High performance micromachining of sapphire by laser induced plasma assisted ablation(LIPAA)using GHz burst mode femtosecond pulses

GHz burst-mode femtosecond(fs)laser,which emits a series of pulse trains with extremely short intervals of several hundred picoseconds,provides distinct characteristics in materials processing as compared with the conventional irradiation scheme of fs laser(single-pulse mode).In this paper,we take advantage of the moderate pulse interval of 205 ps(4.88 GHz)in the burst pulse for high-quality and high-efficiency micromachining of single crystalline sapphire by laser induced plasma assisted ablation(LIPAA).Specifically,the preceding pulses in the burst generate plasma by ablation of copper placed behind the sapphire substrate,which interacts with the subsequent pulses to induce ablation at the rear surface of sapphire substrates.As a result,not only the ablation quality but also the ablation efficiency and the fabrication resolution are greatly improved compared to the other schemes including single-pulse mode fs laser direct ablation,single-pulse mode fs-LIPAA,and nanosecond-LIPAA.

Transperineal laser ablation of the prostate as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer: The results of a Delphi consensus project

Objective: To evaluate transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) with Echolaser® (Echolaser® TPLA, Elesta S.p.A., Calenzano, Italy) as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) using the Delphi consensus method.Methods: Italian and international experts on BPH and PCa participated in a collaborative consensus project. During two rounds, they expressed their opinions on Echolaser® TPLA for the treatment of BPH and PCa answering online questionnaires on indications, methodology, and potential complications of this technology. Level of agreement or disagreement to reach consensus was set at 75%. If the consensus was not achieved, questions were modified after each round. A final round was performed during an online meeting, in which results were discussed and finalized.Results: Thirty-two out of forty invited experts participated and consensus was reached on all topics. Agreement was achieved on recommending Echolaser® TPLA as a treatment of BPH in patients with ample range of prostate volume, from <40 mL (80%) to >80 mL (80%), comorbidities (100%), antiplatelet or anticoagulant treatment (96%), indwelling catheter (77%), and strong will of preserving ejaculatory function (100%). Majority of respondents agreed that Echolaser® TPLA is a potential option for the treatment of localized PCa (78%) and recommended it for low-risk PCa (90%). During the final round, experts concluded that it can be used for intermediate-risk PCa and it should be proposed as an effective alternative to radical prostatectomy for patients with strong will of avoiding urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Almost all participants agreed that the transperineal approach of this organ-sparing technique is safer than transrectal and transurethral approaches typical of other techniques (97% of agreement among experts). Pre-procedural assessment, technical aspects, post-procedural catheterization, pharmacological therapy, and expected outcomes were discussed, leading to statements and recommendations.Conclusion: Echolaser® TPLA is a safe and effective procedure that treats BPH and localized PCa with satisfactory functional and sexual outcomes.

Effect of sample temperature on femtosecond laser ablation of copper

We conduct an experimental study supported by theoretical analysis of single laser ablating copper to investigate the interactions between laser and material at different sample temperatures,and predict the changes of ablation morphology and lattice temperature.For investigating the effect of sample temperature on femtosecond laser processing,we conduct experiments on and simulate the thermal behavior of femtosecond laser irradiating copper by using a two-temperature model.The simulation results show that both electron peak temperature and the relaxation time needed to reach equilibrium increase as initial sample temperature rises.When the sample temperature rises from 300 K to 600 K,the maximum lattice temperature of the copper surface increases by about 6500 K under femtosecond laser irradiation,and the ablation depth increases by 20%.The simulated ablation depths follow the same general trend as the experimental values.This work provides some theoretical basis and technical support for developing femtosecond laser processing in the field of metal materials.

Structural Analysis of TiC and TiC-C Core-Shell Nanostructures Produced by Pulsed-Laser Ablation

This paper reports on the ablation process of a pure Ti solid target immersed in a C-enriched acetone solution, leading to the production of titanium carbide (TiC) and Ti-C core-shell nanostructures. The used route of synthesis is generally called pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL). The presence of carbon structures in the solution contributed to the carbon content in the produced Ti-based nanomaterials. The atomic composition of the produced nanostructures was analyzed using SEM-EDS, while TEM micrographs revealed the formation of spherical TiC and core-shell nanostructures ranging from 40 to 100 nm. The identification of atomic planes by HRTEM confirmed a 10 nm diameter C-shell with a graphite structure surrounding the Ti-core. Raman spectroscopy allowed for the identification of D and G peaks for graphite and a Raman signal at 380 and 600 cm−1, assigned to TiC. The results contribute to the state-of-the-art production of TiC and Ti-C core-shell nanostructures using the PLAL route.

