Search Results (314)

The ever-increasing demand for effective heat dissipation and temperature control in industrial and everyday applications highlights a critical research problem. The need for development is not only in terms of providing thermal comfort to humans but also forms the basis for the efficient operation of machines and equipment. Cooling of industrial machinery and household electronic equipment is a crucial element in any manufacturing process, and the planning and design of appropriate cooling systems continues to be an integral part of the machine design and construction process. Manufacturers aim to maximize performance while minimizing size and weight. This article reviews widely used passive methods to enhance heat transfer, focusing on their effectiveness in improving convective heat transfer. The techniques examined include surface modifications and advanced materials like foamed metals and nanostructured coatings, which influence turbulence and heat transfer coefficients. The key findings demonstrate that surface roughness, perforated fins, and twisted tapes enhance fluid mixing but may increase flow resistance. The review underscores the significance of these passive methods in optimizing cooling system efficiency across various applications. Despite the variety of techniques available, many areas, especially those involving laser beam modifications, remain underexplored, indicating a need for further research in this field. Full article

A high-alloy (Cr-Mo-V) cold-work tool steel was manufactured by laser powder-bed fusion (PBF-LB) without preheating and by electron-beam powder-bed fusion (PBF-EB) with the build temperature set at 850 °C. The solidification rates, cooling, and thermal cycles that the material was subjected to during manufacturing were different in the laser powder-bed fusion than electron-beam powder-bed fusion, which resulted in very different microstructures and properties. During the solidification of the PBF-LB steel, a cellular–dendritic structure was formed. The primary cell size was 0.28–0.32 µm, corresponding to a solidification rate of 2.0–2.5 × 10⁶ °C/s. No coarse primary carbides were observed in the microstructure. Further rapid cooling resulted in the formation of a martensitic microstructure with high amounts of retained austenite. The high-retained austenite explained the low hardness of 597 ± 38 HV. Upon solidification of the PBF-EB tool steel, dendrites with well-developed secondary arms and a carbide network in the interdendritic space were formed. Secondary dendrite arm spacing was in the range of 1.49–3.10 µm, which corresponds to solidification rates of 0.5–3.8 × 10⁴ °C/s. Cooling after manufacturing resulted in the formation of a bainite needle-like microstructure within the dendrites with a final hardness of 701 ± 17 HV. These findings provide a background for the selection of a manufacturing method and the development of the post-treatment of a steel to obtain a desirable final microstructure, which ensures that the final tool’s performance is up to specification. Full article

This work demonstrates the use of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), a tunable bandpass filter (TBF), and a tunable delay line interferometer (TDLI) to form a ring laser that produces multi-format, multi-wavelength laser beams. The TDLI serves as the core of the proposed laser generation system. TDLI harnesses the weak Fabry–Pérot (FP) interferences generated by its built-in 50/50 beamsplitter (BS) with unalterable filtering characteristics and the interferences with free spectral range (FSR) adjustable from each of its two outputs with nearly complementary phases to superpose and generate a variable interference standing wave. The interferometric standing wave and weak FP interferences are used to form a spatial-hole burning to promote the excitation of multi-format and multi-wavelength lasers. The proposed system enables dual-wavelength spacing ranging from 0.3 nm to 3.35 nm, with a switchable wavelength position at approximately 1527 nm to 1535 nm, providing flexible tunability. Full article

We demonstrated the linear, radial, and annular ripple formation on the surface of GaAs. The formation of linear ripples was optimized by the number of shots and the fluence of 30 ps, 532 nm pulses. The radial and annular nanoripples were produced under the ablation using doughnut-like beams possessing azimuthal and radial polarizations, respectively. We compare the ripples and grooves formed by a linearly polarized Gaussian beam relative to an annular vector beam. The joint overlap of sub-wavelength grooves with ripples formed by azimuthally and radially polarized beams was reported. The conditions under which the shape of radial and ring-like nano- or micro-relief on the GaAs surface can be modified by modulating the polarization of laser pulse were determined. The resultant surface processing of GaAs using a laser beam with different polarization modes is useful for exploring valuable insights and benefits in different applications. Full article

