Potassium Sulfate: A New Candidate to Explore Non-Photochemical Laser-Induced Nucleation Mechanisms

In this paper, we report a study on the nucleation behavior of potassium sulfate (K2SO4) from aqueous solutions under the influence of unfocused nanosecond laser pulses. The objective is to contribute to the general understanding of the Non-Photochemical Laser-Induced Nucleation (NPLIN) mechanism. First, the influence of several parameters such as supersaturation as well as laser parameters (pulse energy, number of pulses, and laser polarization) on induction time, probability of nucleation and mean number of crystals in comparison with spontaneous nucleation was investigated. Then, we examined the influence of gas composition (i.e., degassing and gas bubbling (CO2 and N2)) of the supersaturated solutions on the NPLIN kinetics, showing no correlation between gas content (or nature) on the crystallization behavior. Our study questions the role of impurities within the solution regarding the mechanism of laser-induced nucleation.

Histological analysis of tattoo removal by water cavitation bubbles and jet formation using Nd: YAG and nanosecond laser pulses

Background: For efficient laser tattoo removal, photodisruption of tissue can ensure a very powerful means to shutter ink granules. At very high laser intensity level, photodisruption dominates and selective photothermolysis will have secondary effect in clearing the tattoo ink. Lower laser fluence is all what to trigger non-linear photons absorption and the generation of exploding cavitation bubbles that can tremendously hammer the ink granules. Subjects, materials, and methods: Three domestic white rabbits; each received simultaneous injections of a color pigment tattoo under general anesthesia, followed by a single session of (1064) Q.S Nd: YAG nanosecond laser pulses for tattoo removal. Results and Discussion: Spectroscopic properties of black, dark brown and red tattoo inks were studied. Near threshold laser fluence was selected to select the optimum conditions for obtaining scar-free treatment. Histological images of the biopsies, taken after thirty days of laser treatment of black, dark brown and red tattoos showed a marked reduction in pigment granules size with no appearance of hyperplasia or inflammatory cells. Coexistence of macrophages was suggested to be responsible for actively phagocytizing the laser-dispersed tattoo fragments. Conclusion: skin biopsies have demonstrated ink granules local redistribution. Photodisruption at 1064nm laser effectively targeted black and dark brown tattoo pigments by the generation of cavitation bubbles. The weaker laser light absorption of red pigments at 1064nm only showed tattoo clearance when using 532nm wavelength.

Modification of Enamel Surface Morphology and Strength Using Nd:YAG Laser with Proper and Safe Parameters

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a Nd:YAG laser on enamel surface morphology and hardness using different energies and pulses. Materials and Methods Twenty freshly extracted mature teeth were collected and sectioned. An Nd:YAG laser operating at 1,064 nm wavelength and providing up to 9 nanosecond laser pulses (1 J), with a laser spot diameter of 0.8 mm and irradiated surface area of 3 × 3 mm2, was applied to carbon black-coated teeth. The samples were randomly divided into two main groups; each group comprised 20 samples, according to the treatment parameters. The first group was further divided into subgroups A, B1, C1, and D1 using the different energies of 0, 350, 450, and 550 mJ, respectively, with 1 pulse for B1, C1, and D1. The second group was subdivided into A, B2, C2, and D2 and treated with 200 mJ, 3, 4, and 6 pulses for subgroups B2, C2 and D2, respectively. Subgroup A was the same sample for both groups as control with 0 pulses and 0 energy. Morphological features and microhardness were evaluated after laser exposure. Statistical Analysis Analysis of variance (Kruskal–Wallis test) was used to compare all subgroups, followed by the Scheefy significant difference post hoc test to determine the highest significance of the subgroups. Alpha < 0.05 was set as significant. Results The changes in the surface morphology of the enamel included increased crystal sizes, cracks, fissures, and voids with increasing energies and pulses. In group 1, the microhardness was 405.6, 562.7, 612, and 637 for energies of 0, 350, 450, and 550 mJ, respectively. In group 2, the microhardness was 405.6, 673, 866, and 1,050 for 0, 3, 4, and 6 pulses, respectively. Conclusion The Nd:YAG laser is efficient for increasing the microhardness of the enamel surface with minimum morphological damage by applying low energy with more pulses.