TY - JOUR A1 - Böttcher, Katrin A1 - Schmitt Rahner, M. A1 - Stolzenberg, U. A1 - Kraft, Sebastian A1 - Bonse, Jörn A1 - Feist, C. A1 - Albrecht, D. A1 - Pullner, B. A1 - Krüger, Jörg T1 - Worst-case X-ray photon energies in ultrashort pulse laser processing JF - Materials N2 - Ultrashort pulse laser processing can result in the secondary generation of unwanted X-rays if a critical laser irradiance of about 10^13 W/cm^2 is exceeded. Spectral X-ray emissions were investigated during the processing of tungsten and steel using three complementary spectrometers (based on CdTe and silicon drift detectors) simultaneously for the identification of a worst-case spectral scenario. Therefore, maximum X-ray photon energies were determined, and corresponding dose equivalent rates were calculated. An ultrashort pulse laser workstation with a pulse duration of 274 fs, a center wavelength of 1030 nm, pulse repetition rates between 50 kHz and 200 kHz, and a Gaussian laser beam focused to a spot diameter of 33 µm was employed in a single pulse and burst laser operation mode. Different combinations of laser pulse energy and repetition rate were utilized, keeping the average laser power constant close to the maximum power of 20 W. Peak irradiances ranging from 7.3 × 10^13 W/cm^2 up to 3.0 × 10^14 W/cm^2 were used. The X-ray dose equivalent rate increases for lower repetition rates and higher pulse energy if a constant average power is used. Laser processing with burst mode significantly increases the dose rates and the X-ray photon energies. A maximum X-ray photon energy of about 40 keV was observed for burst mode processing of tungsten with a repetition rate of 50 kHz and a peak irradiance of 3 × 10^14 W/cm^2. KW - Ultrashort pulsed laser KW - X-ray emission KW - X-ray spectrum KW - X-ray energies KW - Radiation protection PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-566176 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248996 VL - 15 IS - 24 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - MDPI AN - OPUS4-56617 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stolzenberg, U. A1 - Schmitt Rahner, M. A1 - Pullner, B. A1 - Legall, Herbert A1 - Bonse, Jörn A1 - Kluge, M. A1 - Ortner, A. A1 - Hoppe, B. A1 - Krüger, Jörg T1 - X-ray emission hazards from ultrashort pulsed laser material processing in an industrial setting JF - Materials N2 - Interactions between ultrashort laser pulses with intensities larger than 10^13 W/cm^2 and solids during material processing can lead to the emission of X-rays with photon energies above 5 keV, causing radiation hazards to operators. A framework for inspecting X-ray emission hazards during laser material processing has yet to be developed. One requirement for conducting radiation protection inspections is using a reference scenario, i.e., laser settings and process parameters that will lead to an almost constant and high level of X-ray emissions. To study the feasibility of setting up a reference scenario in practice, ambient dose rates and photon energies were measured using traceable measurement equipment in an industrial setting at SCHOTT AG. Ultrashort pulsed (USP) lasers with a maximum average power of 220 W provided the opportunity to measure X-ray emissions at laser peak intensities of up to 3.3 × 10^15 W/cm^2 at pulse durations of ~1 ps. The results indicate that increasing the laser peak intensity is insufficient to generate high dose rates. The investigations were affected by various constraints which prevented measuring high ambient dose rates. In this work, a list of issues which may be encountered when performing measurements at USP-laser machines in industrial settings is identified. KW - X-ray emission hazards KW - Ultrashort pulsed laser KW - Radiation protection KW - Industrial applications KW - Protection housing PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-538632 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14237163 SN - 1996-1944 VL - 14 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-53863 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Legall, Herbert A1 - Bonse, Jörn A1 - Krüger, Jörg T1 - Review of x-ray exposure and safety issues arising from ultra-short pulse laser material processing JF - Journal of Radiological Protection N2 - Laser processing with ultra-short laser pulses enables machining of materials with high accuracy and throughput. The development of novel laser Technologies with laser pulse repetition rates up to the MHz range opened the way for industrial manufacturing processes. From a radiological point of view this evolution is important, because x-ray radiation can be generated as an unwanted side effect in laser material processing. Even if the emitted x-ray dose per pulse is comparably low, the x-ray dose can become hazardous to health at high laser repetition rates. Therefore, radiation protection must be considered. This article provides