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In this paper, we investigate the influence of the following parameters: pulse duration, pulse repetition rate, line-to-line and pulse-to-pulse overlaps, and scanning strategy on the ablation of AISI 316L steel and CuZn37 brass with a nanosecond, 1064-nm, Yb fiber laser. The results show that the material removal rate (MRR) increases monotonically with pulse duration up to the characteristic repetition rate (f0) where pulse energy and average power are maximal. The maximum MRR is reached at a repetition rate that is equal or slightly higher as f0. The exact value depends on the correlation between the fluence of the laser pulses and the pulse repetition rate, as well as on the material properties of the sample. The results show that shielding of the laser beam by plasma and ejected material plays an important role in reducing the MRR. The surface roughness is mainly influenced by the line-to-line and the pulse-to-pulse overlaps, where larger overlap leads to lower roughness. Process optimization indicates that while operating with laser processing parameters resulting in the highest MRR, the best ratio between the MRR and surface roughness appears at ~50% overlap of the laser pulses, regardless of the material being processed.

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Laser ablation in liquids is growing in popularity for various applications including nanoparticle production, breakdown spectroscopy, and surface functionalization. When laser pulse ablates the solid target submerged in liquid, a cavitation bubble develops. In case of "finite" geometries of ablated solids, liquid dynamical phenomena can occur inside the bubble when the bubble overflows the surface edge. To observe this dynamics, we use diffuse illumination of a flashlamp in combination with a high-speed videography by exposure times down to 250 ns. The developed theoretical modelling and its comparison with the experimental observations clearly prove that this approach widens the observable area inside the bubble. We thereby use it to study the dynamics of laser-induced cavitation bubble during its expansion over a sharp-edge ("cliff-like" 90°) geometry submerged in water, ethanol, and polyethylene glycol 300. The samples are 17 mm wide stainless steel plates with thickness in the range of 0.025-2 mm. Bubbles are induced on the samples by 1064-nm laser pulses with pulse durations of 7-60 ns and pulse energies of 10-55 mJ. We observe formation of a fixed-type secondary cavity behind the edge where low-pressure area develops due to bubble-driven flow of the liquid. This occurs when the velocity of liquid overflow exceeds ~20 m s-1. A re-entrant liquid injection with up to ~40 m s-1 velocity may occur inside the bubble when the bubble overflows the edge of the sample. Formation and characteristics of the jet evidently depend on the relation between the breakdown-edge offset and the bubble energy, as well as the properties of the surrounding liquid. Higher viscosity of the liquid prevents the generation of the jet.

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Laser-textured surfaces enabling reversible wettability switching and improved optical properties are gaining importance in cutting-edge applications, including self-cleaning interfaces, tunable optical lenses, microfluidics, and lab-on-chip systems. Fabrication of such surfaces by combining nanosecond-laser texturing and low-temperature annealing of titanium Ti-6Al-4V alloy was demonstrated by Lian et al. in ACS Appl. Mater. Inter. 2020, 12 (5), 6573-6580. However, it is difficult to agree with (i) their contradictory explanation of the wettability transition due to low-temperature annealing and (ii) their theoretical description of the optical behavior of the laser-textured titanium surface. This comment provides an alternative view-supported by both experimental results and theoretical investigation-on how the results by Lian et al. could be interpreted more correctly. The annealing experiments clarify that controlled contamination is crucial in obtaining consistent surface wettability alterations after low-temperature annealing. Annealing of laser-textured titanium at 100 °C in contaminated and contaminant-free furnaces leads to completely different wettability transitions. Analysis of the surface chemistry by XPS and ToF-SIMS reveals that (usually overlooked) contamination with hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) may arise from the silicone components of the furnace. In this case, a homogeneous thin PDMS film over the entire surface results in water repellency (contact angle of 161° and roll-off angle of 15°). In contrast, annealing under the same conditions but in a contaminant-free furnace preserves the initial superhydrophilicity, whereas the annealing at 350 °C turns the hydrophobicity "off". The theoretical calculations of optical properties demonstrate that the laser-induced oxide layer formed during the laser texturing significantly influences the surface optical behavior. Consequently, the interference of light reflected by the air-oxide and the oxide-metal interfaces should not be neglected and enables several advanced approaches to exploit such optical properties.