GHz bursts in MHz burst(BiBurst) enabling high-speed femtosecond laser ablation of silicon due to prevention of air ionization

For the practical use of femtosecond laser ablation, inputs of higher laser intensity are preferred to attain high-throughput material removal. However, the use of higher laser intensities for increasing ablation rates can have detrimental effects on ablation quality due to excess heat generation and air ionization. This paper employs ablation using BiBurst femtosecond laser pulses, which consist of multiple bursts(2 and 5 bursts) at a repetition rate of 64 MHz, each containing multiple intra-pulses(2–20 pulses) at an ultrafast repetition rate of 4.88 GHz, to overcome these conflicting conditions. Ablation of silicon substrates using the BiBurst mode with 5 burst pulses and 20 intra-pulses successfully prevents air breakdown at packet energies higher than the pulse energy inducing the air ionization by the conventional femtosecond laser pulse irradiation(single-pulse mode). As a result, ablation speed can be enhanced by a factor of23 without deteriorating the ablation quality compared to that by the single-pulse mode ablation under the conditions where the air ionization is avoided.

Microwave ablation of solitary T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND The gold standard treatment for papillary thyroid carcinoma is total thyroidectomy and indications for microwave thermal ablation for primary thyroid cancers have not yet been clearly established However,some patients refuse surgery and others have no indication for it,for example patients under palliative care as in this case,or cannot undergo surgery,based on their comorbidities.These indications are described in the most recent Korean,North American and European guidelines.Laser ablation,radiofrequency ablation,and microwave ablation are similarly safe and effective,so the choice should be based on the specific competences and resources of the pertaining centers.These indications are Percutaneous minimally-invasive techniques;they can be useful to stop disease progression and as an alternative to surgery in patients with contraindication or who refuse surgery.We present a case of a thyroid papillary carcinoma with 17 mm effectively treated with microwave thermal ablation and without recurrence after one year of follow up.CASE SUMMARY The authors present a case of a 71-years-old patient with a left lobe papillary thyroid carcinoma with 13 mm×17 mm×13 mm,with no indication for thyroid surgery given the context of another cancer in palliative treatment.Microwave thermoablation was performed on December 2021.Four months later he repeated computed tomography(CT)scan,which showed that the tumor had disappeared.Six months after ablation he underwent a positron emission tomography/CT-fluorodeoxyglucose scan,which didn’t show any evidence of hypermetabolic tumor lesions.CONCLUSION This case shows microwave thermoablation can be a safe and effective alternative to surgery in patients with no conditions to undergo surgery or when they refuse it.By treating the tumor,with this minimally invasive technique,we are stopping its growth and avoiding disease progression.

The Antibacterial Activities of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Laser Ablation in Different Surfactants against Streptococcus mutans

Copper oxide nanoparticles(CuO NPs)were synthesised with laser ablation of a copper sheet immersed in deionized water(DW),cetrimonium bromide(CTAB),and sodium dodecyl sulphate(SDS),respectively.The target was irradiated with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm,600 mJ,a pulse duration of 10 ns,and a repetition rate of 5 Hz.The CuO NPs colloidal were analyzed using UV–Vis spectroscopy,the Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)spectrometer,zeta potential(ZP),X-ray diffraction(XRD),transmission electron microscope(TEM)and field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM).The absorption spectra of CuO NPs colloidal showed peaks at 214,215 and 220 nm and low-intensity peaks at 645,650 and 680 nm for SDS,CTAB and DW,respectively.CuO NPs’colloidal results are(−21.6,1.2,and 80 mV)for negatively,neutrally,and positively charged SDS,DW,and CTAB,respectively.The XRD pattern of the NPs revealed the presence of CuO phase planes(110)(111),(20-2)and(11-1).The TEM images revealed nearly spherical NPs,with sizes ranging from 10–90,10–50,and 10–210 nm for CuO NPs mixed with DW,SDS and CTAB,respectively.FESEM images of all the synthesized samples illustrate the formation of spherical nanostructure and large particles are observable.The CuO NPs were tested for antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans by using the well diffusion method.In this method,CuO NPs prepared in DW at a concentration of 200μg/mL showed a greater inhibition zone against Streptococcus mutans.

Laser ablation of liver tumors:An ancillary technique,or an alternative to radiofrequency and microwave?

Radiofrequency ablation(RFA) is currently the most popular and used ablation modality for the treatment ofnon surgical patients with primary and secondary liver tumors, but in the last years microwave ablation(MWA) is being technically improved and widely rediscovered for clinical use. Laser thermal ablation(LTA) is by far less investigated and used than RFA and MWA, but the available data on its effectiveness and safety are quite good and comparable to those of RFA and MWA. All the three hyperthermia-based ablative techniques, when performed by skilled operators, can successfully treat all liver tumors eligible for thermal ablation, and to date in most centers of interventional oncology or interventional radiology the choice of the technique usually depends on the physician's preference and experience, or technical availability. However, RFA, MWA, and LTA have peculiar advantages and limitations that can make each of them more suitable than the other ones to treat patients and tumors with different characteristics. When all the three thermal ablation techniques are available, the choice among RFA, MWA, and LTA should be guided by their advantages and disadvantages, number, size, and location of the liver nodules, and cost-saving considerations, in order to give patients the best treatment option.

Laser-induced microjet-assisted ablation for high-quality microfabrication

Liquid-assisted laser ablation has the advantage of relieving thermal effects of common laser ablation processes, whereas the light scattering and shielding effects by laser-induced cavitation bubbles, suspended debris, and turbulent liquid flow generally deteriorate laser beam transmission stability, leading to low energy efficiency and poor surface quality. Here, we report that a continuous and directional high-speed microjet will form in the laser ablation zone if laser-induced primary cavitation bubbles asymmetrically collapse sequentially near the air-liquid interface under a critical thin liquid layer. The laser-induced microjet can instantaneously and directionally remove secondary bubbles and ablation debris around the laser ablation region, and thus a very stable material removal process can be obtained. The shadowgraphs of high-speed camera reveal that the average speed of laser-induced continuous microjet can be as high as 1.1 m sin its initial 500 μm displacement. The coupling effect of laser ablation, mechanical impact along with the collapse of cavitation bubbles and flushing of high-speed microjet helps achieve a high material removal rate and significantly improved surface quality. We name this uncovered liquid-assisted laser ablation process as laser-induced microjet-assisted ablation(LIMJAA) based on its unique characteristics. High-quality microgrooves with a large depth-to-width ratio of 5.2 are obtained by LIMJAA with a single-pass laser scanning process in our experiments. LIMJAA is capable of machining various types of difficult-to-process materials with high-quality arrays of micro-channels, square and circle microscale through-holes. The results and disclosed mechanisms in our work provide a deep understanding of the role of laser-induced microjet in improving the processing quality of liquid-assisted laser micromachining.

Liquid vortexes and flows induced by femtosecond laser ablation in liquid governing formation of circular and crisscross LIPSS

Orientations of laser induced periodic surface structures(LIPSS)are usually considered to be governed by the laser polarization state.In this work,we unveil that fluid dynamics induced by femtosecond(fs)laser ablation in liquid(fs-LAL)can easily break this polarization restriction to produce irregular circular-LIPSS(CLIPPS)and crisscross-LIPSS(CCLIPSS).Fs laser ablation of silicon in water shows formation of diverse LIPSS depending on ablation conditions.At a high power of 700 mW(repetition rate of 100 kHz,pulse duration of 457 fs and wavelength of 1045 nm),single/twin CLIPSS are produced at the bottom of macropores of several microns in diameter due to the formation of strong liquid vortexes and occurrence of the vortex shedding effect.Theoretical simulations validate our speculation about the formation of liquid vortex with an ultrahigh static pressure,which can induce the microstructure trenches and cracks at the sidewalls for fs-LAL of Si and tungsten(W)in water,respectively.At a low power of 50 mW,weak liquid vortexes are produced,which only give birth to curved LIPSS in the valleys of grooves.Consequently,it is deduced that liquid vortex plays a crucial role in the formation of macropores.Mountain-like microstructures induce complex fluid dynamics which can cause the formation of CCLIPSS on them.It is believed that liquid vortexes and fluid dynamics presented in this work open up new possibilities to diversify the morphologies of LIPSS formed by fs-LAL.

Grain refining in weld metal using short-pulsed laser ablation during CW laser welding of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy

The 2024 aluminum alloy is used extensively in the aircraft and aerospace industries because of its excellent mechanical properties.However,the weldability of 2024 aluminum alloy is generally low because it contains a high number of solutes,such as copper(Cu),magnesium(Mg),and manganese(Mn),causing solidification cracking.If high speed welding of 2024 aluminum alloy without the use of filler is achieved,the applicability of 2024 aluminum alloys will expand.Grain refining is one of the methods used to prevent solidification cracking in weld metal,although it has never been achieved for high-speed laser welding of 2024 aluminum alloy without filler.Here,we propose a short-pulsed,laser-induced,grain-refining method during continuous wave laser welding without filler.Bead-on-plate welding was performed on a 2024-T3 aluminum alloy at a welding speed of 1 m min−1 with a single mode fiber laser at a wavelength of 1070 nm and power of 1 kW.Areas in and around the molten pool were irradiated with nanosecond laser pulses at a wavelength of 1064 nm,pulse width of 10 ns,and pulse energy of 430 mJ.The grain-refinement effect was confirmed when laser pulses were irradiated on the molten pool.The grain-refinement region was formed in a semicircular shape along the solid–liquid interface.Results of the vertical section indicate that the grain-refinement region reached a depth of 1 mm along the solid–liquid interface.The Vickers hardness test results demonstrated that the hardness increased as a result of grain refinement and that the progress of solidification cracking was suppressed in the grain refinement region.

A New Synthetical Model of High-Power Pulsed Laser Ablation

We develop a new synthetical model of high-power pulsed laser ablation,which considers the dynamicabsorptance,vaporization,and plasma shielding.And the corresponding heat conduction equations with the initial andboundary conditions are given.The numerical solutions are obtained under the reasonable technical parameter condi-tions by taking YBa_2Cu_3O_7 target for example.The space-dependence and time-dependence of temperature in targetat a certain laser fluence are presented,then,the transmitted intensity through plasma plume,space-dependence oftemperature and ablation rate for different laser fluences are significantly analyzed.As a result,the satisfactorily goodagreement between our numerical results and experimental results indicates that the influences of the dynamic absorp-tance,vaporization,and plasma shielding cannot be neglected.Taking all the three mechanisms above simultaneouslyinto account for the first time,we cause the present model to be more practical.

Liver-directed therapies for liver metastases from neuroendocrine neoplasms:Can laser ablation play any role?

Aggressive cytoreduction can prolong survival in patients with unresectable liver metastases(LM)from neuroendocrine neoplasms(NEN),and minimally invasive,liver-directed therapies are gaining increasing interest.Catheter-based treatments are used in disseminated disease,whereas ablation techniques are usually indicated when the number of LM is limited.Although radiofrequency ablation(RFA)is by far the most used ablative technique,the goal of this opinion review is to explore the potential role of laser ablation(LA)in the treatment of LM from NEN.LA uses thinner needles than RFA,and this is an advantage when the tumors are in at-risk locations.Moreover,the multi-fiber technique enables the use of one to four laser fibers at once,and each fiber provides an almost spherical thermal lesion of 12-15 mm in diameter.Such a characteristic enables to tailor the size of each thermal lesion to the size of each tumor,sparing the liver parenchyma more than any other liver-directed therapy,and allowing for repeated treatments with low risk of liver failure.A recent retrospective study reporting the largest series of LM treated with LA documents both safety and effectiveness of LA,that can play a useful role in the multimodality approach to LM from NEN.

Theoretical analysis of ultra-short pulsed laser ablation of SiO_2 material based on a Coulomb explosion model

Based on the kinetic theoretical Vlasov-Poisson equation, a surface Coulomb explosion model of SiO2 material induced by ultra-short pulsed laser radiation is established. The non-equilibrium free electron distribution resulting from the two mechanisms of multi-photon ionization and avalanche ionization is computed. A quantitative analysis is given to describe the Coulomb explosion induced by the self-consistent electric field, and the impact of the parameters of laser pulses on the surface ablation is also discussed. The results show that the electron relaxation time is not constant, but it is related to the microscopic state of the electrons, so the relaxation time approximation is not available on the femtosecond time scale. The ablation depths computed by the theoretical model are in good agreement with the experimental results in the range of pulse durations from 0 to 1 ps.

Comparison on Morphological and Optical Properties of TiO_(2) Thin Films Grown by Single-Pulse and Multi-Pulse Laser Ablation

TiO2 thin films were prepared on glass substrates using the PLD (Pulsed Laser Deposition) technique. In order to carry out the ablation process, a Nd:YAG laser was used emitting in 1064 nm wavelength at 10 Hz repetition rate, set up for operating in both single-pulse and multi-pulse regimes. A comparison of the deposition rate, the optical and morphological properties of the layers obtained from both ablation regimes was made, which showed that the multi-pulsed ablation produced layers with a higher surface quality and better optical properties.

