Title :
High-power LiNbO3 pockels cell Q-switched flash lamp-pumped Er:YAG laser as a microsurgery instrument for ophthalmologic applications
Author :
Zajac, A. ; Skorczakowski, M. ; Nyga, P. ; Swiderski, J. ; Kasprzak, J. ; Kecik, T. ; Kecik, D.
Author_Institution :
Inst. of Optoelectron., MUT, Warsaw, Poland
Abstract :
Lasers generating in the range of 3 μm are especially desired in medicine (e.g. microsurgery), mainly due to very high water absorption (above 104 cm-1) at 3 μm wavelength range. The main effect occurring when high-peak power μs pulses interact with a biological tissue is an ablation. Additionally, thermal effects should also be considered in terms of free running mode of a laser. One way of eliminating these undesirable thermal effects is the use of Q-switched lasers. In this paper we report on a record 1.4 MW peak power, actively Q-switched Er:YAG laser operating at 2.94 μm. A Pockels cell consisting of a LiNbO3 with dimensions of 35×9×5 mm and crystal faces cut at Brewsters angle was used as an active Q-switch.
Keywords :
Q-switching; erbium; eye; flash lamps; laser applications in medicine; lithium compounds; solid lasers; surgery; 1.4 MW; 2.94 micron; 35 mm; 5 mm; 9 mm; Brewsters angle; LiNbO3; Q-switched flash lamp-pumped Er:YAG laser; Q-switched laser; YAG:Er; YAl5O12:Er; ablation; biological tissue; high-power LiNbO3 pockels cell; microsurgery instrument; ophthalmologic application; thermal effect elimination; water absorption; Biological tissues; Instruments; Laser ablation; Laser beam cutting; Laser modes; Microsurgery; Optical pulses; Pulse measurements; Pump lasers; Surgery;
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe, 2005. CLEO/Europe. 2005 Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8974-3
DOI :
10.1109/CLEOE.2005.1567864
