High-power polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser at 1617 nm

We report on the efficient operation of a high-power erbium-doped polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser at 1617 nm resonantly pumped by a high-power 1532 nm Er,Yb fiber laser. Lasing characteristics of Er:YAG ceramics with different Er3+ concentrations are evaluated and compared. With an output coupler of 15% transmission and 0.5 at. % Er3+-doped YAG ceramic as the gain media, the laser generates 14 W of output power at 1617 nm for 28.8 W of incident pump power at 1532 nm, corresponding to a slope efficiency with respect to incident pump power of 51.7%.     

1.6 μm Er:YAP and Er:YAG lasers resonantly pumped by Er:glass laser

1623 nm Er:YAP and 1648 nm Er:YAG lasers resonantly pumped by a solid state Er:glass laser operating at 1535 nm were investigated. Laser generation was reached for Er:YAP and two Er:YAG crystals with different Er ion concentration. The maximal output energies were 20 and 45 mJ for Er:YAP and Er:YAG laser systems, respectively.     

Effect of Er:YAG laser energy on the morphology of enamel/adhesive system interface

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the influence of Er:YAG laser energy variation to cavity preparation on the morphology of enamel/adhesive system interface, using SEM. Eighteen molars were used and the buccal surfaces were flattened without dentine exposure. The specimens were randomly assigned to two groups, according to the adhesive system (conventional total-etching or self-etching), and each group was divided into three subgroups (bur carbide in turbine of high rotation, Er:YAG laser 250 mJ/4 Hz and Er:YAG laser 300 mJ/4 Hz) containing six teeth each. The enamel/adhesive system interface was serially sectioned and prepared for SEM. The Er:YAG laser, in general, produced a more irregular adhesive interface than the control group. For Er:YAG laser 250 mJ there was formation of a more regular hybrid layer with good tag formation, mainly in the total-etching system. However, Er:YAG laser 300 mJ showed a more irregular interface with amorphous enamel and fused areas, for both adhesive systems. It was concluded that cavity preparation with Er:YAG laser influenced on the morphology of enamel/adhesive system interface and the tissual alterations were more evident when the energy was increased.     

Role of incoherent pumping and Er3+ ion concentration on subluminal and superluminal light propagation in Er3+-doped YAG crystal

We study the absorption-dispersion process and group index of weak probe field in a four-level Er3+:YAG crystal.We find that the Er3+ion concentration and incoherent pumping field can influence the absorption-dispersion process and group index of weak probe field.Moreover,our results show that Er3+ion concentration plays a major role in lasing without inversion and absorption with inversion.     

Accommodation of theoretical – Experimental results of Verdet constant in first six groups of alcohols

We calculated the Verdet constant for first six groups of alcohols. Verdet constant is the rotation angle of a plane polarized light beam passing through a medium in a magnetic field, divided by the field strength and by the path length. Calculated ranges are in the wavelengths between 400 and 850 nm in gas and liquid phases. By plotting the obtained results, it can be seen that the Verdet constant decreases with increase in the wavelength, and this is commonly known for the mathematical relations. In our experiment we had intermolecular interactions which were negligible. For obtained results we observe some errors, but these errors are negligible and it will be lesser in high wavelengths.     

Application of mid-infrared laser radiation for lithotripsy

The perforation effects of Er:YAG (2940 nm) and Ho:YAG (2100 nm) lasers radiation on human urinary stones model made from compressed plaster and real human samples were compared in vitro. For mid-infrared laser radiation delivery the special COP/Ag hollow glass waveguides were used. From the interaction experiments the perforation rates were derived and compared for both lasers. From the results it can be evaluated that Er:YAG laser radiation is favourable in comparison with Ho:YAG laser in case of artificial samples perforation efficiency.     

磁光材料Verdet常数贡献性的讨论

Verdet常数是表征材料磁光性能的重要参数,具有波长和温度依赖性.为了更好地分析入射光波长、温度等对Verdet常数的影响机理,从基础理论切入,分析了现有理论的优缺点.结合光的波粒二象性特性,提出了波动跃迁性贡献理论,即法拉第效应是光的波动性作用以及电偶极跃迁作用带来的贡献之和,波动性对偏转角的贡献为正,跃迁性贡献为负.在抗磁性材料中,波动性贡献大于跃迁性贡献,Verdet常数为正;顺磁性材料中,跃迁性贡献远大于波动性贡献,Verdet常数为负.进而分别以典型抗磁性材料重火石玻璃ZF1和顺磁性材料铽镓石榴石为例,并结合相关数据、参数、模型,对理论进行了验证.试验结果表明,在精确描述材料Verdet常数方面,波动跃迁性贡献理论具有一定的优越性.     

