Dynamic 193-nm optical properties of water

Previous assumptions that water is not a 193-nm chromophore during ArF excimer laser tissue ablation are based on room-temperature data and ignore spectroscopic literature that suggests a strong temperature dependence of far-ultraviolet water absorption. By the use of a Q-switched Er:YAG laser as a pump source and an ArF excimer laser as a probe source, thermal generation and relaxation of 193-nm water absorption were characterized under nonequilibrium high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. At volumetric energy densities as small as 2 kJ/cm(3) relative to room temperature, the 193-nm absorption coefficient of water was measured to increase by more than 5 orders of magnitude. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the absorption of 193-nm radiation by water may play a role in ArF excimer laser ablation of tissue.     

Single-Crystal Laser-Heated Pedestal-Growth Sapphire Fibers for Er:YAG Laser Power Delivery

The Er:YAG laser-induced damage (LID) threshold and modal properties of single-crystal sapphire fibers grown by the laser-heated pedestal-growth method have been measured. The lowest loss (~0.4-dB/m) sapphire fibers produce little mode mixing and therefore deliver a near-single-mode output profile if the Er:YAG laser input beam profile is also nearly Gaussian. Normally, however, Er:YAG laser output beam profiles are multimode with numerous high-energy spikes. This leads not only to a multimode output from the fiber but also increased fiber loss that is due to higher-order mode coupling. The results of LID testing give a damage fluence of ~1.4 kJ/cm(2) for 300-mum core-only sapphire fibers at 2.94 mum.     

Optical properties of small-bore hollow glass waveguides

Hollow glass waveguides with a 250-μm i.d. have been fabricated with a liquid-phase deposition technique that uses silica tubing as a base material. The losses of the 250-μm-bore guide measured at CO(2) laser wavelengths are as low as 2.0 dB/m. The straight losses for the hollow guides are in good agreement with theoretically predicted losses as a result of the nearly ideal structure of the guides. It is also shown that the guides have low bending losses, a nearly pure-mode delivery, and good high-power laser transmission. By proper design of the dielectric thickness, the guide is also able to deliver Er:YAG laser energy with a low loss of 1.2 dB/m for the 320-μm-bore waveguide. Because the hollow glass waveguide is very flexible and robust, it is quite suitable for medical applications.     

Evaluation of phase, microstructure and composition of human dentine after Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation

This study aims to evaluate the composition, micro-structure and inorganic phase alternations of human dentine irradiated by Er,Cr:YSGG laser with water cooling spray system. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the main inorganic phase of dentine before and after laser irradiation were all Hydroxyapatite (HA) structure, approximately 30 nm in size. No significant changes occurred in the average particle size after irradiation in four energy densities (6.18 J/cm2, 8.04 J/cm2, 9.89 J/cm2, 11.1 J/cm2). Atomic force microscope (AFM) phase image and the energy-dispersive spectroscope (EDS) analysis, however, demonstrated that the thermal effects of Er,Cr:YSGG laser with water-cooling spray system on the dentin surface was intense enough to induce notable decrease of the organic matter. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and AFM analysis showed that the irradiated dentine presented rough surface morphology. The surface is clean and dentinal tubules are completely open. The ablation rate of both peri- and intertubular dentine increased at higher energy densities but no significant changes of gross appearance took place. Chemical analysis reveals that laser photothermal effect would decrease significantly the organic content of superficial dentinal layer. We conclude that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser, as a new type clinic laser, would not significantly influence the inorganic phase structure of the surface dentine layer, however, thermal ablation was occurred in organic component. Moreover, the rough ablated surface as well as the opened dentinal tubules induced by irradiation, might be advantageous to the infiltration of the adhesive materials, thus the adhesion of dental restoration could be enhanced. Further studies should focus on the correlation between bond strength and Er,Cr:YSGG lased dentine.     

