초록 ▼

Techniques are provided for formatting laser pulse spatial shape and for effectively and efficiently delivering the laser energy to a work surface in the laser shock process. An appropriately formatted pulse helps to eliminate breakdown and generate uniform shocks. The invention uses a high power la

Techniques are provided for formatting laser pulse spatial shape and for effectively and efficiently delivering the laser energy to a work surface in the laser shock process. An appropriately formatted pulse helps to eliminate breakdown and generate uniform shocks. The invention uses a high power laser technology capable of meeting the laser requirements for a high throughput process, that is, a laser which can treat many square centimeters of surface area per second. The shock process has a broad range of applications, especially in the aerospace industry, where treating parts to reduce or eliminate corrosion failure is very important. The invention may be used for treating metal components to improve strength and corrosion resistance. The invention has a broad range of applications for parts that are currently shot peened and/or require peening by means other than shot peening. Major applications for the invention are in the automotive and aerospace industries for components such as turbine blades, compressor components, gears, etc.

대표청구항 ▼

[The invention claimed is:] [1.]providing at least one laser pulse from a wavefront corrected laser system having (i) an oscillator with a near field image plane, (ii) a multipass amplifier with a mid-plane and (iii) at least one internal stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugator with an inpu

[The invention claimed is:] [1.]providing at least one laser pulse from a wavefront corrected laser system having (i) an oscillator with a near field image plane, (ii) a multipass amplifier with a mid-plane and (iii) at least one internal stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugator with an input plane;controlling the wavefront of said at least one laser pulse by optically relaying said near field image plane to about said mid-plane and relaying about said midplane to about said input plane;tailoring the intensity distribution of said at least one laser pulse to produce a tailored laser pulse; anddirecting said tailored laser pulse onto a workpiece.