an overview on the generation and detection of x-rays in laser material processing, as well as on the handling of this radiation risk in the framework of radiological protection. KW - Ultra-short pulse laser processing KW - Laser-induced x-ray emission KW - Radiation protection PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-522376 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6498/abcb16 VL - 41 IS - 1 SP - R28 EP - R42 AN - OPUS4-52237 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Legall, Herbert A1 - Schwanke, Christoph A1 - Pentzien, Simone A1 - Dittmar, G. A1 - Bonse, Jörn A1 - Krüger, Jörg T1 - X-ray emission as a potential hazard during ultrashort pulse laser material processing JF - Applied physics A N2 - In laser machining with ultrashort laser pulses unwanted X-ray radiation in the keV range can be generated when a critical laser intensity is exceeded. Even if the emitted X-ray dose per pulse is low, high laser repetition rates can lead to an accumulation of X-ray doses beyond exposure safety limits. For 925 fs pulse duration at a center wavelength of 1030 nm, the X-ray emission was investigated up to an intensity of 2.6 × 10^14 W/cm2. The experiments were performed in air with a thin disk laser at a repetition rate of 400 kHz. X-ray spectra and doses were measured for various planar target materials covering a wide range of the periodic table from aluminum to tungsten. Without radiation shielding, the measured radiation doses at this high repetition rate clearly exceed the regulatory limits. Estimations for an adequate radiation shielding are provided. KW - Laser-induced X-ray emission KW - Ultrashort laser material interaction KW - Femtosecond laser KW - Radiation protection PY - 2018 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-448431 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-1828-6 SN - 0947-8396 SN - 1432-0630 VL - 124 IS - 6 SP - Article 407, 1 EP - 8 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-44843 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Legall, Herbert A1 - Schwanke, Christoph A1 - Bonse, Jörn A1 - Krüger, Jörg T1 - X-ray radiation protection aspects during ultrashort laser processing JF - Journal of Laser Applications N2 - Ultrashort pulse laser processing of materials allows for precise machining with high accuracy. By increasing the repetition rate to several 100 kHz, laser machining becomes quick and cost-effective. Ultrafast laser processing at high repetition rates and peak intensities above 10^13 W/cm^2 can cause a potential hazard by generation of unwanted x-ray radiation. Therefore, radiation protection must be considered. For 925 fs pulse duration at a center wavelength of 1030 nm, the x-ray emission in air at a repetition rate of 400 kHz was investigated up to a peak intensity of 2.6 × 10^14 W/cm^2. Based on the presented measurements, the properties of potential shielding materials will be discussed. By extending our previous works, a scaling of the x-ray radiation emission to higher peak intensities up to 10^15 W/cm^2 is described, and emitted x-ray doses are predicted. KW - Laser ablation KW - Ultrashort pulse laser processing KW - Laser-induced x-ray emission KW - Radiation protection PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-505677 DO - https://doi.org/10.2351/1.5134778 VL - 32 IS - 2 SP - 022004 AN - OPUS4-50567 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Legall, Herbert A1 - Schwanke, Christoph A1 - Bonse, Jörn A1 - Krüger, Jörg T1 - The influence of processing parameters on X‑ray emission during ultra‑short pulse laser machining JF - Applied Physics A N2 - During ultra-short laser material processing at high laser pulse repetition rates unwanted X-ray radiation can be generated in a quantity that may constitute a potential risk for health. An adequate X-ray radiation protection requires a thoroughly understanding of the influence of the laser processing parameters on the generation of X-ray radiation. In the present work, the generated X-ray dose during laser machining was investigated in air for varying beam scanning conditions at a pulse duration of 925 fs, a center wavelength of 1030 nm and a laser peak intensity of 2.6 × 10^14 W/cm^2. The X-ray radiation dose and the corresponding spectral X-ray emission were investigated in dependence on the laser’s pulse repetition rate and on the beam scanning speed. The results show a strong dependence of the X-ray emission on these laser processing parameters. KW - Laser-induced X-ray emission KW - Ultrashort laser material interaction KW - Femtosecond laser KW - Radiation protection PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-486441 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-019-2827-y SN - 0947-8396 SN - 1432-0630 VL - 125 IS - 8 SP - 570, 1 EP - 8 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-48644 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -