Exploring Super-Efficient Energy Coupling Mechanisms for Materials Processing and Manufacturing

摘要最近，激光已经被证明在精密材料加工和制造方面比传统技术有了实质性的改进，因为激光提供了干净的光洁度、高重复性、快速设置和最小的横向损伤。然而，激光加工制造存在着效率低的显著缺点。对于激光材料加工，首先也是最重要的一步是将激光能量耦合到目标材料中。能量耦合效率取决于激光器和材料的特性。在这一提议中，我们表明，当材料中的电子被激发到非平衡分布时，在一定的实验条件下，材料的输运性质可能会被改变。这将有可能提高激光材料加工的能量耦合效率。实验研究计划利用超快飞秒激光技术来探索这些输运性质的变化。本研究旨在从根本上提高激光能量吸收效率。参与该项目的学生将在涵盖光学和材料科学的广泛研究领域接受培训。这项研究是由化学和运输系统分部的热传输和热处理项目支持的。

AbstractRecently, lasers have been show to offer substantial improvements over conventional techniques for precision material processing and manufacturing because lasers provide clean finish, high repeatability, fast setup, and minimal lateral damage. However, laser processing and manufacturing have a significant disadvantage of low efficiency. For laser material processing, the first and foremost step is to couple laser energy into the target materials. The energy coupling efficiency depends on the properties of both the lasers and materials. In this proposal, we show that material transport properties may be modified under certain experimental conditions when electrons in the materials are excited to a nonequilibrium distribution. This will potentially enhance the energy coupling efficiency for laser material processing. Experimental studies are planned to explore these transport property changes using ultrafast femtosecond laser techniques. This study aims at improving the efficiency of laser energy absorption from a fundamental approach. Students involved in this project will be trained in a broad research area covering both optical and material sciences. This research is being supported by the Thermal Transport and Thermal Processing Program of the Division of Chemical and Transport Systems.