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Functionalized interfaces enhancing phase-change processes have immense applicability in thermal management. Here, a methodology for fabrication of surfaces enabling extreme boiling heat transfer performance is demonstrated, combining direct nanosecond laser texturing and chemical vapor deposition of a hydrophobic fluorinated silane. Multiple strategies of laser texturing are explored on aluminum with subsequent nanoscale hydrophobization. Both superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces with laser-engineered microcavities exhibit significant enhancement of the pool boiling heat transfer. Surfaces with superhydrophobic microcavities allow for enhancements of a heat transfer coefficient of over 500%. Larger microcavities with a mean diameter of 4.2 µm, achieved using equidistant laser scanning separation, induce an early transition into the favorable nucleate boiling regime, while smaller microcavities with a mean diameter of 2.8 µm, achieved using variable separation, provide superior performance at high heat fluxes. The enhanced boiling performance confirms that the Wenzel wetting regime is possible during boiling on apparently superhydrophobic surfaces. A notable critical heat flux enhancement is demonstrated on superhydrophobic surfaces with an engineered microstructure showing definitively the importance and concomitant effect of both the surface wettability and topography for enhanced boiling. The fast, low-cost, and repeatable fabrication process has great potential for advanced thermal management applications.

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The interaction between liquid flow and solid boundary can result in cavitation formation when the local pressure drops below vaporization threshold. The cavitation dynamics does not depend only on basic geometry, but also on surface roughness, chemistry and wettability. From application point of view, controlling cavitation in fluid flows by surface functionalization is of great importance to avoid the unwanted effects of hydrodynamic cavitation (erosion, noise and vibrations). However, it could be also used for intensification of various physical and chemical processes. In this work, the surfaces of 10-mm stainless steel cylinders are laser textured in order to demonstrate how hydrodynamic cavitation behavior can be controlled by surface modification. The surface properties are modified by using a nanosecond (10-28 ns) fiber laser (wavelength of 1060 nm). In such a way, surfaces with different topographies and wettability were produced and tested in a cavitation tunnel at different cavitation numbers (1.0-2.6). Cavitation characteristics behind functionalized cylindrical surfaces were monitored simultaneously by high-speed visualization (20,000 fps) and high frequency pressure transducers. The results clearly show that cavitation characteristics differ significantly between different micro-structured surfaces. On some surfaces incipient cavitation is delayed and cavitation extent decreased in comparison with the reference - a highly polished cylinder. It is also shown that the increased surface wettability (i.e., hydrophilicity) delays the incipient cavitation.

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Controlling the surface wettability represents an important challenge in the field of surface functionalization. Here, the wettability of a stainless-steel surface is modified by 30-ns pulses of a Nd:YAG marking laser (λ = 1064 nm) with peak fluences within the range 3.3⁻25.1 J cm-2. The short- (40 days), intermediate- (100 days) and long-term (1 year) superhydrophilic-to-(super)hydrophobic transition of the laser-textured surfaces exposed to the atmospheric air is examined by evaluating its wettability in the context of the following parameters: (i) pulse fluence; (ii) scan line separation; (iii) focal position and (iv) wetting period due to contact angle measurements. The results show that using solely a short-term evaluation can lead to wrong conclusions and that the faster development of the hydrophobicity immediately after laser texturing usually leads to lower final contact angle and vice versa, the slower this transition is, the more superhydrophobic the surface is expected to become (possibly even with self-cleaning ability). Depending on laser fluence, the laser-textured surfaces can develop stable or unstable hydrophobicity. Stable hydrophobicity is achieved, if the threshold fluence of 12 J cm-2 is exceeded. We show that by nanosecond-laser texturing a lotus-leaf-like surface with a contact angle above 150° and roll-off angle below 5° can be achieved.

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Nucleate boiling enables effective cooling and heat transfer at low temperature differences between a heated surface and the surrounding fluid. It is utilized in many applications, ranging from large power plants to small microelectronics. To enhance the boiling process by minimization of the surface temperature and increase the maximum attainable heat flux, several approaches for surface modifications were recently developed. However, each of them has at least one important drawback, including challenging and expensive production, mechanical and/or thermal instability or problematic scale-up. Herein, a straightforward, robust and flexible method using a nanosecond fiber laser for production of surfaces with multi-scale micro-cavities (with diameters ranging from 0.2 to 10 µm) is developed. Examination of these surfaces in two very contrasting fluids - water, which is polar, has high surface tension and high latent heat of vaporization; and non-polar, dielectric tetradecafluorohexane (FC-72) with low surface tension and much lower latent heat - confirms that such surfaces enable enhanced heat transfer and controlled boiling in combination with diverse fluids. This demonstration suggests that the developed method has the potential to overcome the current limitations for further miniaturization of microelectronic devices and to increase performance and safety in high heat flux systems.

