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Vladimir Chvykov
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Chvykov, V. High-Power Lasers. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/56810 (accessed on 01 September 2024).
Chvykov V. High-Power Lasers. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/56810. Accessed September 01, 2024.
Chvykov, Vladimir. "High-Power Lasers" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/56810 (accessed September 01, 2024).
Chvykov, V. (2024, August 09). High-Power Lasers. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/56810
Chvykov, Vladimir. "High-Power Lasers." Encyclopedia. Web. 09 August, 2024.
Peer Reviewed
High-Power Lasers
This is a peer-reviewed entry published in Encyclopedia Journal, full entry can be found at 10.3390/encyclopedia4030080

High-power lasers play an important role in modern science, industry, and medicine. A significant milestone was reached on 5 December 2022, when Inertial Confinement Nuclear Fusion (ICF) achieved scientific breakeven, releasing more energy than the input laser energy. Additionally, Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL) has enabled the development of microchips with 3 nm process nodes, marking a leap in semiconductor technology. These examples, together with the recent achievement of 10 PW (1015 W) laser output, herald remarkable advancements in technology and science. Laser systems are broadly classified based on their operating regimes into two main categories: Continuous Wave (CW) operation, where the laser is continuously pumped and emits a steady beam of light, and the pulsed regime, in which the laser produces single or multiple pulses at various repetition rates. This review will primarily focus on pulsed laser systems, exploring their various types and recent technological advancements.

lasers high-power lasers high-peak power lasers ultra-fast lasers
It is hard to overstate the crucial role that lasers play in modern life. From welding, cutting, and drilling in subtractive manufacturing [1] to 3D printing in additive manufacturing [2], particularly in metal processing, lasers are indispensable. In addition, they accelerate charged particles to high energy [3], produce hard radiation [4] crucial for various scientific and medical applications, and have recently demonstrated breakthroughs such as achieving breakeven in Confinement Nuclear Fusion [5] and enabling Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography [6]. These are just a few examples showcasing the immense capabilities of high-power lasers.
Laser systems are broadly classified based on their operating regimes into two main categories: Continuous Wave (CW) operation, where the laser is continuously pumped and emits a steady beam of light, and the pulsed regime, in which the laser produces single or multiple pulses at various repetition rates.
In the CW regime, high-power fiber lasers are created from active optical fibers pumped by semiconductor laser diodes, a merger between two of the most innovative and advanced laser technologies. They can reach a remarkable output power of up to 100 s kW [7], feature a wide range of operating wavelengths, and record wall-plug efficiency of up to 50% [8]. Multi-kW carbon oxide (CO2) gas lasers represent another example of greater reliability and higher output consistency, which allowed them to become widespread in industry and medicine [9].
Nevertheless, this paper will primarily focus on ultra-high-power pulsed laser systems, exploring their various types and recent technological advancements. High-power laser systems possess the ability to concentrate energy into extremely small space–time volumes. The output pulse power of the laser beam that recently reached 10 petawatts (1015 Watt-PW) was focused on a spot of a few microns, which allowed it to achieve one of the highest intensity approaches to 1024 watts per square centimeter (W/cm2) in the observable universe [10]. With a duration of approximately 20 femtoseconds (10−15 s-fs), this pulse occupies a mere ~7 μm of space during its propagation. Such a short pulse duration enables the attainment of tremendous power and intensity with a modest energy input ranging from 300 to 500 Joules. To put this into perspective, consider that the total power output of all of the world’s power plants is around 2 terawatts (1012 watts-TW), while the sunlight reaching the Earth amounts to approximately 90 PW. Achieving an intensity of 1024 W/cm2 is feasible by concentrating this power into a spot with a diameter of just 30 μm.
The light produced by cutting-edge technologies boasts remarkable specifications, revolutionizing various fields of science and industry. Take, for instance, the Extreme Light Infrastructure for Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) 20 PW laser, crafted from sapphire crystals doped with titanium ions (Ti:Sa). This system generates 600 J of output energy with a pulse duration of 30 fs across two converging channels [10]. In a different league, the NIF Nd: Glass laser system, pivotal in achieving thermonuclear fusion breakeven, wields a staggering 4 MJ of energy at a wavelength of 1.053 μm, converted in 1.8 MJ of third harmonic at 0.35 μm through 192 channels. Its pulse duration spans a nanosecond, with an output power of 0.5 PW [11]. Furthermore, ASML employs a 1 MW CO2 gas laser within their Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography system, revolutionizing microchip production [12] and showcasing just a glimpse of the transformative capabilities of these cutting-edge light sources.
Figure 1 demonstrates the chart of the historical development of laser systems with high pulse power (intensity). Since Richard Maiman’s groundbreaking invention of the laser in 1960 [13], the power of laser technology has undergone rapid growth, fueled primarily by the discovery of two pivotal operational regimes: Q-Switching and Mode Locking (a detailed explanation is provided below) [14][15].
Figure 1. Historical development of pulsed high-power laser systems. Modified with permission from [16].
These breakthroughs, illustrated on the accompanying chart, marked a turning point in laser development. By implementing these regimes in laser oscillators, scientists and engineers achieved a remarkable feat: the gradual reduction of pulse durations from microseconds to nanoseconds, and later, to femtoseconds, all without significant energy loss. The peak power is determined by dividing the energy by the pulse duration, thus there are two primary pathways to increase peak power. The first is extensive, involving increasing the energy output of the laser by developing a Master Oscillator + Power Amplifiers (MOPA) scheme. The second is intensive, focusing on reducing the pulse duration. Intensive improvements, such as pulse duration reduction, are often favored due to their cost-effectiveness. By enhancing the efficiency and precision of laser systems, researchers can achieve higher peak powers without significantly increasing energy consumption or production costs. This approach underscores the importance of refining pulse duration technologies, which not only boost parameters but also promote accessibility in laser applications across various new fields.
Following the period of gradual intensity growth post-1970, a significant technological breakthrough emerged in 1985: Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) [17][18]. This innovation provided a substantial boost to laser capabilities, propelling the power growth trajectory forward, a trend that continues to evolve to this day and beyond. The development of Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) involved the collective efforts of numerous scientists over the years. While it is true that two individuals, namely Jerard Mourou and Dona Strickland, were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2018 for their contributions to CPA, it is essential to recognize the collaborative nature of scientific progress. Countless researchers worldwide have dedicated their knowledge, expertise, and resources to advancing CPA technology, each playing a vital role in its development and refinement. In this paper, we will delve into a comprehensive explanation of the aforementioned technologies, elucidating their principles, applications, and contributions to the evolution of laser science and industry.