The ablation characteristics of laser-assisted pulsed plasma thruster with metal propellant

In this study,a laser-assisted pulsed plasma thruster(LA-PPT)with a novel configuration is proposed as an electric propulsion thruster which separates laser ablation and electromagnetic acceleration.Owing to the unique structure of the thruster,metals can also be used as propellants,and a higher specific impulse is expected.The ablation quality,morphology,and plume distribution of various metals(aluminium alloy,red copper,and carbon steel)with different laser energies were studied experimentally.The ablation morphology and plume distribution of red copper were more uniform,as compared to those of other metals,and the ablation quality was higher,indicating its greater suitability for LA-PPT.The plume generated by nanosecond laser ablation of aluminium alloy expanded faster,which indicated that the response time of the thruster with aluminium alloy as the propellant was shorter.In addition,when the background pressure was 0.005 Pa,an obvious plume splitting phenomenon was observed in the ablation plume of the pulsed laser irradiating aluminium alloy,which may significantly reduce the utilisation rate of the propellant.

The characteristics of confined ablation in laser propulsion

Compared with direct ablation, confined ablation provides an effective way to obtain a large target momentum and a high coupling coefficient. By using a transparent glass layer to cover the target surface, the coupling coefficient is enhanced by an order of magnitude. With the increase of the gap width between the target surface and the cover layer, the coupling coefficient exponentially decreases. It is found that the coupling coefficient is also related to the thickness of the cover layer.

Laser Ablation Atomic Beam Apparatus with Time-Sliced Velocity Map Imaging for Studying State-to-State Metal Reaction Dynamics

We report a newly constructed laser ablation crossed molecular beam apparatus, equipped with time-sliced velocity map imaging technique, to study state-to-state metal atom reaction dynamics. Supersonic metal atomic beam is generated by laser vaporization of metal rod, and free expansion design without gas flow channel has been employed to obtain a good quality of metal atomic beam. We have chosen the crossed-beam reaction Al＋O2 to test the performance of the new apparatus. Two-rotational-states selected AIO（X^2∑＋, v=0, N and N＋I4） products can be imaged via P（N） and R（N＋14） branches of the Av=l band at the same wavelength, during （1＋1） resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization through the AIO（D2E＋） intermediate state. In our experiment at 244.145 nm for simultaneous transitions of P（15） and R（29） branch, two rings in slice image were clearly distinguishable, corresponding to the AiO（v=0, N=IS） and AIO（v=0, N=29） states respectively. The energy difference between the two rotational levels is 403 cm^-1. The success of two states resolved in our apparatus suggests a better collisional energy resolution compared with the recent research study [J. Chem. Phys. 140, 214304 （2014）].

Thermal ablation for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: Some clarity amid controversies

The increasing incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC)has become a global challenge.Because of its indolent nature,active surveillance(AS)has been proposed as a treatment option in selected PTMC patients to prevent surgery-related complications.However,only a few patients with PTMC receive the AS approach because of the serious psychological burden following the“cancer”diagnosis and the uncertainty of the timing for metastatic dissemination.Ultrasound(US)-guided thermal ablation can bridge the gap in the treatment options of PTMC patients who wish for a minimally invasive management approach.However,it has acquired only marginal attention from the thyroid guideline societies because of concerns regarding incomplete elimination.The recently published guidelines from the European Thyroid Association-Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe and the American Head Neck Society Endocrine Section-initiated global consensus provide the most definitive evidence and essential foundational experience to address the long-term controversy over USguided thermal ablation for low-risk PTMC patient management and facilitate the responsible global dissemination of minimally invasive strategies.

Application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in minimally invasive ablation of benign thyroid nodules

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)before and after minimally invasive ablation procedures for benign thyroid nodule(s)(BTN).Methods:This prospective study included patients with BTNs scheduled to undergo ultrasound-guided minimally invasive ablation treatment.CEUS was performed before and after ablation(at 1 day,and 1,6,and 12 months after ablation).Changes in microvascular perfusion and the volume of BTNs were noted and assessed.Results:Sixty-two patients(62 BTNs),who underwent ablation procedures between June 2016 and August 2020,were included.All lesions were confirmed by biopsy,and histopathological results were obtained before ablation treatment.On preoperative CEUS,the lesions exhibited hyperenhancement(53.23%)or iso-enhancement(46.77%)during the arterial phase,and all lesions exhibited iso-enhancement in the venous and late phases.One day after ablation,none of the BTNs exhibited obvious enhancement on CEUS.One(1.61%)lesion was retreated due to a nodule-like enhancement area detected by CEUS at the 6-month follow-up.The mean nodular volume reduction rate(VRR)at 1,6,and 12 months follow-up demonstrated no significant difference between the two ablation groups(microwave ablation versus radiofrequency ablation).Twelve months after ablation,the mean(±SD)VRR of all BTNs was 60.3±10.3%.Conclusion:CEUS helped guide treatment decisions for BTNs before ablation treatment.Moreover,it could also be used to accurately and noninvasively evaluate treatment efficacy.