility of slow stress
variations in the ground backside has then been considered. It has been known for a long time that a ground surface is in
a compressive state and consequently tends to take a convex shape, this effect being named Twyman effect after its
discoverer. Anyway, as far as we know, there is still doubt on the physical mechanisms involved and no publication has
been made on the fluctuations of this effect. We wish to expose here results that led us to believe that instabilities are
also linked to the external stress which is seen during transport or storage. Finally, we present the experiments we put in
place on samples to improve our knowledge on this phenomenon and to test potential solutions.
LMJ and LIL are two French high power lasers dedicated to fusion and plasma experiments. These laser beams involve
hundreds of large optical components, the clear aperture of the beams being 400×400 mm2. In order to control the
flatness requirements of its optics, the CEA has an 800 mm diameter Fizeau interferometer. Determining if optical
components fulfil the very strict wavefront specifications can be difficult because these specifications can be equivalent
to the defects of the reference flats of the interferometer. That is why we want to calibrate our reference flats in order to
subtract their defects from the performed measurements. This absolute calibration is based on an iterative algorithm
requiring three reference flats. In addition to the three basic combinations of the three flats, this method uses rotations
and translations of one flat with respect to the others. First, we shall present a characterization of this method. The choice
of different parameters, as the operations of translations and rotations required, will be discussed. Moreover,
experimental errors have been introduced in the simulations and their limit values have been studied with regard to the
other parameters. An application of this method on our three reference flats has been implemented over a 600 mm
diameter. An absolute calibration requires a very precise implementation of the measurements and then we will see why
data processing is necessary to reduce the residual shifts in translation but also in rotation and in zoom between the
different measurements. Lastly, first uses of the absolute maps show a factor 5 to 10 improvement on the final accuracy.
LIL and LMJ are two French high power lasers dedicated to fusion and plasma experiments. These laser beams involve
hundreds of rather large optical components, the clear aperture of the beams being 400x400 mm2. Among these
components are multi-dielectric mirrors designed to reflect more than 99% at the wavelength of 1053 nm.
Measuring the phase effects due to slight thickness defects in thin films is a difficult problem when one cannot achieve
the phase measurement at the wavelength for which the mirror is designed. We believe this problem to be general in the
world of thin films. Despite the fact that we have an interferometer that can achieve wavefront measurements at the
correct wavelength, we performed measurements with another standard 633 nm Fizeau interferometer. Indeed, this
second interferometer has a much higher spatial resolution. The effect of the wavelength difference can be strongly
dependent on the layer design; that is why we achieved spectrophotometric measurements in order to have the most
accurate knowledge we could get for the coating parameters. The phase effects for different kinds of defects have been
simulated at both wavelengths and have been compared to experimental results. This study leads to a better understanding
of the limits and the trust we can have in such measurements performed at the "wrong" wavelength.
KEYWORDS: Laser induced damage, Optical components, High power lasers, Fusion energy, Interferometry, Near field optics, Near field, Photodiodes, Image processing, Laser beam propagation
LIL and LMJ are two French high power lasers dedicated to fusion and plasma experiments. Mastering the
characteristics of the focal spots focused on the targets during the experiments is very important. In order to analyze the
focal spots in its high power lasers, the CEA has developed an independent set-up that enables to measure energy spatial
profiles over a 5 decade dynamic range by the means of several acquisitions taken at different power levels. The different
data sets are then stitched to obtain a high dynamic picture of the beam. The experiment can also be used as a photometer
enabling to measure the energy transmitted by an optical component. We used this set-up to study the effect of different
parameters on the energy spatial profile of the focal spots. We have measured the effect of laser damages (on the optical
components of the beam) on the energy scattered around the main focal spot. We also demonstrated that the level of this
scattered power can be calculated from a near-field picture of the beam or even with pictures of the damaged components
taken with an appropriate lighting.
A rasterscan test procedure [L. Lamaignère et al, Rev. Sci. Instrumen. 78, 103105 (2007)] has been
implemented in order to determine low laser damage density of large aperture UV fused silica optics. This
procedure was improved in terms of accuracy and repeatability. Tests have been carried on several facilities
using several pulse durations and spatial distributions. We describe the equipment, test procedure and data
analysis to perform this damage test with small beams (Gaussian beams, about 1mm @ 1/e, and top hat beams).
Then, beam overlap and beam shape are the two key parameters which are taken into account in order to
determine damage density. After data analysis and treatment, a repeatable metrology has been obtained.
Moreover, the consideration of error bars on defects distributions permits to compare data between these
installations. This allows us to reach reproducibility, a necessary condition in order to share results and to make
reliable predictions of laser damage resistance.