Etch rate and spectroscopic ablation studies of Er:YAG laser-irradiated dentine

The interaction of a 200-mus Er:YAG laser at 2.94 mum with human molar dentine has been studied by ablation depth rate measurements as well as time-resolved and optical multichannel analyzer emission spectroscopy. Ablation rates indicate a threshold fluence of ~5.2 J cm(-2) for significant material removal with a low-fluence (<20 J cm(-2)) effective optical absorption coefficient of ~700 cm(-1). Deviation from a Beer's law dependence is significant in the range ~20 to ~60 J cm(-2) and indicates a maximum effective plume absorption of ~1200 cm(-1) at ~40 J cm(-2), coinciding with the appearance of strong line and broadband optical emission in the visible region. Time-of-flight emission measurements yield maximum species-resolved ablation velocities of up to ~1.2 x 10(6) cm s(-1), enabling calculation of plasma temperatures. The results suggest that etch-rate characteristics are driven by changes in plume absorption dynamics, which have a strong dependency on incident laser fluence.     

High-Power As-S Glass Fiber Delivery Instrument for Pulse YAG:Er Laser Radiation

A 3-mum laser-generation delivery instrument that uses chalcogenide fibers with a unique damage threshold and conical radiation input has been developed for medical applications. A new purification and synthesis scheme has been elaborated that yields fibers with a heterophase inclusion content of less than 10(4) cm(-3). In such fibers the damage threshold is 350 J/cm(2) at an average power density of 0.5 kW/cm(2) in a YAG:Er laser operating in the repetitive pulse free-running regime with a pulse duration of 350 ms. 1-3 x 10(4) laser pulses were transmitted at a repetition rate of 3 Hz and an average output power of 1 W under the condition of a 15% decrease in the output power.     

Erbium:YAG laser lithotripsy by use of a flexible hollow waveguide with an end-scaling cap

An Er:YAG laser light delivery system composed of a polymer-coated silver hollow waveguide and a quartz sealing cap has been developed for calculus fragmentation. Sealing caps with various distal-end geometries were fabricated, and the focusing effects of these caps for Er:YAG laser light were measured both in air and in water. Owing to the high power capability of the quartz a beam of sealing caps, Er:YAG laser light with an output energy of 200 mJ and a repetition rate of 10 Hz was successfully transmitted in saline solution by use of the system. Calculus fragmentation experiments conducted in vitro showed that the delivery system is suitable for medical applications in lithotripsy. We also found that the cap with a focusing effect is more effective in cutting calculi. The deterioration of the sealing caps after calculus fragmentation is also discussed.     

YAG晶体中Yb~(3+)对Er~(3+)的敏化作用

根据能级跃迁速率方程得出Yb,Er:YAG中各能级布居数与Er3+离子浓度的关系.并与单掺Er:YAG中各能级布居数相比较,讨论共掺Yb3+对Er3+的波长为1.64和2.94μm两荧光的影响.结合作者关于红外光激励Yb,Er:YAG能量上转换为可见光工作,提出将Yb,Er:YAG晶体研制成以半导体激光器为激励源的可见光和1.64μm红外光的双波长全固化激光器的设想.     

Small-bore hollow waveguides for delivery of 3-µm laser radiation

Flexible hollow glass waveguides with bore diameters as small as 250 μm have been developed for 3-μm laser delivery. All the guides exhibit straight losses between 0.10 and 1.73 dB/m, and the loss increases to between 2.4 and 5.1 dB/m upon bending 1 m of the guides into 15-cm-diameter coils. This behavior is shown to depend strongly on the launch conditions and mode quality of the input beam. The waveguides are capable of efficiently delivering up to 8 W of Er:YAG laser power with proper input coupling, and they are suitable for use in both medical and industrial applications.     

Effect of ionizing radiation on optical and lasing properties of Y3Al5O12 single crystals doped with Nd, Er, Ho, Tm, Cr ions

The influence of gamma irradiation on optical and lasing properties of YAG:Er, YAG:CTH, YAG:Nd and YAG:Cr⁴⁺ single crystals were studied. For no thermal annealed rods from YAG:Er and YAG:CTH crystals the increase of laser output energy was established. The mechanisms of radiation sensibilization are discussed.     

