Laser Ablation : Advances in Research & Applications

Due to their unique flexibility and high reproducibility, lasers have been traditionally used in processes such as cutting, drilling, machining, welding or cladding. In recent years, with the development of ultrafast laser sources, (ie: laser sources emitting pulses with durations ranging from picoseconds to femtoseconds), lasers also emerged as a new and promising tool for the texturing of virtually all kinds of surfaces. In Chapter One, a brief overview of the lasers and techniques utilised in micro- and nano-surface modifications is presented, followed by a detailed discussion of the surface chemistry and topography effect on bacteria aggregation and adhesion. Also, the role of the laser-induced superficial patterns on the response and sensitivity of bio-implants will be explored in depth. Chapter Two reports on cardiovascular laser application by using the open-irrigated ELMA catheter RytmoLas as an intriguing alternative for catheter ablation of arrhythmias. Chapter Three describes a novel feature designed for ELAI in which different colouration codes for the different metals are applied, enabling a good regional allocation of a specific metal within the tissues. Chapter Four focuses on laser ablation processing of metallic and polymeric thin films used in microelectromechanical systems technology for the fabrication of microfluidic devices with integrated electrodes on printed circuit boards (PCB-MEMS). Chapter Five presents typical micro and nanotextured surfaces created by direct irradiation under stationary and non-stationary conditions and the mechanisms behind their development and growth are discussed. Chapter Six describes a novel three-dimensional (3-D) fabrication process of micro-scale shell resonator made of single-crystal diamond (SCD). Chapter Seven discusses the data about structural and morphological characteristics of nano-sized transition-metal oxides of zirconium and molybdenum produced by laser ablation in water.