A physical model of laser-assisted blocking of blood flow: I. Rectangular radiation pulses

A method for the calculation of blocking blood flow upon treatment of vessel pathologies by laser irradiation at a wavelength of 530 nm are considered. The model is based on the assumption that blood-vessel occlusion is a consequence of preceding photothermal coagulation of internal layers of the vessel wall. The irradiation regimes are determined that provide homogeneous coagulation of the vessel wall at a minimal energy consumption and high selectivity of action upon irradiation by rectangular laser pulses.     

Controlling optical properties of biological tissues: II. Coherent optical methods for studying the tissue structure

Correlation and polarization properties of dynamic speckle fields formed upon scanning in vitro human sclera samples subjected to immersion agents with a focused laser beam were studied. The immersion agent diffusion into the tissue reduces the relative refractive index of structure-forming elements (collagen fibrils) with respect to the base sclera substance and thus stimulates the passage from multiple to single scattering of a probing beam. Experimental data are presented on the evolution of the autocorrelation function of intensity fluctuations and the intensity ratio between polarized and depolarized components of laser radiation passed through a sclera layer due to artificial clarification of the tissue samples analyzed. Possible applications of the developed method to the tissue structure diagnostics are discussed.     

Control of tissue mechanics upon the repetitive-pulse laser heating of cartilage

The viscoelastic properties of laser-irradiated cartilages are studied with optoacoustic methods upon the thermal excitation of mechanical oscillations by repetitive-pulse laser radiation. The effect of laser power, pulse duration, repetition rate, and irradiation time on the shape of the optoacoustic signal is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the optoacoustic response of the cartilage to the repetitive-pulse radiation of a fiber laser depends on the softening of the tissue upon the variation in its shape. Under repetitive-pulse laser irradiation, the optoacoustic response of the cartilage depends on the mechanical characteristics of the biotissue (elastic modulus, hydraulic permeability, and thickness). A simple model that makes it possible to estimate the contribution of the viscoelastic properties to the formation of the optoacoustic response at various laser repetition rates is proposed.     

Comparison of retina damage thresholds simulating the femtosecond-laser in situ keratomileusis (fs-LASIK) process with two laser systems in the CW- and fs-regime

The femtosecond-laser in situ keratomileusis procedure affords the opportunity to correct ametropia by cutting transparent corneal tissue with ultra-short laser pulses. Thereby the tissue cut is generated by a laser-induced optical breakdown in the cornea with ultra-short laser pulses in the near-infrared range. Compared to standard procedures such as photorefractive keratectomy and laser in-situ keratomileusis with the excimer laser, where the risk potential for the eye is low due to the complete absorption of ultraviolet irradiation from corneal tissue, only a certain amount of the pulse energy is deposited in the cornea during the fs-LASIK process. The remaining energy propagates through the eye and interacts with the retina and the strong absorbing tissue layers behind. The objective of the presented study was to determine and compare the retina damage thresholds during the fs-LASIK process simulated with two various laser systems in the CW- and fs-regime.     

The biomedical effect of laser-induced photodissociation of oxyhemoglobin in vivo

It is demonstrated that the photodissociation of oxyhemoglobin in cutaneous blood vessels and capillaries allows additional extraction of molecular oxygen, prevents hypoxia, and stimulates aerobic metabolism of cells. On the basis of the studied phenomena, a new optical technology of local oxygenation of tissue directly in the zone of laser irradiation has been developed. It is shown that the efficiency of the proposed method for laser-induced oxygenation of biotissues is comparable with the efficiency of hyperbaric oxygenation, with local action being an additional advantage. Various aspects of the applications of the new technology in modern medicine in which the elimination of local hypoxia is needed are discussed. The proposed optical method for local oxygenation of biotissues makes it possible to solve the hypoxia problem in malignant tissue and substantially increase the efficiency of photodynamic, radiation, and chemical therapy in modern oncology.     

非球面和梯度折射率在眼光学成象中的作用

在Gullstrand-Le Grand眼模型的基础上,构造不同的眼光学模型,分别研究了角膜非球面、晶状体非球面和昌状体折射率在眼光学成象中的作用.通过比较各模型系统的Zernike标准多项式系数,分析了非球面和梯度折射率对眼光光系统各象差的影响.同时研究了不同模型调制传递函数的特性.     

Influence of laser polarization on ocular refractive parameters after refractive surgery

We provide an adjustment factor for ablation algorithms used in photorefractive laser surgery that takes into account how laser polarization in reflection losses affects the cornea. We evaluate the influence of this factor on corneal radius and asphericity after surgery, showing that it is significant for visual performance (effective visual acuity is reduced) and for the correction of eye aberrations. Our data indicate that this adjustment factor should be included in the ablation algorithms (depending on the polarization state of each laser device) that are proposed for customized corneal ablation, which need great accuracy for minimization of eye aberrations.     

