Femtosecond time-resolved phase-change microscopy and ablation threshold calculations to understand ultrafast laser ablation

El trabajo recoge experimentos realizados en una configuración sonda-prueba haciendo uso de un láser de femtosegundos, con el objetivo de comprender los fenómenos de ablación de materiales sólidos ras irradiación con láseres de pulso ultracorto.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Time-resolved laser-induced phase change microscopy: understanding laser-matter effects at the femtosecond scale

LA comunicación describe el desarrollo instrumental y las aplicaciones con un microscopio de cambio de fase con resolución de femtosegundos que se ha puesto a punto en el LAboratorio LAser de la UMAUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Temporal and energetic scale of solid matter interaction phenomena occurring during femtosecond ablation of solids

Ablation using femtosecond lasers exhibits significant differences with that at the nanosecond timescale, where the concurrence of photochemical and photothermal processes taking place during the photon absorption govern the process. In the ultrashort regime, the several phenomena involved in the laser-matter interaction are markedly different. Thus, a prior comprehension of the processes is required in order to extend the range of current applications and improve the analytical results. Our current studies are facing fundamental and applied studies with the aim of better understanding laser-matter interaction processes in condensed phase using femtosecond lasers. To achieve this goal, we have designed experimental strategies expecting to improve the knowledge of the timescale and onset generation of chemical species and surface alterations during femtosecond ablation of solids. Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy, time-of-flight mass spectrometry and time-resolved phase-change microscopy are currently implemented. The combined use of the cited techniques is allowing the experimental determination of the energy threshold, temporal regime and macroscopic effects occurring in a variety of materials as a consequence of the interaction with an ultra-short laser pulse. The core of the experiment is a 80 Mhz, 100 nJ, 400 fs Ti-Saphire oscillator that is additionally subjected to chirped pulse amplification to produce an output of 3,5 mJ at 35 fs and a maximum repletion rate of 1 KHz. Different wavelengths (800, 400 and 266 nm) are achievable. An intensified CCD and a dual-state reflectron equipped with a cassegrain reflective optics are used for the analysis of the photons and ion generated after laser irradiation. Additionally, a pump-probe microscope with a temporal resolution better than 500 fs has been designed to allow time-resolved studies of phase-change in the ablated samples.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Differential laser-matter interaction in the ablation of solid samples with laser pulses in the interval between 35 fs – 4 ps.

Our communication is focused on the influence of the pulse width in the laser-matter interaction during laser ablation of solid materials. The experiments were performed with an 80 MHz, 100 nJ, 400 fs Ti-Saphire oscillator, amplified to produce an output of 3,5 mJ at 35 fs and a maximum repletion rate of 1 KHz. Modifications in the stretcher-compressor have allowed the continuous selection of amplified pulses in the range between 35 fs to 4 ps. The pulses are subjected to measurements in the autocorrelation, spectral bandwidth and energy per pulse. A 0.5 m focal-length spectrograph fitted with an intensified CCD or fast single-channel detectors is used to determine the time constants, to establish the fluence threshold, and to record multi-channel spectra from the generated plasmas. Additionally, morphological characterization making use of optical and electron microscopy were performed. The effect of the longer laser pulses in the laser-matter interaction - particularly in the extension of the heat-affected zone - and its implication in depth-profiling studies was also checked. For such purpose, a layered sample with a defined structure was analyzed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy under different pulse widths conditions. The effect on the averaged ablation rate, depth resolution and layer mixing will be commented.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Weak thermal quenching of the luminescence in the Ca3Sc2Si3O12:Ce3+ garnet phosphor

We report results of the luminescence properties of the three garnet type phosphors Ce3+-doped Ca3Sc2Si3O12(CSSO:Ce3+), Sr3Y2Ge3O12(SYG:Ce3+) and Y3Al5O12(YAG:Ce3+), investigated using optical spectroscopy techniques and vacuum referred binding energy (VRBE) diagram analysis. By monitoring the temperature dependence of the luminescence decay time we establish an excellent, intrinsic, thermal stability of luminescence in CSSO:Ce3+, with a nearly constant decay time (≈60 ns) up to, at least, T = 860 K. In comparison, SYG:Ce3+and YAG:Ce3+exhibit a significant reduction of the luminescence decay time upon heating, starting at around T = 280 K and T = 550 K, respectively, suggesting a lower internal thermal stability of luminescence in these two garnet phosphors. These findings are supported by the energy separation between the Ce3+5d1level and the conduction band (CB) of the respective hosts, which are found at 1.36 eV (CSSO:Ce3+), 0.45 eV (SYG:Ce3+), and 1.17 eV (YAG:Ce3+), respectively, as predicted by their VRBE diagrams. The performance of CSSO:Ce3+was evaluated by applying the phosphor on a blue InGaN LED. The system shows a luminous efficacy of optical radiation of 243 lm W-1and a linear response with increasing applied voltage, suggesting it is a highly promising phosphor for future technological applications, particularly at high temperature operating environments

Comparison of the Influence of Oxygen Groups Introduced by Graphene Oxide on the Activity of Carbon Felt in Vanadium and Anthraquinone Flow Batteries

