We study the temporal and spatial dynamics of the large amplitude and frequency modulation that can be induced in an intense, few cycle laser pulse as it propagates through a rapidly ionizing gas. Our calculations include both single atom and macroscopic interactions between the non-linear medium and the laser field. We analyze the harmonic generation by such pulses and show that it is spatiall...

We demonstrate microfluidic laser intra-cavity absorption spectroscopy with mid-infrared lambda approximately 9mum quantum cascade lasers. A deepetched narrow ridge waveguide laser is placed in a microfluidic chamber. The evanescent tails of the laser mode penetrate into a liquid on both sides of the ridge. The absorption lines of the liquid modify the laser waveguide loss, resulting in signifi...

We studied proton beam production from a laser ion source using hydrogen rich target materials. In general, gas based species are not suitable for laser ion sources since formation of a dense laser target is difficult. In order to achieve reliable operation, we tested hydride targets using a sub nanosecond Q-switched Nd-YAG laser, which may help suppress target material consumption. We detected...

Experimental investigations on an e-beam sustained near infrared Ar :Xe laser have been carried out to determine the intrinsic efficiency at optimized conditions. A parametric study at different sustainer currents reveals a maximum output energy depending on current density. Up to 8 bar the optimized laser output power per unit volume increases linearly with 1.1 M W / l b a r . Intrinsic effici...

We report on the initial results of experiments being developed on the Falcon laser to simulate radiative astrophysical shocks. Cylindrically diverging blast waves were produced in low-density ( approximately 1018 cm-3), high-Z gas by laser-irradiating Xe gas jets containing atomic clusters. The blast-wave trajectory was measured by Michelson interferometry. The velocity for the blast wave is s...

The radiation produced when a relativistically moving plasma/gas boundary ~i.e., an ionization front! passes between alternatively biased capacitor electrodes is studied. Results of an experiment based on a design which incorporates the capacitor electrodes into an X band waveguide are presented. The waveguided design effectively couples nearly three orders of magnitude more power into the outp...

We report the creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate using buffer-gas cooling, the first realization of Bose-Einstein condensation using a broadly general method which relies neither on laser cooling nor unique atom-surface properties. Metastable helium ((4)He*) is buffer-gas cooled, magnetically trapped, and evaporatively cooled to quantum degeneracy. 10(11) atoms are initially trapped, leadin...

A 78-year-old man complained of bilateral visual acuity loss. Optical coherence tomography examination showed bilateral macular schisis with fluid accumulation in the external retinal layers without vitreous traction. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography were normal in both eyes. Both eyes were treated by phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, and vitrectomy without laser...

The effect of ambient gas on the dynamics of the plasma generated by laser ablation of a carbon target using 1.06 mm radiation from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser has been investigated using a spectroscopic technique. The emission characteristics of the carbon plasma produced in argon, helium and air atmospheres are found to depend strongly on the nature and pressure of the surrounding gas. It has b...

Reflection of neutral atoms and molecules by a pulsed standing wave with a duration on the order of nanoseconds is studied. It is shown that, with a suitable choice of the laser parameter values, each period of the standing-wave pattern functions as an independent mirror, thus providing a novel way to manipulate large samples of neutral gas-phase particles even with a single laser pulse. At mod...