Characteristics of calculus fragmentation with Er:YAG laser light emitted by an infrared hollow optical fiber with various sealing caps

We have experimentally quantified calculus fragmentation by Er:YAG laser light. Er:YAG laser light was delivered to an underwater target through a sealed hollow optical fiber. Fragmentation efficiency was obtained for an alumina ball used as a calculus model when sealing caps with various focusing effects were used. Three types of human calculus were analyzed, and their absorption properties at the wavelength of Er:YAG laser light were obtained. The relationships among the absorption properties, calculus constituents, and fragmentation efficiency are discussed.     

Spectroscopic evaluation of CaYA1O4 doped with trivalent Er, Tm, Yb and Ho for eyesafe laser applications

Spectroscopic properties of relevance for laser applications have been studied for rare earths in CaYA1O₄. Fitting of a theoretical model to observed energy levels yields crystal field parameters and unobserved levels. Structural disorder leads to broad linewidths,but cross sections are larger than in many common hosts. Tm-Tm cross relaxation rates are comparable to those in Tm: YAG, and Yb-Er transfer rates are comparable to those in Yb, Er:phosphate glass. Room temperature Yb-Er upconversion is stronger than in YAG, but modeling shows that neither unconversion nor population of Er⁴I_13/2 is very efficient upon pumping Yb. The host's yellow color intensifies upon annealing in air, a potential problem for visible laser operation. Tm or Ho 2 μm laser operation, or Er 1.5 μ operation upon direct excitation of Er⁴I_13/2, are more promising.     

Luminescent properties and energy transfer processes of co-doped Yb–Er poly-crystalline YAG matrix

A poly-crystalline YAG matrix was obtained through the precipitation method; this matrix was single and co-doped with ytterbium and erbium ions, i.e., Yb:YAG, Er:YAG and Yb,Er:YAG. It is found that the measured luminescent properties are similar to those reported for a mono-crystal YAG matrix. In addition, by studying the energy transfer processes in co-doped samples, it is shown that at high erbium concentrations the red emission is enhanced through an up-conversion process that takes place from the ⁴I_13/2 to the ⁴F_9/2 state of erbium ions. This enhanced red emission becomes comparable in intensity to the observed green emission and occurs by pumping at 800 nm through a back energy transfer process.     

Theoretical comparison of Er3+-doped crystal lasers

Abstract

The theoretical results are presented from a model that has been developed to simulate the 3 μm laser transition in Er³⁺-doped laser crystals. The rate equations for the seven lowest energy levels of Er:YAG, Er:YSGG, Er:YLF and Er:BAYF have been solved numerically for both continuous wave (cw) and pulsed (Q-switched and gain switched) laser operation with direct optical pumping into the ⁴I11/2 energy level. The dependence of slope efficiency on the Er³⁺ concentration for each laser crystal was investigated for cw operation and the relative performance of Er(15%):YLF, Er(15%):BAYF, Er(50%):YAG and Er(50%):YSGG was compared for each mode of operation. The change in the slope efficiency of Er:YLF at high Er³⁺ concentration, due to additional multi-ion processes, was calculated for a wide range of rate coefficients. It was determined that the slope efficiency could be reduced by as much as 12% by these processes and thus could explain the reduction in the slope efficiency as determined experimentally for lasers using highly doped fluoride crystals as the gain medium.     

Formation of Amorphous Carbon Nanoparticles by the Laser Electrodispersion Method

Experimental results on the laser ablation of the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite by using light pulses of an Nd:YAG laser (pulse width 25 ns, pulse energy 220 mJ) are presented. Analysis of the surface profile of the carbon target shows that the target material melts in the course of the laser ablation. As a result of ablation, a coating consisting of carbon nanoparticles about 10 nm in size is formed on the substrate placed at a distance of 4 cm from the target. It is assumed that such particles are formed as a result of the electrodispersion of carbon droplets detached from the target surface and charged to an unstable state in the laser plasma plume. Raman spectra of the coatings indicate that the carbon nanoparticles being formed have an amorphous structure.     