An increasing number of studies focus on organic flow batteries (OFBs) as possible substitutes for the vanadium flow battery (VFB), featuring anthraquinone derivatives, such as anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid (2,7-AQDS). VFBs have been postulated as a promising energy storage technology. However, the fluctuating cost of vanadium minerals and risky supply chains have hampered their implementation, while OFBs could be prepared from renewable raw materials. A critical component of flow batteries is the electrode material, which can determine the power density and energy efficiency. Yet, and in contrast to VFBs, studies on electrodes tailored for OFBs are scarce. Hence, in this work, we propose the modification of commercial carbon felts with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and poly(ethylene glycol) for the 2,7-AQDS redox couple and to preliminarily assess its effects on the efficiency of a 2,7-AQDS/ferrocyanide flow battery. Results are compared to those of a VFB to evaluate if the benefits of the modification are transferable to OFBs. The modification of carbon felts with surface oxygen groups introduced by the presence of rGO enhanced both its hydrophilicity and surface area, favoring the catalytic activity toward VFB and OFB reactions. The results are promising, given the improved behavior of the modified electrodes. Parallels are established between the electrodes of both FB technologies.CSIC, MICINN, and AEI (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), alongside the European Union − NextGenerationEU for funding the PTITRANSENER projectMinisterio de Universidades of the Government of Spain for granting his predoctoral fellowship contract (FPU20/04400)Clausthal University of Technology through a stay at the Research Center for Energy Storage Technologies (EST) in Goslar, GermanyAlexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany) for sponsoring a research fellowship at Clausthal University of Technolog

Determination of plasmas formation thresholds using femtosecond laser pulses

Our current research line focuses on studying and understanding processes of laser-material interaction in condensed phase using femtosecond lasers in an attempt to improve the analytical performance of laser-based optical emission spectroscopy. An aspect that attracts great interest is the establishment of the energetic demand for both ion and photons formation process after the beam femtosecond laser arrives. The thermoionic emission requires warming the material until its melting point, whereas that the formation of visible plasma need that energy density put into play forms a liquid heated above its critical temperature, that comes out to the surface explosively. Each element in pure form has a particular threshold, which is modified by the matrix effect and the experimental conditions. We are carrying out a systematic study of wide range of metallic samples as well as binary samples, alloys, complex matrices and others, in order to provide a complete view of the process of interesting analytical samples. The core of the experiment is a 80 Mhz, 100 nJ, 400 fs Ti-Saphire oscillator that is additionally subjected to chirped pulse amplification to produce an output of 3,5 mJ at 35 fs and a maximum repletion rate of 1 KHz. Different wavelengths (800, 400 and 266 nm) are achievable. An intensified CCD and a dual-state reflectron equipped with a cassegrain reflective optics are used for the analysis of the photons and ion generated after laser irradiation

Novel Tumor Suppressor Function of Glucocorticoid-Induced TNF Receptor GITR in Multiple Myeloma

Glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor (GITR) plays a crucial role in modulating immune response and inflammation, however the role of GITR in human cancers is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that GITR is inactivated during tumor progression in Multiple Myeloma (MM) through promoter CpG island methylation, mediating gene silencing in primary MM plasma cells and MM cell lines. Restoration of GITR expression in GITR deficient MM cells led to inhibition of MM proliferation in vitro and in vivo and induction of apoptosis. These findings were supported by the presence of induction of p21 and PUMA, two direct downstream targets of p53, together with modulation of NF-κB in GITR-overexpressing MM cells. Moreover, the unbalanced expression of GITR in clonal plasma cells correlated with MM disease progression, poor prognosis and survival. These findings provide novel insights into the pivotal role of GITR in MM pathogenesis and disease progression

CLASH: Mass Distribution in and around MACS J1206.2-0847 from a Full Cluster Lensing Analysis

We derive an accurate mass distribution of the galaxy cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 (z=0.439) from a combined weak-lensing distortion, magnification, and strong-lensing analysis of wide-field Subaru BVRIz' imaging and our recent 16-band Hubble Space Telescope observations taken as part of the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) program. We find good agreement in the regions of overlap between several weak and strong lensing mass reconstructions using a wide variety of modeling methods, ensuring consistency. The Subaru data reveal the presence of a surrounding large scale structure with the major axis running approximately north-west south-east (NW-SE), aligned with the cluster and its brightest galaxy shapes, showing elongation with a \sim 2:1 axis ratio in the plane of the sky. Our full-lensing mass profile exhibits a shallow profile slope dln\Sigma/dlnR\sim -1 at cluster outskirts (R>1Mpc/h), whereas the mass distribution excluding the NW-SE excess regions steepens further out, well described by the Navarro-Frenk-White form. Assuming a spherical halo, we obtain a virial mass M_{vir}=(1.1\pm 0.2\pm 0.1)\times 10^{15} M_{sun}/h and a halo concentration c_{vir} = 6.9\pm 1.0\pm 1.2 (\sim 5.7 when the central 50kpc/h is excluded), which falls in the range 4 <7 of average c(M,z) predictions for relaxed clusters from recent Lambda cold dark matter simulations. Our full lensing results are found to be in agreement with X-ray mass measurements where the data overlap, and when combined with Chandra gas mass measurements, yield a cumulative gas mass fraction of 13.7^{+4.5}_{-3.0}% at 0.7Mpc/h (\approx 1.7r_{2500}), a typical value observed for high mass clusters.Comment: Accepted by ApJ (30 pages, 17 figures), one new figure (Figure 10) added, minor text changes; a version with high resolution figures available at http://www.asiaa.sinica.edu.tw/~keiichi/upfiles/MACS1206/ms_highreso.pd