The diversity of the chapters presented in this volume illustrates not only the many applications of lasers, but also the fact that, in many cases, these are not new uses of lasers, but rather improvements of laser techniques already widely accepted in both research and clinical situations. Biological reactions to some special aspects of laser exposure continue to show new effects, which have implications for the ever-present topic of laser safety. Such biological reactions are included in fields of research which depend on properties of electromagnetic radiation exposure only possible with lasers, for example, the short pulses necessary for the temperature-jump experiments reviewed by Reiss: Speciality lasers, such as the transverse excitation atmospheric (TEA) or excimer lasers, add new wavelengths and pulse domains to those already available for biological application. A description of these new types of lasers by Osgood is included to indicate new possibilities for future use and to avoid limiting our coverage to well-developed present-day applications. Hillenkamp and Kaufmann describe a microprobe mass spectrograph for analysis of the minute amounts of material evaporated by a laser pulse. The analytical possibilities of this instrument are far-reaching, and some of the various results are described to illustrate the power of their method, as well as to show the types of problems that are suitable for it. The initial steps in photosynthesis have become the subject of intensive investigation.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Illustrationen
Dateigröße
ISBN-13
978-1-4613-0745-7 (9781461307457)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4613-0745-7
Schweitzer Klassifikation
1 The Laser as a Tool in the Study of Photosynthesis.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Technical Aspects of the Laser Research Methods Used in Photosynthetic Research.- 3. Laser Studies of Photosynthesis.- 4. Conclusion.- References.- 2 Requirements and Technical Concepts of Biomedical Microprobe Analysis.- 1. Prologue.- 2. Actual Microprobe Instruments.- 3. The LAMMA Instrument and Its Performance.- 4. LAMMA Applications in Biomedical Microprobe Analysis.- 5. LAMMA Applications in Particle Analysis.- 6. LAMMA Applications in Organic Mass Spectrometry.- 7. Conclusions and Outlook.- References.- 3 Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Biomedical Research.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Use of Laser Pulses to Induce Biochemical Reactions.- 3. Use of Lasers for Monitoring Fast Biochemical Reactions.- 4. New Technologies in Multichannel Spectral Analysis.- References.- 4 The Excimer Laser: A New Ultraviolet Source for Medical, Biological, and Chemical Applications.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Physics of Excimers, and Limitations on Their Use as Laser Medium.- 3. Technology and Capabilities of Excimer Lasers.- 4. Applications.- 5. Future Improvements.- References.- 5 The Photopathology and Nature of the Blue Light and Near-UV Retinal Lesions Produced by Lasers and Other Optical Sources.- 1. Background and Current Status.- 2. Light Toxicity as Function of Wavelength.- 3. Aging and Degenerative Effects of Chronic Exposure to Light.- 4. Repetitive Exposures to Blue Light.- 5. Continuous Exposure of Rhesus Monkey to Fluorescent Light.- 6. Potential Eye Hazard from Ophthalmic Instrumentation.- 7. Photopathology of Blue Light.- 8. Photopathology of Near Ultraviolet Lesion.- 9. Validity of Animal Data as Related to Man.- 10. Protective Filtration.- 11. Possible Mechanisms Leading to Light Damage in the Primate Retina.- 12. Protective Mechanisms against Light Damage.- 13. The Effect of Oxygen on Light Toxicity.- 14. Summary.- References.- 6 Ocular Thermal Injury from Intense Light.- 1. History.- 2. Retinal Thermal Injury.- 3. Corneal Thermal Injury.- 4. Beyond Thermal Injury.- 5. Conclusion.- References.- Author Index.
