Laser Beam Deflection Probe Research Articles

Amplification of pressure waves in laser-assisted endodontics with synchronized delivery of Er:YAG laser pulses

When attempting to clean surfaces of dental root canals with laser-induced cavitation bubbles, the resulting cavitation oscillations are significantly prolonged due to friction on the cavity walls and other factors. Consequently, the collapses are less intense and the shock waves that are usually emitted following a bubble’s collapse are diminished or not present at all. A new technique of synchronized laser-pulse delivery intended to enhance the emission of shock waves from collapsed bubbles in fluid-filled endodontic canals is reported. A laser beam deflection probe, a high-speed camera, and shadow photography were used to characterize the induced photoacoustic phenomena during synchronized delivery of Er:YAG laser pulses in a confined volume of water. A shock wave enhancing technique was employed which consists of delivering a second laser pulse at a delay with regard to the first cavitation bubble-forming laser pulse. Influence of the delay between the first and second laser pulses on the generation of pressure and shock waves during the first bubble’s collapse was measured for different laser pulse energies and cavity volumes. Results show that the optimal delay between the two laser pulses is strongly correlated with the cavitation bubble’s oscillation period. Under optimal synchronization conditions, the growth of the second cavitation bubble was observed to accelerate the collapse of the first cavitation bubble, leading to a violent collapse, during which shock waves are emitted. Additionally, shock waves created by the accelerated collapse of the primary cavitation bubble and as well of the accompanying smaller secondary bubbles near the cavity walls were observed. The reported phenomena may have applications in improved laser cleaning of surfaces during laser-assisted dental root canal treatments.

Optodynamics: dynamic aspects of laser beam–surface interaction

This paper presents a synthesis of the results of our original research in the area of laser–material interaction and pulsed laser material processing with a special emphasis on the dynamic aspects of laser beam–surface interaction, which include the links between the laser material removal and the resulting material motion. In view of laser material processing, a laser beam is not only considered as a tool but also as a generator of information about the material transformation. The information is retained and conveyed by different kinds of optically induced mechanical waves. Several generation/detection schemes have been developed to extract this information, especially in the field of non-destructive material evaluation. Blast and acoustic waves, which propagate in the air surrounding the work-piece, have been studied using microphone detection as well as various setups of the laser beam deflection probe. Stress waves propagating through the work-piece have been studied using piezoelectric transducers and laser interferometers.

Optodynamic monitoring of laser tattoo removal

The goal of this research is to use the information contained in the mechanisms occurring during the laser tattoo removal process. We simultaneously employed a laser-beam deflection probe (LBDP) to measure the shock wave and a camera to detect the plasma radiation, both originating from a high-intensity laser-pulse interaction with a tattoo. The experiments were performed in vitro (skin phantoms), ex vivo (marking tattoos on pig skin), and in vivo (professional and amateur decorative tattoos). The LBDP signal includes the information about the energy released during the interaction and indicates textural changes in the skin, which are specific for different skin and tattoo conditions. Using both sensors, we evaluated a measurement of threshold for skin damage and studied the effect of multiple pulses. In vivo results show that a prepulse reduces the interaction strength and that a single strong pulse produces better removal results.

Measurements of cavitation bubble dynamics based on a beam-deflection probe

We present an optodynamic measurement of a laser-induced cavitation bubble and its oscillations based on a scanning technique using a laser beam-deflection probe. The deflection of the beam was detected with a fast quadrant photodiode which was built into the optical probe. The applied experimental setup enabled us to carry out one- or two-dimensional scanning of the cavitation bubble, automatic control of the experiment, data acquisition and data processing. Shadow photography was used as a comparative method during the experiments.

Analysis of sonic waves generated during laser engraving of printed circuits

We present an experiment where sonic waves generated during the laser engraving of printed circuit boards (PCB) were acquired and analyzed. The sonic waves were detected simultaneously using a microphone and a laser beam deflection probe. An efficient windowed peak-to-peak signal processing algorithm was developed to examine the relation between the detected signals and the engraving quality. The results of signal analysis were compared to the engraving surface topography, measured by means of optical microscopy with extended depth-of-field digital photography. The results show that it is possible to distinguish between shallow, good, and burnt engravings by examination of the acquired sonic signals. This observation opens the possibility of automated monitoring or even control of the process of laser engraving PCBs using sonic wave detection.

Optodynamic monitoring of laser micro-drilling of glass by using a laser probe

We present a new method for monitoring of the laser micro-drilling process. The method is based on detection of acoustic waves in air above the processed sample using a laser beam deflection probe (LBDP). We present an augmentation of the experimental set-up by means of a digital micrographic system which enables the acquisition of images of the plasma plume and of the hole cross-section during a drilling sequence. Comparing the acquired images with the detected LBDP signals, we examine the drilling process from a new perspective.

Optodynamic monitoring of the laser drilling of through-holes in glass ampoules

We present an accurate and reliable method for the detection of wall perforation during the excimer-laser micro-drilling of glass ampoules and vials. The method is based on the detection of shock waves generated in the air during the drilling process using a laser-beam deflection probe. An analysis of the detected optodynamic signals gives important information about the progress of the drilling process, and we take this as the basis for the presented online process-monitoring method. We show that a significant change in the signal's amplitude is observed when the wall of a liquid-filled ampoule is perforated and the exit process point is in contact with the liquid, and that this signal change can serve as an indicator of wall perforation. We have verified this optodynamic method by examining the processed holes using optical and electron microscopy as well as with a non-destructive gas-leakage test method. The described method was employed for the production of test ampoules used for the adjustment of a high-voltage leak-detection device in a pharmaceutical production line. Holes with a diameter of less than 10 µm were produced in the walls of 0.5 mm thick glass ampoules using a XeCl excimer laser.

