Femtosecond-pulse laser ablation of human corneas

A femtosecond pulse laser in the visible spectral region shows promise as a potentially new powerful corneal sculpting tool. It combines the clinical and technical advantages of visible wavelengths with the high ablation quality observed with nanosecond-pulse excimer lasers at 193 nm. A femtosecond and a nanosecond dye laser with pulse durations of 300 fs and 7 ns, and centre wavelengths at 615 nm and 600 nm, respectively, both focused to an area of the order of 10^–5 cm², have been applied to human corneal ablation. Nanosecond laser pulses caused substantial tissue disruption within a 30–100 m range from the excision edge at all fluences above the ablation threshold of F _th60 J cm^–2 (I _th9 GW cm^–2). Completely different excisions are produced by the femtosecond-pulse laser: high quality ablations of the Bowman membrane and the stroma tissue characterised by damage zones of less than 0.5 m were observed at all fluences above ablation threshold of F _th1 J cm^–2 or I _th3 TW cm^–2 (3×10¹² W cm^–2). The transparent cornea material can be forced to absorb ultrashort pulses of extremely high intensity. The fs laser generates its own absorption by a multiphoton absorption process.     

Processing of W/Si and Si/W bilayers and multilayers with single and multiple excimer-laser pulses

Interdiffusion phenomena, thermal damage and ablation of W/Si and Si/W bilayers and multilayers under XeCl-excimer laser (=308 nm) irradiation at fluences of 0.15, 0.3 and 0.6 J/cm² were studied. Samples were prepared by UHV e-beam evaporation onto oxidized Si. The thickness of W and Si layers and the total thickness of the structures were 1–20 nm and 40–100 nm, respectively. 1 to 300 laser pulses were directed to the same irradiation site. At 0.6 J/cm² the samples were damaged even by a single laser pulse. At 0.3 J/cm² WSi₂ silicide formation, surface roughening and ablation were observed. The threshold for significant changes depends on the number of pulses: it was between 3–10 pulses and 10–30 pulses for bilayers with W and Si surfaces, respectively, and more than 100 pulses for multilayers with the same total thickness of tungsten. At 0.15 J/cm² the periodicity of the multilayers was preserved. Temperature profiles in layered structures were obtained by numerical simulations. The observed differences of the resistance of various bilayers and multilayers against UV irradiation are discussed.     

Pulsed laser deposition of hard coatings in atmospheric air

A new laser plasma technique for non-vacuum deposition of thin films has been proposed and experimentally realized. It is based on the fact that the plasma plume, which occurs under ablation of a target in air by high-intensity short laser pulses, can penetrate through a dense gas environment without significant cooling at the distance of about 1 mm. The technique has been applied to deposit diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on stainless steel substrates using four different values of pulse duration: 10 ns, 300 ps, 5 ps and 130 fs. Optimization of different experimental parameters including distance between the target and the substrate, laser intensity and gases (He, Ar, N₂, compressed air) blown in the deposition zone, has been performed. The deposition rate in the experiments was estimated as 2–5×10^-4 nm/(cm²pulse) for the pulse energy of 1–4 mJ. The deposited amorphous carbon films with thickness of several hundred nanometers have shown high average nanohardness (10–25 GPa depending on the irradiation conditions) and good adhesion to substrates (60 MPa). According to X-ray electron spectroscopy analysis the films consist of both sp²- and sp³-bonded carbon and contain 3–7% of free oxygen in bulk. The mechanisms of DLC non-vacuum laser deposition are discussed. To demonstrate the large potential of this technique, the first results on deposition of titanium nitride using ablation of titanium in air with nitrogen jet assistance are also presented. PACS 52.38.Mf; 81.15.Fg; 81.05.Uw     

Photokinetic etching of polyethylene terephthalate films by continuous wave ultraviolet laser radiation

Continuous wave laser radiation from an argonion laser in the wavelength range 275–330 nm can be used to etch polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films with as little thermal damage as from a pulsed, ultraviolet laser (248 nm or 308 nm) provided the beam is focussed to a spot of 10–100 kW/cm² of power density and is moved over the surface at speeds at which the transit time over its own diameter (which can be looked upon as a pulse width) is on the order of 10–200 s. In contrast to results which had been obtained previously on the photokinetic etching of polyimide and doped polymethyl methacrylate films under similar conditions, the sensitivity of PET to etching is >5-fold greater than either of these polymers and increases steadily with increasing pulse width. There is lateral thermal damage as the pulse widths increase to >200 s. The material that is removed is vaporized in part. More than 20% is probably ejected in a molten state and resolidifies at the edge of the cut. There is no acoustic report similar to that seen in ablative photodecomposition. The process appears to be largely thermal in nature.     

