| The interaction of high-intensity, short-pulsed radiation with liquid water results in dynamic changes in the optical absorption coefficient of water. These changes and their implications, as related to mid-infrared laser ablation of tissue, were not investigated until the late 1980's and early 1990's. Classical models of absorption and heating do not explain the dynamic, non-linear changes in water. The objective of the present work was to quantify the dynamic changes in the absorption coefficient of liquid water as a function of incident energy at three clinically relevant infrared wavelengths (lambda = 2.94, 9.6, 10.6 mum).; To investigate the changes in the absorption spectrum of water in the 3-mum band, a stable, high-energy Q-switched Er:YAG laser emitting 2.94-mum radiation in a near-perfect TEMoo spatial beam profile was developed. Key to the development of this laser was careful attention to the gain medium, optical pump system, system optics, and the thermal system. The final system design was capable of emitting 110 mJ/pulse at of 2--4 Hz with a lamp lifetime exceeding 12 million pulses The laser was used in two sets of experiments in order to quantify the above changes.; First, the laser was used to measure the velocity of the shock front produced by vaporizing a gelatin-based tissue phantom. The measured shock velocity was related to the optical energy absorbed by the tissue phantom and the absorption coefficient, based on the pressure relationships derived using a 1-D piston model for an expanding plume. The shock front velocity measurements indicate that the absorption coefficient is constant for incident fluences less than 20 J/cm2, a result consistent with transmission data. For higher fluences, the data indicate a decrease in the absorption coefficient, which is again consistent with transmission data. Quantification of the absorption coefficient can, however, not be made without violating assumptions that form the basis for the 1-D piston model.; Second, the laser was used to measure the optical transmission across water layers of known thicknesses. The data were used to develop a Dynamic Saturable Absorption (DSA) model to predict the dynamic changes in the absorption coefficient of water as a function of incident energy. The DSA model, based in part upon the homogeneous broadening of an atomic transition in a laser gain medium, accurately predicts the absorption coefficient of water over a wide range of incident fluences. One sees saturation of the absorption at both high and low fluence with a monotonic decrease in absorption with increasing fluence. Transmission measurements were also made at 9.6 and 10.6 mum using a TEA CO2 laser. The data show essentially no change in the absorption coefficient as the fluence is varied.; The results from the experiments make a significant contribution towards an understanding of the relationship among the dynamic optical properties of water and clinically relevant properties such as ablation rate and residual thermal damage. |
