A Cut above: Ultrapowerful Laser Offers Greater Precision Sans Heat Damage [Slide Show]

New ultrashort-pulse laser delivers enough power to vaporize more viruses without harming healthy cells

STAINLESS STEEL: The Raydiance Discovery system was used to ablate a 20-micron hole in this high-grade stainless steel. There were no heat-affected zones or mechanical damage to the sample. Images Courtesy of Raydiance, Inc.
DENTAL SURGERY: A large volume trench was milled through the enamel and into the dentin of this human tooth with the Raydiance laser. There was no thermal or mechanical damage to the remaining dental tissue. Images Courtesy of Raydiance, Inc.
LASIK: This porcine corneal flap was cut with the Raydiance laser focused 100 microns below the surface to "cold ablate" (cut without heat) a plane of tissue that could be pulled back as would be done in a LASIK procedure. Collateral damage to surrounding tissue was avoided because no heat was transferred. Images Courtesy of Raydiance, Inc.
IMPROVED SOLAR CELL EFFICIENCY: Raydiance lasers are useful in increasing the efficiency of solar cells by changing the surface structure of crystalline silicon, which in this image has been irradiated to create a high surface area structure such as would be used in photovoltaic cell applications. Images Courtesy of Raydiance, Inc.
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COLD ABLATION: Raydiance's ultrafast laser pulses cut without the use of heat, which enabled them to remove the most flammable parts of this "strike-anywhere" match without igniting it. Images Courtesy of Raydiance, Inc.

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