Biophotonics of the interaction of low-intensity laser radiation with blood erythrocytes

We have studied experimentally how optical radiation affects the neutralization of the toxic action of heavy metals and harmful chemical compounds (ecotoxicants) on the oxygen-transport function of blood erythrocytes. It has been found that the optical radiation has a stabilizing effect and prevents lowering the erythrocyte concentration in the presence of phenol and heavy metals in blood. We have studied the neutralization efficiency of the toxic action of ecotoxicants in relation to the laser irradiation time. The obtained data on the effect of the laser radiation on the thermal denaturation of hemoglobin and erythrocytes yield the scientific substantiation to the development of the optical method for the use in medicine upon drawing and conserving donor blood. We have shown that the obtained data can be used in medicine for improving the reliability of conditions of conservation and storage of donor blood, as well as for preventing the toxic action of harmful chemical compounds in the environment.     

Photodestructive effect of IR laser radiation on the cornea

A mathematical model of the photodestructive effect of high-power IR laser radiation on cornea tissues is presented. The threshold energy exposure is calculated as a function of the wavelength and the laser pulse duration in the range 10^?5–10^?1 s under the assumption that the irreversible primary changes in the structure of tissues have a thermochemical nature. The adequacy of the model is supported by comparison of the results of calculations with a great body of experimental data available in the literature. The model is oriented for use in designing medical equipment (for example, for the refraction correction by the thermal keratoplasty method) and in refining the operating laser safety standards.     

A physical model of laser-assisted blocking of blood flow: II. Pulse modulation of radiation

A method for the calculation of blocking of blood flow upon treatment of vessel pathologies by laser irradiation at a wavelength of 530 nm are considered. The model is based on the assumption that blood-vessel occlusion is a consequence of preceding photothermal coagulation of internal layers of the vessel wall. The irradiation regimes are determined that provide homogeneous and highly efficient coagulation of the vessel wall under irradiation of tissues by series of short radiation pulses.     

基于个体眼光学结构的角膜与晶状体的像差补偿

研究角膜对晶状体波前像差的影响对现行的个性化视觉矫正手术有-定的参考价值.运用光学设计软件Zemax,根据个体人眼的角膜地形图、眼内各部分轴向间距和全眼波前像差数据,为22只人眼构建了个体眼光学结构.基于个体眼光学结构和衍射光学理论计算了眼内、外不同位置处的波前,获得了角膜对晶状体波前像差的影响.结果表明,角膜和品状体像差存在补偿和叠加两种关系.大多数眼睛,角膜对晶状体像差有一定补偿作用.总体像散的均方根(RMS)值比品状体像散的RMS值减小0.08～1.48μm,相当于10.1%～77.5%.总体高阶像差的RMS值比晶状体高阶像差的RMS值减小了0.06～0.85 μm,相当于3.8%～79.4%,平均减小了50.7%.其中,球差和彗差的Zernike系数绝对值总体比晶状体分别减小了0.02～0.60μm和0.01～0.39μm,相当于4.3%～98.4%和2.5%～91.4%.     

Laser assisted removal of synthetic painting-conservation materials using UV radiation of ns and fs pulse duration: Morphological studies on model samples

In an effort to establish the optimal parameters for the cleaning of complex layers of polymers (mainly based on acrylics, vinyls, epoxys known as Elvacite, Laropal, Paraloid B72, among others) applied during past conservation treatments on the surface of wall paintings, laser cleaning tests were performed with particular emphasis on the plausible morphological modifications induced in the remaining polymeric material. Pulse duration effects were studied using laser systems of different pulse durations (ns and fs) at 248 nm. Prior to tests on real fragments from the Monumental Cemetery in Pisa (Italy) which were coated with different polymers, attention was focused on the study of model samples consisting of analogous polymer films cast on quartz disks. Ultraviolet irradiation is strongly absorbed by the studied materials both in ns and fs irradiation regimes. However, it is demonstrated that ultrashort laser pulses result in reduced morphological alterations in comparison to ns irradiation. In addition, the dependence of the observed alterations on the chemical composition of the consolidation materials in both regimes was examined. Most importantly, it was shown that in this specific conservation problem, an optimum cleaning process may rely not only on the minimization of laser-induced morphological changes but also on the exploitation of the conditions that favour the disruption of the adhesion between the synthetic material and the painting.     