Influence of Er:YAG laser on surface treatment of aged composite resin to repair restoration

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Er:YAG laser on surface treatment to the bond strength of repaired composite resin after aged. Sixty specimens (n = 10) were made with composite resin (Z250, 3M) and thermocycled with 500 cycles, oscillating between 5 to 55°C. The specimens were randomly separated in six groups which suffered the following superficial treatments: no treatment (GI, control), wearing with diamond bur (GII), sandblasted with aluminum oxide with 27.5 μm particles (GIII) for 10 s, 200 mJ Er:YAG laser (GIV), 300 mJ Er:YAG laser (GV), and 400 mJ Er:YAG laser (GVI), with the last 3 groups under a 10 Hz frequency for 10 s. Restoration repair was done using the same composite. The shear test was done into the Universal testing machine MTS-810. Analyzing the results through ANOVA and Tukey test, no significant differences were found (p-value is 0.5120). Average values analysis showed that superficial treatment with aluminum oxide presented the highest resistance to shear repair interface (8.91MPa) while 400 mJ Er:YAG laser presented the lowest (6.76 MPa). Fracture types analysis revealed that 90% suffered cohesive fractures to GIII. The Er:YAG laser used as superficial treatment of the aged composite resin before the repair showed similar results when used diamond bur and sandblasting with aluminum oxide particles.     

2.94 μm Er:YAG激光热效应数值模拟及实验研究

理论分析了Er:YAG激光晶体的热退偏效应,模拟计算了该晶体棒端面退偏的分布,并进行了偏光干涉实验验证。结果表明,数值模拟和实验结果完全一致,热退偏效应随抽运能量增大而增强,退偏分布呈十字形,最大退偏发生在晶体棒端面上与起偏器偏振方向成45°方位处。同时,还阐明了一种利用临界稳定腔来测量灯抽运脉冲Er:YAG激光器有效热透镜焦距的简单方法,测量出不同抽运功率下Er:YAG晶体的等效热焦距。     

高重频2.94 μm Er:YAG激光器的研究

分析了Er3+离子的能级结构特性和Er:YAG四能级系统的激光速率方程。采用了双灯,双椭圆腔和窄脉冲放电等方式提高了抽运效率; 通过提高激光谐振腔的反射率,降低阈值,从而实现了输出2.94 μm的高重频窄脉冲激光; 采用高压高速层流冷却技术降低了热效应的影响。Er3+:YAG激光器的重复频率为40 Hz,单脉冲输出能量为0.5 J,满足实际应用需要。     

6.1 W single frequency laser output at 1645 nm from a resonantly pumped Er:YAG nonplanar ring oscillator

A monolithic 1645 nm Er:YAG nonplanar ring oscillator (NPRO) resonantly pumped by a 1532 nm fiber laser is demonstrated. For reducing the energy-transfer upconversion effect, a 0.5% doped Er:YAG nonplanar crystal was used. An up to 6.1 W single frequency laser output at 1645 nm was obtained, with a slope efficiency of 55.2% and an optical efficiency of 48.0%. The linewidth of the Er:YAG NPRO was 14.4 kHz.     

YAG晶体中Ce^3＋对Er^3＋的敏化作用

通过求解（Ｃｅ，Ｅｒ）：ＹＡＧ和Ｅｒ：ＹＡＧ的能级跃迁速率方程，讨论了Ｃｅ＾３＋对Ｅｒ＾３＋离子的敏化作用。表明掺Ｃｅ＾３＋可增强Ｅｒ＾３＋离子１．６６μｍ波长的激光强度，但仅改变了１．６６μｍ波长激光粒子数反转，即Ｎ２（＾４Ｉ１２／２）〉Ｎ１（＾４Ｉ１５／２）与Ｅｒ＾３＋离子浓度的关系。     

Fabrication of magneto-optical microstructure by femtosecond laser pulses

We investigate femtosecond laser direct writing (FLDW) in the fabrication of magneto-optical (MO) microstructures. The experimental results show that FDLW can introduce positive refractive index change in the MO materials. With the increase of the writing intensity of femtosecond laser pulses, refractive index change increases, whereas Verdet constant of the damaged area decreases nonlinearly. With suitable writing intensity, we obtain a single-mode waveguide in which Verdet constant is 80% of the bulk MO glass.     

Quantitative morphological evaluation of laser ablation on calculus using full-field optical coherence microscopy

The quantitative morphological evaluation at high resolution is of significance for the study of laser-tissue interaction. In this paper, a full-field optical coherence microscopy (OCM) system with high resolution of ∼2 μm was developed to investigate the ablation on urinary calculus by a free-running Er:YAG laser. We studied the morphological variation quantitatively corresponding to change of energy setting of the Er:YAG laser. The experimental results show that the full-field OCM enables quantitative evaluation of the morphological shape of craters and material removal, and particularly the fine structure. We also built a heat conduction model to simulate the process of laser-calculus interaction by using finite element method. Through the simulation, the removal region of the calculus was calculated according to the temperature distribution. As a result, the depth, width, volume, and the cross-sectional profile of the crater in calculus measured by full-field OCM matched well with the theoretical results based on the heat conduction model. Both experimental and theoretical results confirm that the thermal interaction is the dominant effect in the ablation of calculus by Er:YAG laser, demonstrating the effectiveness of full-field OCM in studying laser-tissue interactions.     

