Jp. Fischer et al., PLASMA-MEDIATED ABLATION OF BRAIN-TISSUE WITH PICOSECOND LASER-PULSES, Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics, 58(6), 1994, pp. 493-499
Plasma-mediated ablations of brain tissue have been performed using pi
cosecond laser pulses obtained from a Nd:YLF oscillator/regenerative a
mplifier system. The laser pulses had a pulse duration of 35 ps at a w
avelength of 1.053 mum. The pulse energy varied from 90 muJ to 550 muJ
at a repetition rate of 400 Hz. The energy density at the ablation th
reshold was measured to be 20 J/cm2. Comparisons have been made to 19
ps laser pulses at 1.68 mum and 2.92 mum from an OPG/OPA system and to
microsecond pulse trains at 2.94 mum from a free running Er:YAG laser
. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed to
judge the depth and the quality of the ablated cavities. No thermal da
mage was induced by either of the picosecond laser systems. The Er:YAG
laser, on the other hand, showed 20 mum wide lateral damage zones due
to the longer pulse durations and the higher pulse energies.