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Introduction to fiber lasers in scientific research
Fiber lasers have been implemented into a range of applications, including atomic physics, atom cooling, plasma acceleration, etc. Fiber laser systems have taken an active part in the development of these technologies and provided modern ultra-precise devices. This article will discuss several scientific spheres where fiber lasers have found their applications.
Fiber laser systems’ requirements
Research and scientific fields need properly designed and specialized equipment. Fiber lasers have to comply with specific requirements due to the environments, considering the fact that laboratory conditions can differ from real ones. However, scientists are always calculating situations close to reality, taking into account maximum permissible errors or tolerances.
Key qualities of fiber lasers
Laser modules have all qualities that are necessary for laser applications, whether for industry or for laboratory. For example, operation stability and remote control provide high performance rates for specialists. Moreover, fiber laser systems are easy to use in achieving scientific purposes compared to other devices.
Fiber lasers in atom cooling process
Fundamental physics has gained many opportunities due to the ability to cool atoms to ultra-cold temperatures.
Cooling of molecular gases
Cooling molecular gases with fiber lasers is a challenging process that is difficult to perform because of the complexity of molecular structures. The latest developed technologies for molecule cooling have made it possible to improve their precise control, resulting in better interaction processes.
Thus, fiber laser systems have a great impact on this field of research. The understanding of molecular interaction has allowed specialists to put chemical reactions under control. Moreover, it has influenced the advancement of quantum materials.
Ultrafast fiber lasers for nonlinear optics
Ultrafast fiber lasers are used as part of multiphoton devices in a number of fields, including multiphoton microscopy, dual-comb spectroscopy, etc.
Applications in multiphoton microscopy
A multiphoton microscope is a device that uses the principle of nonlinear optics to create contrast in a sample. The multiphoton technique applies nonlinear optics for imaging and creating 3D images. Due to these processes, specialists have achieved better 3D imaging.
Along with scientific research activities, this technology is especially beneficial in medicine, where it helps in the diagnosis of diseases and identification of material properties. Thus, it is applied for identifying various types of cancer, for example, esophageal and pancreatic cancers.
Fiber laser systems for plasma physics
The majority of studies related to atomic physics are based on the interaction of two components: atoms and light. Fiber lasers have become a common instrument in experiments of atomic physics. All questions connected to nuclear fusion processes, such as nuclear reactions that occur in plasma and the development of laser ion sources, have received great interest due to the potential of this technology.
Plasma accelerators and monitoring
In plasma physics, fiber lasers are applied as parts of plasma accelerators. A plasma accelerator is a sophisticated device that applies electric fields developed in plasma waves excited by intense fiber laser pulses. Such accelerators have proved to be extremely space-saving sources of energetic particles and radiation.
Plasma qualities depend on a number of parameters involved in its creation. Laser module characteristics, irradiation conditions, and target parameters determine the processes occurring in generated plasmas. It is also important to monitor the plasma condition constantly due to its short life. Specialized detectors provide full details of plasma characteristics, including density, temperature, etc.
Fiber lasers have greatly contributed to plasma accelerator production. They have found implementations in high energy physics, biological and medical sciences, etc. And there is still space for further research and innovations.
In recent years, fiber lasers have proved to be an essential part of scientific fields, including the above-mentioned applications. The evolving role of science in many spheres demonstrates the growing interest in scientific research activities of fiber laser systems.