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We present an optical study of elastic wave propagation inside skin phantoms consisting of agar gel as induced by an Er:YAG (wavelength of 2.94 µm) laser pulse. A laser-beam-deflection probe is used to measure ultrasonic propagation and a high-speed camera is used to record displacements in ablation-induced elastic transients. These measurements are further analyzed with a custom developed image recognition algorithm utilizing the methods of particle image velocimetry and spline interpolation to determine point trajectories, material displacement and strain during the passing of the transients. The results indicate that the ablation-induced elastic waves propagate with a velocity of 1 m/s and amplitudes of 0.1 mm. Compared to them, the measured velocities of ultrasonic waves are much higher, within the range of 1.42-1.51 km/s, while their amplitudes are three orders of magnitude smaller. This proves that the agar gel may be used as a rudimental skin and soft tissue substitute in biomedical research, since its polymeric structure reproduces adequate soft-solid properties and its transparency for visible light makes it convenient to study with optical instruments. The results presented provide an insight into the distribution of laser-induced elastic transients in soft tissue phantoms, while the experimental approach serves as a foundation for further research of laser-induced mechanical effects deeper in the tissue.

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Thickness-sensitive, spectrally selective paints based on a silane treatment of pigments were prepared with different pigment-volume concentrations. The critical pigment-volume concentration was determined by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, while the pigment particle size distribution was determined with ultrasound spectroscopy. The selectivity versus thickness relation of a paint with a near-critical pigment-volume concentration was studied spectroscopically through performance criteria. Its nonlinearity was shown to be related to the surface topography. This relation was further supported by hydrophobicity measurements. Heat-gathering tests in a simulated solar collector supported the spectroscopic determination of an optimal dry-film thickness.

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Laser-enhanced irrigation of complex root canals appears to be a very promising technique to improve the outcome of root canal treatment. This applies, in particular, if the technique can be effective at very low laser energies in irrigating not only the main canal but also the small lateral canals. This is important in order to avoid potential undesirable effects at higher laser energies such as temperature increase, dentin ablation, or extrusion of irrigating solution beyond the apical foramen. An improved understanding of the role of laser parameters, such as laser wavelength and pulse duration, in irrigation of lateral canals is therefore desired in order to optimize treatment efficacy. The influence of laser wavelength and pulse duration on cavitation phenomena was studied using shadow photography and a method of measuring fluid flow in lateral canals based on tracking of movements of small air bubbles naturally forming in liquid as a result of laser agitation. A simulated model of a root canal including a narrow lateral canal designed to represent typical root canal morphology was used for the water flow measurements. The following three laser wavelengths with relatively high absorption in water were studied: Er:YAG (2.94 µm), Er,Cr:YSGG (2.73 µm), and Nd:YAP (1.34 µm). Among the three wavelengths studied, the Er:YAG laser wavelength was found to be the most effective in formation of cavitation bubbles and in generating fluid motions within narrow lateral canals. A comparison between the shadow photography and fluid motion data indicates that it is the bubble's radius and not the bubble's volume that predominantly influences the fluid motion within lateral canals. Based on the results of our study, it appears that effective minimally invasive laser-assisted irrigation can be performed with low Er:YAG laser pulse energies below 10 mJ.

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BACKGROUND: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most common post-operative complication associated with cataract surgery and is mostly treated with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Here, we demonstrate the use of high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a technique for PCO analysis. Additionally, we evaluate the influence of PCO types and the distance between the intraocular lens (IOL) and the posterior capsule (PC), i.e., the IOL/PC distance, on the total-pulse energy required for the Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. METHODS: 47 eyes with PCO scheduled for the Nd:YAG procedure were examined and divided into four categories: fibrosis, pearl, mixed type and late-postoperative capsular bag distension syndrome. Using custom-made computer software for OCT image analysis, the IOL/PC distances in two dimensions were measured. The IOL/PC distances were compared with those of a control group of 15 eyes without PCO. The influence of the different PCO types and the IOL/PC distance on the total-pulse energy required for the Nd:YAG procedure was analyzed. RESULTS: The total-pulse energy required for a laser capsulotomy differs significantly between PCO types (p = 0.005, Kruskal-Wallis test). The highest energy was required for the fibrosis PCO type, followed by mixed, pearl and late-postoperative capsular bag distension syndrome. The IOL/PC distance also significantly influenced the total-pulse energy required for laser capsulotomy (p = 0.028, linear regression). Lower total-pulse energy was expected for a larger IOL/PC distance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the PCO types and the IOL/PC distance influence the total-pulse energy required for Nd:YAG capsulotomy. The presented OCT method has the potential to become an additional tool for PCO characterization. Our results are important for a better understanding of the photodisruptive mechanisms in Nd:YAG capsulotomy.