Observation of new laser transitions and saturation effects in optically pumped NO

We report investigations of an NO laser employing specially profiled magnetic fields of up to 3.4T, and F₂ pump laser intensities as great as 20 MW cm^–2. We have observed laser oscillation at 226 nm on a rotational branch of the B'-X/it(3–11) band of NO for the first time, in addition to the previously reported oscillation at 218 nm on the B'-X/it(3–10) band. We have also observed visible laser emission on a rotational branch of the B ²-B ² II(3–1) band of NO. Saturation of the NO laser pulse energy with pump intensity has been observed, the total NO laser pulse energy having been increased to 490 J. The possibility of increasing the NO laser pulse energy towards 1 mJ per transition is discussed.     

A simple current pulsed low-pressure CO2 laser with passive Q-switching

We report on a simple and stable pulse tunable CO₂ laser suitable for many investigations in the region around 10m. The pulsed discharge when combined with the passiveQ-switching technique provides pulses of 100 ns duration with a peak power of few kilowatts.Due to the interest in pulsed low-pressure CO₂ lasers as useful irradiation sources, extensive investigations have been carried out. In particular, various Q-switching techniques have been developed to generate short CO₂ laser pulses [1–4].     

Defects in pulsed laser and thermal processed ion implanted silicon

The evolution of the nature and concentration of the defects produced by 100 or 300 keV As ions at fluences 1 to 4×10^–12 cm^–2 inn-type, Fz Silicon doped with 10¹⁵ to 10¹⁶ cm^–3 has been studied as function of thermal treatments (in the range 500°–900 °C) and of the energy density (in the range 0.3–0.6 J cm^–2) of a light pulse from a ruby laser (15 ns, 0.69 m). Deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) combined with capacitance — voltage (C-V) measurements were used to get the characteristics (energy level, crosssection for the capture of majority carriers) of the defects and theirs profiles. The difficulties encountered in the analysis of the results, due to the large compensation of free carriers in the implanted region and to the abrupt defect and free carrier profiles, are discussed in detail and the corrections to apply on the C-V characteristics and the DLTS spectra are described. The defects resulting from the two types of treatments are found to be essentially the same. Only, for laser energies higher than 0.5 J cm^–2, the laser treatment appears to introduced new defects (atE0.32 eV) which should result from a quenching process. The fact that a laser energy smaller than the threshold energy for melting and recrystallization is able to anneal, at least partially, the defects produced by the implantation, demonstrates that the annealing process induced by the laser pulse is not a purely thermal process but is enhanced by a mechanism involving ionization.     

Comparison of simulated X-ray conversion efficiency of laser produced iron plasma with experimental results

X-ray resonance lines between 11 Å and 17 Å emitted from iron plasmas created by a modest KrF laser have been simulated by modifying the atomic and hydrodynamic code EHYBRID. Free–free and free–bound emission from the Si-, Al-, Mg-, Na-, Ne- and F-like ions is calculated in the simulation. In the original experiments, a KrF laser (249 nm wavelength) with focused irradiances between 1×10¹² W/cm² and 1×10¹⁵ W/cm² was focused on iron targets. The laser pulse duration was varied between 10 ps and 20 ns. We have calculated X-ray conversion efficiencies to be, for example, 0.5% over 2 sr for 2×10¹³ W/cm² and 20 ns pulse duration, in good agreement with experimental measurements. The simulation of X-ray emission is also presented for an experiment where a train of eight 7 ps KrF laser pulses is incident onto an iron target. PACS 52.50.Jm; 52.38.Ph; 52.65.Kj; 52.30.Ex; 32.30.Rj     

Investigation and spectral analysis of the plasma-induced ablation mechanism of dental hydroxyapatite

Experiments on the ablation of dental substance performed with picosecond laser pulses are reported for the first time. A mode locked Nd:YLF oscillator laser was used to generate 25 ps pulses at a wavelength of 1.053µm. These were seeded and amplified to pulse energies up to 1 mJ in a regenerative amplifier laser at repetition rates up to 1 kHz. Very precise cavities were ablated in the enamel of extracted human teeth by mounting the probes onto a computer controlled 3D translation stage. Scanning electron microscopy and dye penetration tests were performed there-after. In contrast to longer pulse durations, picosecond pulses ablate with no signs of thermal damage, if the laser pulses are spatially distributed over the target. Definitions of the physical mechanisms plasma-induced ablation and photodisruption are given. Furthermore, the generated plasma spark has been spectroscopically analyzed. Excitations of calcium and sodium have been observed. From the spectra, the plasma temperature and free electron density could be estimated. By converting part of the laser energy into the second harmonic using a LiNbO₃ crystal, a reference amplitude was achieved for the spectra. With this reference signal, a clear distinction could be made between spectra obtained from healthy and caries infected teeth, thus enabling a better control of caries removal in the near future.     