Optical properties of end-sealed hollow fibers

We propose sealing techniques for medical hollow fibers to protect the inner surface of fibers from debris or water that scatters from targets. First, hollow fibers are sealed with a film of polymer that is easily formed by use of a dipping technique. The transmission loss of 20-microm-thick sealing film was 0.2 dB for Er:YAG laser light, and the maximum energy that is available for the film was 180 mJ. Second, a sealed glass cap was applied to the output end of hollow fiber. The silica-glass cap with a wall thickness of 400 microm shows a transmission loss of 0.5 dB and was not damaged by radiation of 400-mJ energy pulses.     

高光学质量Yb:YAG透明陶瓷的制备及激光参数研究

以高纯Y₂O₃,α-Al₂O₃,Yb₂O₃粉体作为原料,采用固相反应和真空烧结法(1750℃,30h)制备了高光学质量的Yb:YAG透明陶瓷。5.0at%Yb:YAG陶瓷中Yb³⁺的实测浓度为6.41×10²⁰ cm^-3,晶胞密度为4.65 g/cm³。本工作重点研究了Yb:YAG陶瓷的显微结构、光谱特性和激光性能参数。场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)结果表明,Yb:YAG陶瓷的结构均匀致密、晶界干净平直,平均晶粒尺寸为(19±3)μm。该陶瓷样品(厚度为4.0 mm)在400 nm处的直线透过率为82.5%,在1100 nm处的透过率为85.2%。泵浦波长940 nm处的泵浦饱和光强最小,激光波长1030 nm处的泵浦阈值功率最低,940 nm泵浦1030 nm激光的品质因子为1.02×10^-22 cm·s。通过计算增益截面表明Yb:YAG陶瓷宽带可...     

Influence of molybdenum layer on the laser plasma generated from interfacing copper layer

The results for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) measurement of thin Cu films (1 μm) on soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates with and without a supporting thin Mo layer (1 μm) are reported. The ablation was carried out using a nanosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (λ=1064 nm, τ=4 ns, spot diameter=50 μm, top-hat profile) in the laser fluence range of 19.16-65.97 J/cm(2). It was found that, under the same laser irradiance conditions, the depth and morphology of ablation craters produced with and without the Mo layer were completely different. The electron number densities of the plasma from the two samples calculated from the measured LIBS spectra differed by a factor of 4 as 4.1×10(17) cm(-3) (Cu/Mo/SLG) and 17.7×10(17) cm(-3) (Cu/SLG), which was attributed to the matrix effects resulting from ionization of Na atoms diffused into the Mo layer. It is demonstrated that a nanosecond-laser-based LIBS is applicable for the characterization and composition analysis of thin film layers of a few micrometer thickness on glass substrates, especially for the measurement of Na contents of each layer.     

用光声信号飞越时间法对纯铜脉冲激光烧蚀的研究

利用脉冲激光束轰击金属样品表面时在周围空气中激发的光声信号研究了纯铜的激光烧蚀。实验中,用He-Ne探测光束偏转方法检测光声信号,并根据光声信号飞越时间随激光能量密度的变化测定了纯铜的脉冲激光烧蚀阈值。文中还给出了一种理论估计脉冲激光烧蚀阈值的较为实用的方法。纯铜的脉冲激光烧蚀阈值的实测值约为3.0 J/cm2,理论估计值为3.2 J/cm2。两者符合较好。结果表明,光声信号方法是测定纯铜的脉冲激光烧蚀阈值的一种简单可行的方法。     

Investigation of Cr:Tm:Er:YAG laser crystals in a resonator with various degrees of spectral selectivity

It has been established that Tm(3+) ions do not prevent multiple-wavelength oscillation in Cr:Tm:Er:YAG laser crystals inserted inside of the completely nonselective mirror resonator. The output mirror spectral selectivity needed for single-wavelength oscillation at 2.697 mum for a considerable excess of pumping energy over the threshold has been determined experimentally. It has been shown that Tm(3+) optimum concentration in the crystals could be determined correctly in the described resonator scheme.