Abstract:
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for hermetically sealing a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal for use in a laser system. A mounted NLO crystal, an enclosure base, a lid, and a plurality of window components are moved into an oven. A vacuum bake process is then performed on the mounted NLO crystal, enclosure base, lid, and plurality of window components until a humidity level that is less than a predefined amount is reached. The mounted NLO crystal, enclosure base, lid, and plurality of window components are moved from the oven onto a stage of a glove box that includes a sealing tool. In the glove box, the mounted NLO crystal is hermetically sealed into the enclosure base by sealing the lid and plurality of window components into openings of the enclosure base.
Abstract:
A refillable plasma cell for use in a laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma bulb, the bulb being formed from a glass material substantially transparent to a selected wavelength of radiation, and a gas port assembly, the gas port assembly being operably connected to the bulb and disposed at a first portion of the gas bulb, wherein the bulb is configured to selectively receive a gas from a gas source via the gas port assembly.
Abstract:
An illumination source for igniting and sustaining a plasma in a plasma lamp of a laser-sustained plasma (LSP) broadband source includes one or more ignition lasers configured to ignite the plasma within a gas contained within the plasma lamp. The illumination sources also includes one or more sustaining lasers configured to sustain the plasma. The illumination sources includes a delivery optical fiber one or more optical elements configured to selectively optically couple an output of the one or more ignition lasers and an output of the one or more sustaining lasers to the delivery optical fiber.
Abstract:
A fluid input manifold distributes injected fluid around the body of a bulb to cool the bulb below a threshold. The injected fluid also distributes heat more evenly along the surface of the bulb to reduce thermal stress. The fluid input manifold may comprise one or more airfoils to direct a substantially laminar fluid flow along the surface of the bulb or it may comprise a plurality of fluid injection nozzles oriented to produce a substantially laminar fluid flow. An output portion may be configured to facilitate fluid flow along the surface of the bulb by allowing injected fluid to easily escape after absorbing heat from the bulb or by applying negative pressure to actively draw injected fluid along the surface of the bulb and away.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for hermetically sealing a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal for use in a laser system. A mounted NLO crystal, an enclosure base, a lid, and a plurality of window components are moved into an oven. A vacuum bake process is then performed on the mounted NLO crystal, enclosure base, lid, and plurality of window components until a humidity level that is less than a predefined amount is reached. The mounted NLO crystal, enclosure base, lid, and plurality of window components are moved from the oven onto a stage of a glove box that includes a sealing tool. In the glove box, the mounted NLO crystal is hermetically sealed into the enclosure base by sealing the lid and plurality of window components into openings of the enclosure base.
Abstract:
An illumination source for igniting and sustaining a plasma in a plasma lamp of a laser-sustained plasma (LSP) broadband source includes one or more ignition lasers configured to ignite the plasma within a gas contained within the plasma lamp. The illumination sources also include one or more sustaining lasers configured to sustain the plasma. The illumination sources include a delivery optical fiber, one or more optical elements configured to selectively optically couple an output of the one or more ignition lasers, and an output of the one or more sustaining lasers to the delivery optical fiber.
Abstract:
A plasma cell for use in a laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma bulb configured to contain a gas suitable for generating a plasma. The plasma bulb is transparent to light from a pump laser, wherein the plasma bulb is transparent to at least a portion of a collectable spectral region of illumination emitted by the plasma. The plasma bulb of the plasma cell is configured to filter short wavelength radiation, such as VUV radiation, emitted by the plasma sustained within the bulb in order to keep the short wavelength radiation from impinging on the interior surface of the bulb.
Abstract:
A fluid input manifold distributes injected fluid around the body of a bulb to cool the bulb below a threshold. The injected fluid also distributes heat more evenly along the surface of the bulb to reduce thermal stress. The fluid input manifold may comprise one or more airfoils to direct a substantially laminar fluid flow along the surface of the bulb or it may comprise a plurality of fluid injection nozzles oriented to produce a substantially laminar fluid flow. An output portion may be configured to facilitate fluid flow along the surface of the bulb by allowing injected fluid to easily escape after absorbing heat from the bulb or by applying negative pressure to actively draw injected fluid along the surface of the bulb and away.
Abstract:
A plasma cell for use in a laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma bulb configured to contain a gas suitable for generating a plasma. The plasma bulb is transparent to light from a pump laser, wherein the plasma bulb is transparent to at least a portion of a collectable spectral region of illumination emitted by the plasma. The plasma bulb of the plasma cell is configured to filter short wavelength radiation, such as VUV radiation, emitted by the plasma sustained within the bulb in order to keep the short wavelength radiation from impinging on the interior surface of the bulb.
Abstract:
A plasma cell for use in a laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma bulb configured to contain a gas suitable for generating a plasma, the plasma bulb being transparent to light from a pump laser, wherein the plasma bulb is transparent to at least a portion of a collectable spectral region of illumination emitted by the plasma. The plasma bulb of the plasma cell is configured to filter short wavelength radiation, such as VUV radiation, emitted by the plasma sustained within the bulb in order to keep the short wavelength radiation from impinging on the interior surface of the bulb.