(1) Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the biological behavior of bone tissue on a machined surface (MS) and modifications made by a laser beam (LS) and by a laser beam incorporated with hydroxyapatite (HA) using a biomimetic method without thermic treatment (LHS). (2) Methods: Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDX) was performed before and after installation in the rabbit tibiae. A total of 20 Albinus rabbits randomly received 30 implants of 3.75 × 10 mm in the right and left tibias, with two implants on each surface in each tibia. In the animals belonging to the 4-week euthanasia period group, intramuscular application of the fluorochromes calcein and alizarin was performed. In implants placed mesially in the tibiofemoral joint, biomechanical analysis was performed by means of a removal torque (N/cm). The tibias with the implants located distally to the joint were submitted for analysis by confocal laser microscopy (mineral apposition rate) and for histometric analysis by bone contact implant (%BIC) and newly formed bone area (%NBA). (3) Results: The SEM showed differences between the surfaces. The biomechanical analysis revealed significant differences in removal torque values between the MSs and LHSs over a 2-week period. Over a 4-week period, both the LSs and LHSs demonstrated removal torque values statistically higher than the MSs. BIC of the LHS implants were statistically superior to MS at the 2-week period and LHS and LS surfaces were statistically superior to MS at the 4-week period. Statistical analysis of the NBA of the implants showed difference between the LHS and MS in the period of 2 weeks. (4) Conclusions: The modifications of the LSs and LHSs provided important physicochemical modifications that favored the deposition of bone tissue on the surface of the implants. Full article

Due to the tool-less fabrication of parts and the high degree of geometric design freedom, additive manufacturing is experiencing increasing relevance for various industrial applications. In particular, the powder bed fusion of metals using a laser beam (PBF-LB/M) process allows for the metal-based manufacturing of complex parts with high mechanical properties. However, residual stresses form during PBF-LB/M due to high thermal gradients and a non-uniform cooling. These lead to a distortion of the parts, which reduces the dimensional accuracy and increases the amount of post-processing necessary to meet the defined requirements. To predict the resulting residual stress state and distortion prior to the actual PBF-LB/M process, this paper presents the finite-element-based simulation tool AscentAM with its core module and several sub-modules. The tool is based on open-source programs and utilizes a sequentially coupled thermo-mechanical simulation, in which the significant influences of the manufacturing process are considered by their physical relations. The simulation entirely emulates the PBF-LB/M process chain including the heat treatment. In addition, algorithms for the part pre-deformation and the export of a machine-specific file format were implemented. The simulation results were verified, and an experimental validation was performed for two benchmark geometries with regard to their distortion. The application of the optimization sub-module significantly minimized the form deviation from the nominal geometry. A high level of accuracy was observed for the prediction of the distortion at different manufacturing states. The process simulation provides an important contribution to the first-time-right manufacturing of parts fabricated by the PBF-LB/M process. Full article

This study presents an efficient and practical intra-cavity approach for selectively generating vortex array laser beams employing a dual-phase modulation digital laser system, which has not yet been completed in single-phase modulation digital laser. The stable optical vortex array laser beams were formed by superimposing cavity Hermite–Gaussian (HG) eigenmodes. In particular, when the selected cavity HG modes shared the same Gouy phase, the resulting optical vortex beam could preserve its light field pattern, thereby maintaining the optical vortex properties in the near and far fields. Numerical results demonstrated that employing dual-phase modulation could establish optimal boundary conditions for the selection of HG modes within the cavity, successfully generating various vortex array laser beams. The experimental validation of the proposed method confirmed the ability to select optical vortex array lasers solely by controlling the loaded phase of the dual-phase modulation digital laser. These results demonstrate the ability of digital lasers to generate and dynamically control optical vortex array lasers. Full article