Concentrations and velocity distributions of positive ions in laser ablation of copper

It is shown that the generation of secondary electrons by excited neutrals hitting a surface makes the so-called probe method unsuited for measuring the positive ion fraction in laser ablation plumes. Experiments have been performed in a modified set-up, in which the disturbance by secondary electrons is avoided. For a typical case of Cu irradiated in ultra-high vacuum by nanosecond excimer laser pulses of 3 J cm^–2 the ionized fraction is about 10^–8 at a distance of 60 cm. This number is in fair agreement with Saha-Langmuir predictions based on the assumption of local thermal equilibrium at an estimated temperature of about 3000K. Angular-resolved time-of-flight measurements show that there are three different ion velocity distributions. A slow contribution (kinetic energy 2eV) with an angular distribution peaked along the normal, and two fast, isotropic contributions (kinetic energy 20–50 eV). The fast contributions are attributed to ions involved in a Coulomb explosion.     

Active optical storage ring for high-power laser pulses

In an optical storage ring, a dye laser amplifier synchronously pumped by external laser pulses has been implemented and experimentally tested. The test was done at =580 nm, but the optical system can be used without limitations in a broad band of 400–700 nm. It is shown that a selected turn of the stored laser pulse can be amplified by typically a factor of 200. Power consideration gives an increase of the efficiency of the optical storage ring with a dye amplifying cell, as compared to a single passage of the laser pulse through the experimental section, by 23 times and it is shown that it can reach a factor of more than 100. PACS 42.60.Da; 42.60.Lh     

Ablation of polyimide (Kapton™) films by pulsed (ns) ultraviolet and infrared (9.17 μm) lasers

Ablation of the surface of a polyimide (Kapton) film by single pulses of 248 nm or 308 nm radiation (20 ns) or 9.17 m laser radiation (170 ns) was studied by photographing the emergence of the blast wave and the plume by a pulse (<1 ns; 596 nm) of visible laser light. The dynamics of the blast wave was similar in the ultraviolet and in the infrared but the composition of the plume was obviously different. A mass of opaque solid material was ejected for as long as 2.6 s following the IR pulse in contrast to the minute amount of solids that are seen in the ablation by UV laser pulses of ns duration. UV laser pulses of 50–400 s duration interact with polyimide surfaces in a manner that is similar to IR laser pulses of ns duration or longer. Chemical analysis of the ablation products that are obtained under various conditions of ablation when compared to the known modes of thermal degradation of polyimide show that the reaction is a thermal process when IR laser pulses or UV laser pulses of long (>10 s) duration are employed. Ablation by ns UV laser pulses differs fundamentally in the chemistry of the products from all of the cases mentioned above.     

Nanosecond and femtosecond excimer laser ablation of fused silica

Ablation of fused silica using standard excimer lasers (20–30 ns pulse duration at 193, 248, and 308 nm) and a short pulse laser system (500 fs at 248 nm) is reported. Ablation rates range from several hundred nm/pulse (193 nm or fs-laser) up to about 6 m/pulse (308 nm). The performance of the ablation is found to depend not only on wavelength and pulse duration but also on the existing or laser induced surface quality (e.g., roughness) of the material. Special ablation phenomena are observed. At 193 nm and moderate fluence (3 J/cm²) ablation takes place at the rear side of a plate without affecting the front side, whereas at higher fluence normal ablation at the front side occurs. At 248 nm (standard excimer) the existence of two consecutive ablation phases is observed: smooth ablation at low rate is followed by explosive ablation at high rate. Using fs-pulses smooth shaped holes are formed during the first pulses, whereas high pulse numbers cause the development of a ripple structure in the ablation craters.The results lead to the conclusion that two different ablation mechanisms are involved: the first is based on two photon bulk absorption, the second on controlled surface damage in relation with (partially laser induced) singularity conditions at the surface.Presented at LASERION '91, June 12–14, 1991, München (Germany)     

Prospects for Further Development of Self-Heated Lasers on the Self-Contained Transitions of a Copper Atom

An analysis of the causes restricting the frequency–energy characteristics of a copper vapor laser is carried out. The principal cause of the restriction is shown to be the high deexcitation rate of the higher laser levels into the ionized state. This involves a strong increase in the expenditures of energy for the population inversion with a rise in the electron density before the pulse and a high $Q$ factor of the discharge circuit at the end of the exciting pulse. The high Q factor of the discharge circuit is responsible for the oscillatory process of energy dissipation within the time spacing between pulses. This energy is stored in the reactive component of impedance of the discharge tube during the excitation pulse. The oscillatory dissipation defines a slow relaxation of the lower laser levels within the time spacing between the pulses. Analysis of the conditions of population inversion formation in a copper vapor laser shows that the active medium should be pumped in a two-pulse excitation mode to realize the energy potential of the laser of 1–2 kW/liter. The advantages of such an excitation mode over the traditional single-pulse excitation are confirmed.     