Analysis of optodynamic sources generated during laser-induced breakdown in water

We propose a method for evaluating the size of the laser-induced breakdown region in water based on the detection and analysis of optodynamic waves. The breakdown region is an optodynamic source of pressure waves that propagate into the surrounding liquid as an ultrasonic pulse. In the experiment the optical breakdown was generated by a standard ophthalmic Nd:YAG laser with a pulse duration of 10 ns and a maximum energy per pulse of 10 mJ. The pulses were detected inside the liquid with a laser-beam deflection probe. The waveforms were captured in the far-field and analyzed. The analysis provides information about the apparent size of the optodynamic source, which is directly related to the size of the breakdown region. The proposed method can be adapted for online monitoring.

Real-time optodynamic monitoring of pulsed laser decoating rate

This paper deals with a laser-cleaning process for removing a layer of paint. The effects of each individual laser pulse were monitored by a three-probe system. Ultrasonic signals from the rear surface of the substrate were obtained using an arm compensated Michelson interferometer, the optoacoustic waves in the surrounding air were detected using a laser beam deflection probe and the shape of the growing crater was measured using a laser anamorph profilometer. Two different cleaning lasers were used: an Excimer and a Nd:YAG laser. Typical parameters of the optodynamic signals versus the laser-pulse number are presented. A linear correlation between the quantity of ablated material and the integral of the ultrasonic signals was found together with an exponential relationship between the time-of-flight of the optoacoustic signals and the decoating rate.

Measurement of energy conversion efficiency during laser ablation by a multiple laser beam deflection probe

We have developed a novel multiple-pass laser beam deflection (LBD) arrangement for detection of acoustic and weak shock waves in fluids. The arrangement gives us the possibility to acquire temporally resolved information (signal waveforms) on single and non-reproducible events in several points of space. We have applied the new arrangement to investigate spherical shocks generated during laser ablation of metallic targets in air. For each ablation event we determine shock transit times at several points in space and fit the data to the theoretical shock trajectory in order to determine the blast energy released in the shock wave. This multiple-point procedure improves the accuracy and reliability of blast energy measurement.

Multiple-pass laser beam deflection probe for detection of acoustic and weak shock waves in fluids

We examine a novel laser beam deflection arrangement for detection of acoustic and weak shock waves in fluids. Novelty of the arrangement is folding of the probe beam by two parallel plane mirrors in such a way that the probe beam passes the wave propagation region several times before it reaches the deflection-detecting photodetector. In this way the probed wave interacts with several segments of the probing beam in sequence. A single oscilloscope trace of the photodetector output thus gives us the possibility to study the evolution of the probed wave at several distances from the source. To demonstrate the potentials of the arrangement we present wave forms of spherical blast waves detected in air during laser ablation of solid samples. We also discuss a simple theoretical model that qualitatively explains the most characteristic features of this arrangement.

Transfer function of the laser beam deflection probe for detection of cylindrical acoustic waves in a transverse arrangement

Transfer function of the laser beam deflection probe for detection of cylindrical acoustic waves in a transverse arrangement

A study of energy conversion during Nd :YAG laser ablation of metal surfaces in air by means of a laser beam deflection probe

We measure shock wavefront transition times of optoacoustic (OA) transients generated in air during laser ablation and employ the solution of the point explosion model to determine blast energy of the OA transients. We examine the dependence of OA energy conversion efficiency on laser energy and pulse duration.

Laser beam deflection monitoring of Nd: YAG laser ablation: pulse shape and repetition rate effects

The laser beam deflection probe has been employed to study blast waves generated during ablation of metallic surfaces by sequences of 1.06 μm Nd:YAG laser pulses separated by less than 1μs. A fluence threshold has been found, below which the effects of individual pulses can be resolved by the laser probe. Above that, the deflection signal has a similar form as if the surface were irradiated with a single pulse. Analysis of the signals in terms of the spherical blast wave theory shows that a pulse sequence generates a weaker blast wave than a single pulse of equal total energy. On the other hand, the sequence yields a higher etch depth than the single pulse.

Response functions of the laser beam deflection probe for detection of spherical acoustic waves

Detection of spherical acoustic waves by the laser beam deflection probe is examined. The probe is modeled as a linear system transforming acoustic wave form into transient angular deflection of the probe beam. Transfer and step response functions are derived assuming thin Gaussian laser beam and small deflection angle. It is demonstrated that the probe behaves as a half-order differentiator when short acoustic transients are detected far from the source. Theoretical predictions are compared to the results of frequency analysis of optoacoustic signals detected by the deflection probe. Good agreement is found.

A study of blast waveforms detected simultaneously by a microphone and a laser probe during laser ablation

We examine blast waves generated in air during irradiation of absorbing samples with Nd: YAG laser pulses of fluences exceeding the ablation threshold. Blast waves were detected simultaneously by a wideband microphone and a laser beam deflection probe. By a comparative analysis of both signals in the time and frequency domain we investigate characteristic features of their nonlinear waveform evolution. To explain the observed phenomena we employ the weak shock solution of the point explosion model.