Effects of dispersion and aberrations in ocular focusing of femtosecond pulses and the impact on damage mechanisms

Jesse H. Shaver; Gavin D. Buffington; Benjamin A. Rockwell; Robert J. Thomas; Clarence P. Cain; Gary D. Noojin; David J. Stolarski

doi:10.1117/12.425047

12 April 2001 Effects of dispersion and aberrations in ocular focusing of femtosecond pulses and the impact on damage mechanisms

Jesse H. Shaver, Gavin D. Buffington, Benjamin A. Rockwell, Robert J. Thomas, Clarence P. Cain, Gary D. Noojin, David J. Stolarski

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4347, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2000; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.425047
Event: Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2000, 2000, Boulder, CO, United States

Abstract

Laser-induced breakdown is believed to be a primary retinal damage mechanism for sub-50 fs laser pulses. Recent studies of ultrashort pulse ocular effects indicate that with frequency chirp compensation, damage thresholds for the retina can be reduced. However, the reductions in threshold do not follow trends predicted by strictly input pulse duration-dependent models. We present a study of the effects of dispersion and the effects of spherical and chromatic aberrations in the propagation of ultrashort laser pulses. We consider optical models of the eye and also common laboratory optical configurations that mimic the eye. Intensity profiles in the focal volume of the optical system are computed for various materials, models, and amounts of aberration. A comparison of relative peak intensities is used to estimate trends in laser-induced breakdown (LIB) thresholds, based upon computation models previously published. These trends in LIB thresholds are compared to experimental data collected in our laboratory.

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Jesse H. Shaver, Gavin D. Buffington, Benjamin A. Rockwell, Robert J. Thomas, Clarence P. Cain, Gary D. Noojin, and David J. Stolarski "Effects of dispersion and aberrations in ocular focusing of femtosecond pulses and the impact on damage mechanisms", Proc. SPIE 4347, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2000, (12 April 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.425047

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