The theoretical and experimental characteristics of all-solid-state self-mode-locked burst pulse lasers are investigated in this study. The time–frequency and spectrum analyses of the lasers incorporating Fabry–Pérot (F-P) structures are presented, along with the development of the corresponding theoretical model. Self-mode-locked burst pulse lasers are experimentally constructed to reduce intracavity losses using the front and rear end surfaces of the gain media to form F-P structures. When the laser cavity length is 600 mm and the gain media lengths are 5, 6, and 10 mm, each burst pulse produced contains 56, 47, and 28 subpulses, respectively, with the same burst pulse width of 2 ns. The burst pulse train with beam quality M² = 1.37 and an average output power of 0.23 W is obtained when the gain medium length is 5 mm and the pump power is 4.5 W. The corresponding burst pulse repetition frequency is 0.25 GHz and the subpulse repetition frequency is 13.66 GHz. The time–frequency spectral analyses of the laser signals provide a good representation of laser spectral information that even the currently available highest-resolution spectrometers cannot resolve. Full article

Due to the limitations of traditional geometric error measurement, the measurement accuracy of long-stroke geometric errors is generally not high and the operation is complicated. In response to the above situation, in this study, a geometric error measurement system is built with a laser beam as the reference line and 2D position sensitive detector as the photoelectric conversion device. The single measurement range is 40 m, and the measurement range is further expanded through the principle of segmented splicing. Using an ultra-long guide rail as the measurement object for straightness measurement, the experimental results are similar to those of a laser interferometer. The uncertainty analysis model was obtained through the analysis of quantity characteristics, and based on this, the variance synthesis theorem and probability distribution propagation principle were studied to form two uncertainty synthesis methods. The measurement evaluation results showed that the two methods were basically consistent. The work provided a reference method for the uncertainty evaluation of position-sensitive detector measurement systems in the future. Full article

The laser beam mode affects the power density distribution on the irradiated target, directly influencing the product quality in laser processing, especially the hole quality in laser drilling. The Gaussian beam shape, Mexican-Hat beam shape, Double-Hump beam shape, and Top-Hat beam shape are four typical laser beam modes used as a laser heat source and introduced into our proficient laser-drilling model, which involves complex physical phenomena such as heat and mass transfer, solid/liquid/gas phase changes, and two-phase flow. Simulations were conducted on an aluminum target, and the accuracy was verified using experimental data. The results of the simulations for the fundamental understanding of this laser–material interaction are presented in this paper; in particular, the hole shape, including the depth–diameter ratio and the angle of the cone, as well as spatter phenomena and, thus, the formed recast layer, are compared and analyzed in detail in this paper. This study can provide a reference for the optimization of the laser-drilling process, especially the selection of laser beam mode. Full article

Material shaping and joining are the two fundamental processes that lie at the core of many forms of metal manufacturing techniques, including additive manufacturing. Current metal additive manufacturing processes such as laser/e-beam powder bed fusion and Directed Energy Deposition predominantly use heat and subsequent melt–fusion and solidification to achieve shaping and joining. The energy efficiency of these processes is severely limited due to energy conversion losses before energy is delivered at the point of melt–fusion for shaping and joining, and due to losses through heat transfer to the surrounding environment. This manuscript demonstrates that by using the physical phenomenon of lowered yield stress of metals and enhanced diffusion in the presence of low amplitude high frequency oscillatory strain, metal shaping and joining can be performed in an energy-efficient way. The two performed simultaneously enable a metal additive manufacturing process, namely Resonance-Assisted Deposition (RAD), that has several unique capabilities, like the ability to print net-shape components from hard-to-weld alloys like Al6061 and the ability to print components with a very high aspect ratio. In this study, we show this process’s capabilities by printing solid components using aluminum-based metal alloys. Full article

Beam stability and timing jitter in modern linear accelerators are becoming increasingly important. In particular, if a magnetic or radio-frequency (RF) compression regime is employed, the beam time of arrival jitter at the end of the linac can be strictly correlated with the phase noise of the accelerating fields of the RF structure working off-crest. For this reason, since 2008, an RF fast-feedback technique, which acts within each RF pulse, has been successfully employed at LNF-INFN (Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell’Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) in the SPARC_LAB (Sources for Plasma Accelerators and Radiation Compton with Laser And Beam) facility on S-band (2856 MHz) klystrons powered by pulse-forming network (PFN) modulators, as reported in this paper. However, in order to meet the more stringent requirements of plasma wakefield acceleration schemes, some upgrades to this feedback system have been recently carried out. The first prototype has been experimentally tested on a C-band (5712 MHz) klystron, driven by a solid-state modulator, in order to investigate the possibility for additional improvement resulting from the inherently more stable power source. In this paper, the design, realization and the preliminary measurement results obtained at SPARC_LAB after such upgrades will be reviewed. Full article