References

  1. Naresh; Khatak, P. Laser cutting technique: A literature review. Mater. Today Proc. 2021, 56, 2484–2489.
  2. Dezaki, M.L.; Serjouei, A.; Zolfagharian, A.; Fotouhi, M.; Moradi, M.; Ariffin, M.K.; Bodaghi, M. A review on additive/subtractive hybrid manufacturing of directed energy deposition (DED) process. Adv. Powder Mater. 2022, 1, 100054.
  3. Tajima, T.; Yan, X.Q.; Ebisuzaki, T. Wakefield acceleration. Rev. Mod. Plasma Phys. 2020, 4, 7.
  4. Rockwood, A.; Wang, Y.; Wang, S.; Berrill, M.; Shlyaptsev, V.N.; Rocca, J.J. Compact gain-saturated X-ray lasers down to 6.85 nm and amplification down to 5.85 nm. Optica 2018, 5, 257–262.
  5. Wurzel, S.E.; Hsu, S.C. Progress toward fusion energy breakeven and gain as measured against the Lawson criterion. Phys. Plasmas 2022, 29, 062103.
  6. Fu, N.; Liu, Y.; Ma, X.; Chen, Z. EUV Lithography: State-of-the-Art Review. J. Microelectron. Manuf. 2019, 2, 19020202.
  7. Sun, J.; Liu, L.; Han, L.; Zhu, Q.; Shen, X.; Yang, K. 100 kW ultra high power fiber laser. Opt. Contin. 2022, 1, 1932–1938.
  8. Zhao, S.; Qi, A.; Wang, M.; Qu, H.; Lin, Y.; Dong, F.; Zheng, W. High-power high-brightness 980 nm lasers with >50% wall-plug efficiency based on asymmetric super large optical cavity. Opt. Express 2018, 26, 3518.
  9. Zhang, Y.; Killeen, T. Gas Lasers: CO2 lasers—Progressing from a varied past to an application-specific future. Laser Focus World 2016, 4, 3.
  10. Radier, C.; Chalus, O.; Charbonneau, M.; Thambirajah, S.; Deschamps, G.; David, S.; Barbe, J.; Etter, E.; Matras, G.; Ricaud, S.; et al. 10 PW peak power femtosecond laser pulses at ELI-NP. High Power Laser Sci. Eng. 2022, 10, e21.
  11. Crane, J.; Martinez, M.; Moran, B.; Laumann, C.; Davin, J.; Rothenberg, J.; Beach, R.; Gollock, B.; Jones, R.; Wing, R.; et al. High-gain, Nd-doped-glass preamplifier for the National Ignition Facility (NIP) laser system. In Proceedings of the Conference Proceedings LEOS’96 9th Annual Meeting IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, Boston, MA, USA, 18–21 November 1996.
  12. Thoss, A. EUV lithography revisited. Laser Focus World 2019, 8, 29.
  13. Wolverton, M. A Solution for Almost Everything, 50 Years of the Laser. Invent. Technol. 2010, 25, 2.
  14. McClung, F.J.; Hellwarth, R.W. Giant Optical Pulsations from Ruby. J. Appl. Phys. 1962, 33, 828–829.
  15. Lamb, W.E., Jr. Theory of an optical laser. Phys. Rev. 1964, 134, 1429.
  16. Exploring Fundamental Physics at the Highest-Intensity-Laser Frontier (spie.org). Available online: https://spie.org/news/4221-exploring-fundamental-physics-at-the-highest-intensity-laser-frontier (accessed on 1 February 2024).
  17. Damm, T.; Kaschke, M.; Noack, F.; Wilhelmi, B. Compression of picosecond pulses from a solid-state laser using self-phase modulation in graded-index fibers. Opt. Lett. 1985, 10, 176–178.
  18. Strickland, D.; Mourou, G. Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses. Opt. Commun. 1985, 56, 219–221.
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Subjects: Optics
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Vladimir Chvykov
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Online Date: 09 Aug 2024
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