Crystal-Reconstructed BiVO4 Semiconductor Photoelectrochemical Sensor for Ultra-Sensitive Tumor Biomarkers Detection

In this work, we develop a crystal-reconstructed-BiVO4 aptamer photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor by high-energy laser treatment technique. This biosensor achieves a limit of detection (LOD) (0.82 ag/mL), linear detection range (1...

Effectiveness of high-intensity laser light for treating large kidney stones

Introduction. This work analyzes efficacy, convenience, and safety of a high-energy laser light technique for destructing large kidney stones in patients with nephrolithiasis in comparison to other contact methods of nephrolithotripsy.Material and methods. The effectiveness of contact laser nephrolithotripsy is compared to that of hydropneumatic and ultrasonic lithotripsy. Holmium green laser light was used in this laser procedure. For other techniques, Swiss LithoClast Master devices were used. The authors have analyzed outcomes obtained after operating on 73 patients with large and complex kidney stones.Results. To evaluate the effectiveness, basic parameters were taken (degree of kidney cleaning of stones and their fragments, probability of migration of stone fragments, blood loss, duration of surgery, complications, etc.). In addition, the correlation between basic parameters was obtained and analyzed.Conclusion. The present trial has shown that laser contact lithotripsy is the most optimal technique for destructing large and complex kidney stones in comparison to traditional modalities such as contact hydropneumatic and ultrasonic lithotripsy. It takes more time but provides more effective cleaning from calculi.

Numerical Simulations of Laser-Induced Shock Experiments on Graphite

The development of particle accelerators with ever increasing energies is raising the standards of the structures which could interact with the particle beams. These structures could be subjected to strong shockwaves in accidental scenarios. In order to test materials in such conditions, one of the most promising techniques is the impact with high-power lasers. In view of the setting up of future experimental campaigns within the Petawatt High-Energy Laser for Heavy Ion Experiments (PHELIX), the present work aims at the development of a numerical approach for the simulation of graphite impacted by laser beams. In particular, the focus is on the spallation damage caused by shockwave reflection: a sufficiently intense laser beam could ablate the matter until plasma conditions, hence producing a shockwave which could travel inside the material and reach a free surface. A numerical model to properly describe the spall fragmentation of graphite has been calibrated on the basis of literature-available experimental data. The numerical approach is a ‘two-step’ procedure: the first step is the definition of the laser–matter interaction and the second one concerns the description of the shockwave evolution into matter. The simulations satisfactorily reproduce the dynamic response of graphite impacted by two different laser sources with various intensities, despite the difficulties of characterising a phenomenon which is extremely fast and chaotic.

State-of-the-art Laser Ceramics for the Next-generation Solid-state Laser

Solid-state lasers have aroused many researchers’ interests for a variety of applications in military and industrial fields. Because of the preference for increased output power, Nd:YAG single crystals, which are the most widely used gain media, should be replaced by other more suitable candidates. Polycrystalline sesquioxide ceramics show great potential for use as gain media because their thermal and mechanical characteristics are suitable for use with high-energy laser systems. Recently, novel concepts of the gain media were also introduced. Herein, while briefly looking back on the progress of polycrystalline laser ceramics, we will discuss new interests in host materials and systems.