A rasterscan test procedure [L. Lamaignère et al, Rev. Sci. Instrumen. 78, 103105 (2007)] has been implemented
in order to determine low laser damage density of large aperture UV fused silica optics. This procedure was improved in
terms of accuracy and repeatability and is now used for the determination of bulk damage density for KDP crystals. The
large area (volume) scanned during tests permits to measure very low damage density. On small samples, small area are
tested using the normalized 1/1 test procedure consisting on the irradiation of few sites at several fluences. The classical
damage probability plot is converted in terms of damage density. The two testing procedures are complementary: the 1/1
mode is practical to test a wide fluence range while the rasterscan mode allows exploring low damage densities with
higher accuracy.
Tests have been carried out on several facilities using several pulse durations and spatial distributions. We
describe the equipment, test procedure and data analysis to perform this damage test with small beams (Gaussian beams,
about 1mm @ 1/e, and top hat beams). Then, beam overlap and beam shape are the two key parameters which are taken
into account in order to determine damage density. After data analysis and treatment, a repeatable metrology has been
obtained. Moreover, the consideration of error bars on defects distributions permits to compare data between these
installations. This allows us to reach reproducibility, a necessary condition in order to share results and to make reliable
predictions of laser damage resistance.
Other tests are realized with larger beams (centimeter sized) and with a single shot. Due to a large beam contrast,
a large fluence range is then covered. Then after data treatment, we find a good correlation between tests realised with
small and large beams. This allows us to make tests with different laser characteristics (spectral modulations, pulse
duration, laser polarisation) and then to study their influences on laser damage.
This paper presents recent studies on the mechanical support system of Laser MegaJoule large dimension optical
components.
The dimensions of these optical components and their orientation resulted in considerable distortions due to gravity. An
original and very simple method based on an isostatic mounting together with industrial springs located on the edges of
the component is presented. Springs are used to compensate for gravity distortion.
This system provides improved support performance at very low cost (for example, PV less than 0.5μm for a 610mm *
430mm * 80mm silicate optic at 45° from the vertical).
The support systems are optimized with IDEAS finite element analysis software and validated with experimental
measurements.
LIL and LMJ are two French high power laser facilities dedicated to laser-plasma interaction experiments. In order to
control the flatness requirements of their optics in a wide spatial periods bandwidth, the CEA has several Fizeau
interferometers of different diameters. We use special phase objects to qualify their spatial resolutions. A few papers
already dealt with the determination of a Fizeau interferometer transfer function. This was achieved by using either a
phase step object or a "virtual" sinusoidal phase object (made of the superposition of two wavefronts with different
amplitudes and a small tilt). For practical reasons, we chose to use true sinusoidal phase objects to qualify our
instruments. Sinusoidal profiles were then eroded in silica plates. Three different periods are available: 10 mm, 2.5 mm
and 1 mm, with two different amplitudes for each period. These phase plates are used to qualify the interferometers
performance in terms of spatial resolution in the different configurations (wide or narrow field of view, reflection or
transmission) used for LIL/LMJ optics inspection. A comparison to the transfer functions obtained using steps of
different widths is also proposed. An experimental verification of the Talbot effect is achieved with the 1-mm plate to
investigate propagation effects, as well as contribution of the depth of field.
LIL and LMJ are two french high power laser facilities dedicated to laser-plasma interaction experiments. In order to
control the flatness requirements of their optics, the CEA has an 800 mm diameter Fizeau interferometer. We decided to
qualify our cavity flats with absolute calibrations. To achieve three-flat methods, a third 600 mm diameter silica
transmission flat with a custom design mount that enables an easy rotation around the optical axis with low distortion of
the flat is being fabricated. Over the past two decades, many papers have been published explaining how the traditional
three-flat method can be improved to obtain two-dimensional data of a reference flat with various precisions. After a
quick overview of these different methods (mostly using translations and rotations of at least one of the flats), we shall
present several two-flat methods to get absolute flatness measurements over a wide spatial period bandwidth that we will
use during the fabrication of our flat. For low frequencies, translations of the flat provide absolute slopes that are then
integrated. For high frequencies, averaging of a few measurements taken with specific positions of the flat under test
enables to separate the contributions of the reference and the test optics. Simulation results show the efficiency of the flat
reconstruction and put forward the loss of information due to the method.
LIL and LMJ are two French high power lasers dedicated to fusion and plasma experiments. One of the main issues of these lasers is the beam amplification that is achieved by large glass slabs (Nd doped phosphate glass). We have determined several fundamental parameters of this laser glass. In order to avoid non-linear effects during beam propagation, the spectrum of the pulse is broadened. When the spectrum is not amplified symmetrically, temporal modulation appears in the pulse. As we need to accurately center the wavelength of the laser pulse in the amplifier material gain curve, we have achieved precise measurements of its fluorescence spectrum. To predict the behaviour of the laser glass for short pulses, we have determined the sublevels structure of the laser transitions. We have also made a Judd-Offelt analysis to calculate the emission cross-section of Nd3+ in this glass. Finally, we have developed an experimental setup to measure the fluorescence decay which is related to glass manufacturing. We obtained an accuracy close to 1 μs (for the fluorescence lifetime at 1/e).
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