存在固有线双折射光纤费尔德常数的测量

从理论上分析、计算了扭转光纤对小信号电流灵敏的影响，提出了一种新的更为简便的方法测量费尔德常数、并用实验验证。结果表明当光纤扭转率与固有线双折射的比值大于一定数值时，用本方法测量得到的费尔德常数值与理论值十分接近。这一方法为测量具有线双折射光纤的费尔德常数提供了一种新的途径。     

Laser-induced microjet: wavelength and pulse duration effects on bubble and jet generation for drug injection

The expansion of the laser-induced bubble is the main mechanism in the developed microjet injector. In this study, Nd:YAG and Er:YAG lasers are used as triggers of the bubble formation. The impact of the laser parameters on the bubble dynamics is studied and the performance of the injector is evaluated. We found that the main cause of the differences in the bubble behavior comes from the pulse duration and wavelength. For Nd:YAG laser, the pulse duration is very short relative to the bubble lifetime making the behavior of the bubble close to that of the cavitation bubble, while in Er:YAG case, the high absorption in the water and long pulse duration change the initial behavior of the bubble making it close to a vapor bubble. The contraction and subsequent rebound are typical for cavitation bubbles in both cases. The results show that the laser-induced microjet injector generates velocity which is sufficient for the drug delivery for both laser beams of different pulse duration. We estimate the typical velocity within 30–80 m/s range and the breakup length to be larger than 1 mm suitable for trans-dermal drug injection.     

Comparative ablation rate from a Er: YAG laser on enamel and dentin of primary and permanent teeth

This study was conducted to analyze the ablation rate and micromorphological aspects of microcavities in enamel and dentin of primary and permanent teeth using a Er: YAG laser system. Micromorphological evaluation has been performed in terms of permanent teeth; however, little information about Er: YAG laser interaction with primary teeth can be found in the literature. Because children have been the most beneficiary patients with laser therapy in our offices, it is extremely necessary to compare the effects of this kind of laser system on the enamel and dentin of permanent and primary teeth. In this study, we used eleven intact primary anterior exfoliated teeth and six extracted permanent molar teeth. We used a commercial laser system: a Er: YAG Twin Light laser system (Fotona Medical Lasers, Slovenia) at 2940 nm, changing average energy levels per pulse (100, 200, 300, and 400 mJ) producing 48 microcavities in enamel and dentin of primary and permanent teeth. Primary teeth are more easily ablated than are permanent teeth, when related to enamel or dentin. However, while this laser system is capable of slowly revealing the enamel’s microstructure, in dentin only the lowest laser energies permit this kind of observation, more easily decomposing the original tissue aspect, when related to primary or permanent teeth. Statistically, the only different factor at the 5% level was an energy per pulse of 400 mJ, confirming the results found in SEM. Our results showed that dentin in both primary and permanent teeth is less resistant to Er: YAG laser ablation; this fact is easily observed under SEM observation and through the ablation rate evaluation.     

YAG晶体中Cr~（3＋）→Tm~（3＋），Er~（3＋）→Tm~（3＋）的能量

研究了加入敏化离子Ｃｒ３＋和Ｅｒ３＋的Ｔｍ：ＹＡＧ晶体的吸收谱和荧光谱，计算了Ｃｒ３＋、Ｅｒ３＋、Ｔｍ３＋离子的２Ｅ、４Ｉ１３／２、３Ｆ４能态的平均寿命及能量；转移效率、转移速率．得出Ｃｒ３＋→Ｔｍ３＋转移效率为８０％，转移速率为２．１×１０３ｓ－１．由（Ｅｒ，Ｔｍ）：ＹＡＧ的荧光谱可见存在Ｅｒ３＋→Ｔｍ３＋的有效的能量转移．讨论了Ｃｒ３＋→Ｔｍ３＋和Ｅｒ３＋→Ｔｍ３＋能量转移的不同．     

Radially polarized and passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with composite structure of gain medium

We report on a radially polarized and passively Q-switched Nd:YAG/Cr4+:YAG laser.The bulk Nd:YAG crystal is bonded with two undoped YAG crystal end caps to weaken the thermal lens e?ect and thus,enhance the extraction of stored energy in the bulk gain material.In the absence of active water cooling,the average laser power reaches 383 mW with 33% slope efficiency,and the laser pulse achieves 1.457-W peak power,18.9-ns duration,and 13.9-kHz repetition rate with 97.6% polarization purity.     

Perforation of biomodels and biotissues by powerful laser pulses

In vitro perforation of gelatin-based biomodels and myocardium tissue by powerful CO₂ and YAG:Er laser pulses is considered. Features of the thermal and shock-wave effects on the walls of the laser channel are investigated. Patterns of laser channeling in gelatin by a single YAG:Er laser pulse were studied.