Aluminum (Al) components of high quality often require an optimal ratio of lightness and favorable mechanical properties. In order to improve the physical-mechanical properties of Al, an aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) film is usually formed on the surface of Al, which itself is characterized by high strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, and other technical properties. Unfortunately, depending on the conditions, the oxide film may be formed from different crystal phases on the Al surface, which are not always of desirable quality, i.e., the α-Al₂O₃ phase. The present review demonstrates that the properties of the Al₂O₃ film may be improved by Al processing with a laser beam according to the scheme: Al (Al alloy) → electrochemical anodizing → treatment with laser irradiation → α-Al₂O₃. Both Al substrate and the anodizing electrolyte affect the phase transformation of anodic Al₂O₃. Laser irradiation of the Al₂O₃ surface leads to high heating and cooling rates, which may promote the formation of a highly crystalline α-Al₂O₃ phase on anodic Al₂O₃. Full article

We present a two-step physical method for the fabrication of composite nanoparticle-based nanostructures. The proposed method is based on the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique performed sequentially in vacuum and in air. As a first step, thin-alloyed films of iron with noble metal were deposited by PLD in vacuum. The films were prepared by ablation of a mosaic target formed by equal iron and gold sectors. As a second step, the as-prepared alloyed films were ablated in air at atmospheric pressure as the laser beam scanned their surface. Two sets of experiments were performed in the second step, namely, by applying nanosecond (ns) and picosecond (ps) laser pulses for ablation. The structure, microstructure, morphology, and optical properties of the samples obtained were studied with respect to the laser ablation regime applied. The implementation of the ablation process in open air resulted in the formation of nanoparticle and/or nanoparticle aggregates in the plasma plume regardless of the ablation regime applied. These nanoparticles and/or nanoaggregates deposited on the substrate formed a complex porous structure. It was found that ablating FeAu films in air by ns pulses resulted in the fabrication of alloyed nanoparticles, while ablation by ps laser pulses results in separation of the metals in the alloy and further oxidation of Fe. In the latter case, the as-deposited structures also contain core–shell type nanoparticles, with the shell consisting of Fe-oxide phase. The obtained structures, regardless of the ablation regime applied, demonstrate a red-shifted plasmon resonance with respect to the plasmon resonance of pure Au nanoparticles. Full article

Accurate and reliable pose estimation of boom-type roadheaders is the key to the forming quality of the tunneling face in coal mines, which is of great importance to improve tunneling efficiency and ensure the safety of coal mine production. The multi-laser-beam target-based visual localization method is an effective way to realize accurate and reliable pose estimation of a roadheader body. However, the complex background interference in coal mines brings great challenges to the stable and accurate segmentation and extraction of laser beam features, which has become the main problem faced by the long-distance visual positioning method of underground equipment. In this paper, a semantic segmentation network for underground laser beams in coal mines, RCEAU-Net, is proposed based on U-Net. The network introduces residual connections in the convolution of the encoder and decoder parts, which effectively fuses the underlying feature information and improves the gradient circulation performance of the network. At the same time, by introducing cascade multi-scale convolution in the skipping connection section, which compensates for the lack of contextual semantic information in U-Net and improves the segmentation effect of the network model on tiny laser beams at long distance. Finally, the introduction of an efficient multi-scale attention module with cross-spatial learning in the encoder enhances the feature extraction capability of the network. Furthermore, the laser beam target dataset (LBTD) is constructed based on laser beam target images collected from several coal mines, and the proposed RCEAU-Net model is then tested and verified. The experimental results show that, compared with the original U-Net, RCEAU-Net can ensure the real-time performance of laser beam segmentation while increasing the Accuracy by 0.19%, Precision by 2.53%, Recall by 22.01%, and Intersection and Union Ratio by 8.48%, which can meet the requirements of multi-laser-beam feature segmentation and extraction under complex backgrounds in coal mines, so as to further ensure the accuracy and stability of long-distance visual positioning for boom-type roadheaders and ensure the safe production in the working face. Full article