We describe the propulsion mechanism of the catalytic microjet engines that are fabricated using rolled-up nanotech. Microjets have recently shown numerous potential applications in nanorobotics but currently there is a lack of an accurate theoretical model that describes the origin of the motion as well as the mechanism of self-propulsion. The geometric asymmetry of a tubular microjet leads to the development of a capillary force, which tends to propel a bubble toward the larger opening of the tube. Because of this motion in an asymmetric tube, there emerges a momentum transfer to the fluid. In order to compensate this momentum transfer, a jet force acting on the tube occurs. This force, which is counterbalanced by the linear drag force, enables tube velocities of the order of 100 m/s. This mechanism provides a fundamental explanation for the development of driving forces that are acting on bubbles in tubular microjets.

Laser-induced contamination (LIC) is still a major risk for space based laser systems. In this paper the mitigation of LIC by oxygen is investigated. Tests were performed with a pulsed laser at 355 nm. The partial pressure of the contamination material was in the range of 10-5-10-4 mbar. The mitigation effect showed a threshold behavior concerning the ratio between contamination and oxygen pressure. Also a cleaning effect was successfully demonstrated: previously created depositions were completely removed by irradiation at several tens Pa oxygen pressure without any remaining degradation of the optical surface.

Contamination plays a major role in lifetime of vacuum optics. Several efforts have been made to derive suitable models for lifetime prediction in laser-induced contamination related optical breakdown. But the broad spectrum of potential contaminants present in the various applications with their very specific contamination mechanisms complicates the derivation of universal optics degradation models.As one possible contamination initiation process, the impact of optical absorption on the laser-induced contamination and resulting optical breakdown is studied in this work. A set of specifically prepared samples using nanometer sized gold particles embedded in dense IBS anti-reflecting coatings is exposed to radiation of 355nm in low pressure naphthalene atmosphere. Even though the artificial defects are not in direct contact with the contaminant, their influence on the long-term optics performance in dependence on the particle concentration in the coating is evident. In the presence of naphthalene, the artificial nano-defects cause a significantly accelerated degradation compared to reference samples without those defects or in absence of the contaminant. For this specific type of contaminant, a correlation of the optical absorption and long-term durability is derived.

Abstract-During the Aeolus laser and instrument transmitter development it was shown that atmosphere quality was one major limiting factor for high energy UV laser operation at ambient pressure. As already proven in literature operation can only be safely obtained in the presence of oxygen ([1] to [6]).Furthermore, air quality has to be adequately controlled and monitored to ensure that no catastrophic event occurs. On-line qualitative (no/no-go discriminator) can be obtained using fluorescence monitoring of the laser beam, while GC-MS remains the technique of choice to quantitatively evaluate suitability of air supply a priori. LIC testing is in the process of being adapted to trace contaminant evaluation.Finally, the formation of laser generated absorbing features is described, during air irradiation. The potential root causes of these absorbing dot-like features are explored, using optical measurements, microscopic inspections and chemical analysis. Current results indicate organic deposits associated with metallic particles and a presence of phosphates.Index Terms-High Energy UV Laser, LIC/LIDT, GC-MS, trace gas analysis, absorbing features.

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