Formation mechanism of a smooth, defect-free surface of fused silica optics using rapid CO2 laser polishing

Zhao, Linjie and Cheng, Jian and Chen, Mingjun and Yuan, Xiaodong and Liao, Wei and Liu, Qi and Yang, Hao and Wang, Haijun (2019) Formation mechanism of a smooth, defect-free surface of fused silica optics using rapid CO2 laser polishing. International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, 1 (3). 035001. ISSN 2631-7990 (https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-7990/ab3033)

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Abstract

Surface defects introduced by conventional mechanical processing methods can induce irreversible damage and reduce the service life of optics applied in high-power lasers. Compared to mechanical processing, laser polishing with moving beam spot is a noncontact processing method, which is able to form a defect-free surface. This work aims to explore the mechanism of forming a smooth, defect-free fused silica surface by high-power density laser polishing with coupled multiple beams. The underlying mechanisms of laser polishing was revealed by numerical simulations and the theoretical results were verified by experiments. The simulated polishing depth and machined surface morphology were in close agreement with the experimental results. To obtain the optimized polishing quality, the effects of laser polishing parameters (e.g. overlap rate, pulse width and polishing times) on the polishing quality were experimentally investigated. It was found that the processing efficiency of fused silica materials by carbon dioxide (CO2) laser polishing could reach 8.68 mm2 s−1, and the surface roughness (Ra) was better than 25 nm. Besides, the cracks on pristine fused silica surfaces introduced by initial grinding process were completely removed by laser polishing to achieve a defect-free surface. The maximum laser polishing rate can reach 3.88 μm s−1, much higher than that of the traditional mechanical polishing methods. The rapid CO2 laser polishing can effectively achieve smooth, defect-free surface, which is of great significance to improve the surface quality of fused silica optics applied in high-power laser facilities.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:81166
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    25 July 2019
    Published
    7 July 2019
    Accepted
    Subjects:Technology > Manufactures
    Science > Physics > Optics. Light
    Department:UNSPECIFIED
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:17 Jun 2022 05:39
    Last modified:16 Apr 2024 04:33
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/81166
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