Pulsed 532 nm laser wirestripping: Removal of dye-doped polyurethane insulation

Removal of rhodamine 6G doped polyurethane insulation coated onto 50 m diameter wire is shown to proceed efficiently and cleanly by irradiation with 532 nm Q-switched pulses from a Nd:YAG laser. The stripping action produced by this method is similar in quality to excimer laser wirestripping. Several experimental parameters were explored including fluence, pulse duration, dye concentration, and the number of incident pulses. Acceptable stripping conditions were obtained for a 3–5 s exposure at 10 Hz, using a dye concentration of 10% by weight, and 12 n pulses at 650 mJ/cm². Nearly 0.5 m/pulse is removed at this fluence, which exceeds the threshold fluence of 600 mJ/cm² by only 50 mJ/cm². The measured 532 nm absorption coefficient of the 10% dye-doped polyurethane was 4×10⁴ cm^–1. Lower fluences and/or dye concentrations produced inadequate stripping, while shorter duration pulses caused unacceptable melting of the thin gold layer which covered the copper core of the wire. Pulse-by-pulse photographs of the stripping action clearly show melting of the dye/polymer insulation, and thermal rollback of the insulation near the stripped end. Regardless, excellent edge definition is obtained by this method.     

Optical gain on the 476.5 nm Argon-ion laser line in a gas-target excited by a heavy ion beam

Optical gain on the 476.5 nm Ar II 4p–4s ion laser transition has been observed in argon-gas excited by 2.5 ns pulses of 90 MeV³²S ions with a repetition rate of 4883 Hz. The energy per pulse was 23 J. The projectiles were stopped in the target at pressures between 5 and 20 kPa. Gain was determined from a measured transient increase of the intensity of a 476.5 nm probe laser beam sent along the ion beam axis and back reflected by an aluminum foil. The maximum gain observed was (0.4±0.1)×10^–3 at a target-gas pressure of 5 kPa. Control experiments using krypton as target-gas were performed and yielded a null result. The optical gain observed in argon is consistent with the result from an analysis of spectroscopic studies of rare-gas targets excited by heavy ion beams.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. P. Kienle on the occasion of his 60th birthday. This work has been funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology (BMFT) under contract No. 06 TM 310 I, Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI), Darmstadt, and the Tandem accelerator laboratory, Munich     

The influence of superradiant relaxation on associative ionisation yield of laser excited potassium atoms

The influence of superradiant relaxation of excited 7P _1/2 potassium atoms on their associative ionisation yield has been investigated. The excitation was carried out by a laser pulse in a tube containing potassium vapour with concentration 10¹⁴ cm^–3. A seven-fold drop of ionisation yield was found and spontaneous luminescence pulse distortions by superradiance (SR) were measured in the wide interval of excited atoms densities N _e ⁰ 10⁸–10¹³ cm^–3. The values of associative ionisation rate constant and SR threshold atomic densities are obtained, and the shapes and quantum yields of SR pulses are evaluated from the experimental results.     

High-repetition-rate hard X-ray generation with sub-millijoule femtosecond laser pulses

Hard X-ray radiation is generated at 1-kHz repetition rate on metal targets using 30-fs sub-millijoule laser pulses. Spinning-disc targets of medium-Z (Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mo) and high-Z (Ta) metals are investigated. For medium-Z targets, characteristic K-shell emission (K and K) is observed in the 4–20 keV energy range in addition to a broadband bremsstrahlung background. Whereas in former studies similar results have been obtained by applying laser pulses in the tens-to-hundreds-of-millijoules range, we observe characteristic X-ray generation even at applied pulse energies as low as 100 J. The well-defined emission wavelength, the high intensity and the high brightness of this radiation makes this source a promising tool for time-resolved experiments with high-repetition-rate (10 kHz) small-scale table-top laser systems . PACS 42.65.-k; 52.38.Ph; 52.50.Jm     

Enhanced ablation of silica by the superposition of femtosecond and nanosecond laser pulses

We investigate the ablation process in SiO₂ by the superposition of 180 fs laser pulse (_center=800 nm) with a 15 ns laser pulse (_center=532 nm). Compared to femtosecond laser pulses alone, we measured an increase of 270±30% in volume of the ejected material with only a total increase of 40% of lasers fluences. This increase of ablation is the result of thermal and incubation effects generated by the femtosecond laser pulse. PACS 78.20.Nv; 61.80.Ba