FREE-ELECTRON LASERS - RELIABILITY, PERFORMANCE, AND BEAM DELIVERY

The Vanderbilt free-electron laser (FEL) is a continuously tunable sou rce of pulsed, mid-infrared radiation. FEL applications research has b een underway for a decade. Recent experimental advances in FEL ablatio n of soft tissue indicate the potential for FEL-based protocols in sur gery and medicine, In anticipation of these medical applications, the Vanderbilt FEL is being upgraded to meet the reliability and performan ce standards for a medical laser. Facilities for laser surgery have be en constructed and equipped and medical delivery systems are being dev eloped for pre-clinical and clinical research.