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When an erbium-laser pulse is directed into water through a small-diameter fiber tip (FT), the absorption of the laser energy superheats the water and its boiling induces a vapor bubble. We present the influence of different FT geometries and pulse parameters on the vapor-bubble dynamics. In our investigation, we use a free-running erbium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) (λ=2.94 µm) laser that was designed for laser dentistry. Its pulse is directed into the water through FTs with a flat and conical geometry. Our results show that in the case of the conical FT, a spherical bubble is induced, while a channel-like bubble develops for the flat FT. The ratio between the mechanical energy of the liquid medium and the pulse energy, which we call the optodynamic energy-conversion efficiency, is examined using shadow photography. The results indicate that this efficiency is significantly larger when a conical FT is used and it increases with increasing pulse energy and decreasing pulse duration. The spherical bubbles are compared with the Rayleigh model in order to present the influence of the pulse duration on the dynamics of the bubble's expansion.

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We describe a high-speed, two-frame shadowgraph method for the two-dimensional visualization of an expanding laser-induced plasma and shock wave in two time instances. The developed experimental method uses a 30 ps, green-laser, polarized pulse for the direct and delayed illumination separated by a variable time delay in the range from 300 ps to 30 ns. Since the exposed images of a single event are captured with two CCD cameras, the established method enables velocity measurements of the fast laser-induced phenomena within the nanosecond excitation-laser pulse as well as at later times-when the excitation-laser radiation has already ended.

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We present the influence of alignment and the real properties of optical components on the performance of a two-detector homodyne displacement-measuring quadrature laser interferometer. An experimental method, based on the optimization of visibility and sensitivity, was established and theoretically described to assess the performance and stability of the interferometer. We show that the optimal performance of such interferometers is achieved with the iterative alignment procedure described.

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The interference effects caused by the Fresnel reflections of a Gaussian beam on the boundaries of a dielectric plate, which can be considered as a Fabry-Perot etalon, were theoretically and experimentally investigated. In addition to the incident angle and the polarization of the incident light, two additional parameters--the plate's parallelism and the temperature--which are often neglected, were analyzed. Based on the theoretical predictions and the measured behavior of the transmittance of the dielectric plate a new, temperature-controlled variable high-power-laser attenuator is proposed. Unwanted changes in the plate's transmittance caused by the absorption of laser pulses within the plate are also presented. These phenomena are important in many applications where dielectric plates are used for a variety of purposes.

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The influence of quadrature phase shift on the measured displacement error was experimentally investigated using a two-detector polarizing homodyne laser interferometer with a quadrature detection system. Common nonlinearities, including the phase-shift error, were determined and effectively corrected by a robust data-processing algorithm. The measured phase-shift error perfectly agrees with the theoretically determined phase-shift error region. This error is systematic, periodic and severely asymmetrical around the nominal displacement value. The main results presented in this paper can also be used to assess and correct the detector errors of other interferometric and non-interferometric displacement-measuring devices based on phase-quadrature detection.

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We performed a single-shot, contactless measurement of ultrasonic waves on a laser-propelled rod with a homodyne quadrature laser interferometer (HQLI) during the entire duration of its motion. This is the first such experimental demonstration of the laser-induced motion of an elastic body where the most important mechanisms that reveal the nature of its motion are presented and explained. Furthermore, these measurements quantitatively demonstrate that the HQLI is an appropriate tool for monitoring high-amplitude (1.3 microm) and high-frequency (200 MHz) ultrasonic waves on moving objects. The applicability of the HQLI can also be extended to measure other optodynamic and high-frequency transient phenomena with a constant sensitivity and a resolution below 1 nm.

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