Determination of nonlinear optical characteristics of transparent materials using single laser pulses

A new method of express analysis of nonlinear optical properties of materials by determining their nonlinear refraction and nonlinear absorption upon irradiation by a single laser pulse is proposed. The nonlinear optical characteristics of media are determined based on an analysis of variations in the spatial distribution of radiation focused by a cylindrical lens and passed through the medium. The method proposed is tested by the example of optical nonlinearities of CS₂.     

The development of turbulence in the active medium of a fast-flow gas-discharge laser

The effect of pump nonequilibrium on the heat generation and the parameters of turbulent flow in the active medium of a fast-flow gas-discharge laser is studied. It is shown that the amplitudes of the turbulent pulsations of the density and refractive index of the active medium depend on the pump method and the degree of saturation by laser radiation and grow with the pump level. Criteria for estimating the effect of turbulence on the quality of the active medium are presented. A model is proposed that relates the build-up of the turbulent pulsations of the gas density and refraction to the heterogeneous heat release in the nonequilibrium active medium. The effect is determined by both the growth of the isobar local temperature pulsations and the ionization-overheating instability. In the case of dc-discharge pumping, the optical inhomogeneity of the active medium may substantially exceed that for the high-frequency discharge pumping. Original Text ? Astro, Ltd., 2006.     

Investigation of sidewall roughness of the microgrooves manufactured with laser-induced etching technique

A novel laser etching technique utilizing an optical fiber as the laser beam guide is introduced. Depending upon whether a pulsed or a continuous wave (CW) laser is employed as the irradiation source, it was found that the etch depth and surface morphology of the grooves varied significantly. It was then demonstrated that deep microgrooves with smooth sidewalls can be obtained using a hybrid pulse and CW scanning process. The results of laser heating and chemical analyses revealed that sidewall roughness of the microgroove is mainly attributed to surface melting.     

Implications of transient changes of optical and surface properties of solids during femtosecond laser pulse irradiation to the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures

The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) upon irradiation of silicon wafer surfaces by linearly polarized Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser pulses (pulse duration 130 fs, central wavelength 800 nm) is studied experimentally and theoretically. In the experiments, so-called low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) were found with periods smaller than the laser wavelength and an orientation perpendicular to the polarization. The experimental results are analyzed by means of a new theoretical approach, which combines the widely accepted LIPSS theory of Sipe et al. with a Drude model, in order to account for transient (intra-pulse) changes of the optical properties of the irradiated materials. It is found that the LSFL formation is caused by the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons, SPPs, once the initially semiconducting material turns to a metallic state upon formation of a dense free-electron-plasma in the material and the subsequent interference between its electrical field with that of the incident laser beam resulting in a spatially modulated energy deposition at the surface. Moreover, the influence of the laser-excited carrier density and the role of the feedback upon the multi-pulse irradiation and its relation to the excitation of SPP in a grating-like surface structure is discussed.     

Influence of laser irradiation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>ν=1.96 eV on the properties of titanium-silicon contact under thermal annealing in nitrogen

The effect of laser irradiation with hν=1.96 eV (λ=0.63 μm) on the properties of titanium-silicon contacts subjected to steady-state thermal annealing in a nitrogen atmosphere is studied. It is found that treatment-induced changes in the phase composition of the contact modify its electrophysical parameters. The applicability of laser irradiation to the formation of rectifying titanium-silicon junctions with desired parameters is demonstrated.     

Generation of XUV attosecond pulses in the process of atomic ionization by few-cycle laser radiation

Ionization of a model two-electron atom in the presence of a strong field of ultrashort laser pulses is investigated using the numerical integration of the nonstationary Schrödinger equation, which describes the dynamics of a quantum system in the presence of an electromagnetic wave. The features of two-electron ionization in the presence of one-and two-cycle pulses are analyzed. The suppression of double ionization in the presence of ultrashort laser pulses related to a finite-time interelectron energy exchange upon the laser action is demonstrated. The features of the generation of high-order harmonics and single XUV attosecond pulses are studied for the atomic ionization by few-cycle laser pulses. The parameters of the laser pulse are optimized for the effective generation of a single XUV attosecond pulse.     

Irreproducibility of acoustic emission under cyclic irradiation of solids by an infrared laser pulse

Acoustic emission (AE) caused by a stress wave in solid material samples with various thermophysical properties, i.e., copper, aluminum, and glass upon exposure to СO₂ laser pulses is studied. It is found that the general AE picture (the AE signal arrival time, its amplitude, and others) is not reproduced during repeated experiments following one after another, which indicates irreversible local changes occurred in the material structure. The effect of the critical material energy density on the AE pattern during the laser exposure is demonstrated.