Improved hollow-core photonic crystal fiber design for delivery of nanosecond pulses in laser micromachining applications

Appl Opt. 2005 Jul 20;44(21):4582-8. doi: 10.1364/ao.44.004582.

Abstract

We report the delivery of high-energy nanosecond pulses (approximately 65 ns pulse width) from a high-repetition-rate (up to 100 kHz) Q-switched Nd:YAG laser through the fundamental mode of a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) at 1064 nm. The guided mode in the HC-PCF has a low overlap with the glass, allowing delivery of pulses with energies above those attainable with other fibers. Energies greater than 0.5 mJ were delivered in a single spatial mode through the hollow-core fiber, providing the pulse energy and high beam quality required for micromachining of metals. Practical micromachining of a metal sheet by fiber delivery has been demonstrated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • Energy Transfer
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Fiber Optic Technology / instrumentation*
  • Lasers*
  • Manufactured Materials*
  • Metallurgy / methods*
  • Miniaturization / instrumentation
  • Miniaturization / methods
  • Photons