ILSC 2009 Paper #1101 (Unique Laser Safety Applications in Forensic Science)

Unique Laser Safety Applications in Forensic Science
Authors:
Candace Soles, Coherent, Inc.; Santa Clara CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

Lasers are known as a superior light-source tool the forensics community uses to identify trace evidence. Lasers are slowly replacing commonly-used filtered lamps, primarily because of a new generation of portable, compact, low-power consumption lasers such as Coherents TracER. TracER, and lasers like TracER, have the ability to detect latent fingerprints, bone fragments, skin, and traces of body fluids. The mechanism by which the laser can reveal trace evidence is known as fluorescence, either inherent in the material or induced by treatment of the mat...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1102 (Laser Safety for the Experimental Halls at SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS))

Laser Safety for the Experimental Halls at SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS)
Authors:
Michael Woods, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; Redwood City CA USA
Perry Anthony, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; Menlo Park CA USA
Ken Barat, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab; Berkeley CA USA
Sasha Gilevich, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; Menlo Park CA USA
Greg Hays, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; Menlo Park CA USA
William E. White, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; Menlo Park CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

The LCLS at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center will be the worlds first source of an intense hard x-ray laser beam, generating x-rays with wavelenths of 1nm and pulse durations less than 100fs. The ultrafast X-ray pulses will be used in pump-probe experiments to take stop-motion pictures of atoms and molecules in motion with pulses powerful enough to make images of single molecules, enabling scientists to elucidate fundamental processes of chemistry and biology. In 2009, LCLS will deliver beam to the Atomic Molecular and Optical (AMO) Experiment, located in one of 3 x-ray hutches in the Near Experimental Hall (NEH). The NEH includes a centralized laser hall, containing up to three class IV laser systems, 3 x-ray hutches for experiments and vacuum transport tubes for delivering laser beams to the hutches. The main components of the NEH Laser System are a Ti:sapphire oscillator, a Regen amplifier and its pump laser. The main components of the AMO laser system in the x-ray hutch are a pulse compressor, utilizing chirp pulse amplification, and a harmonics conversion unit. Laser safety considerations and controls for the ultrafast laser beams, multiple laser controlled areas, and user facility issues will be discussed.

ILSC 2009 Paper #1103 (Laser Safety Issues for the 2009 Space Elevator Power Beaming/Climber Competition)

Laser Safety Issues for the 2009 Space Elevator Power Beaming/Climber Competition
Authors:
Darrell Seeley, Laser Safety Consulting, LLC; Wales WI USA
Dave Marcotte, TRUMPF; Plymouth MI USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

The concept of a space elevator was brought to public attention in part by the well known author, Arthur C. Clarke. It may still sound like science fiction, but with the advance of technology the concept becomes ever more nearly realizable. The space elevator will likely consist of a geosynchronous satellite (22,500 miles or 36,000 km altitude) tethered to Earths surface. An elevator, or climber, will move up and down along this tether, ferrying materials and/or perso...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1105 (Laser Safety on a Large Scale - The National Ignition Facility)

Laser Safety on a Large Scale - The National Ignition Facility
Authors:
Jamie King, National Ignition Facility; Livermore CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

With over 500 high-powered lasers being used in activities ranging
from production optical damage testing/repair to nuclear weapon
simulation, to laser fusion research, the National Ignition Facility
(NIF) and Photon Science Directorate is one of the largest per
capita users of lasers in the world. Throughout the various
research and NIF support labs, laser safety presents many typical
and not so typical challenges. Within the confines of the football
stadium sized, 192-beam, 1.8 Mega Joule NIF, the challenges are
far more complex, cross...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1106 (NIF Laser Safety Assessment)

NIF Laser Safety Assessment
Authors:
Johnny Jones, Laser-Professionals Inc.; Los Alamos NM USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

During September 2008 an independent and comprehensive Readiness Assessment of the National Ignition Facility was conducted to determine if the facility is in a state of readiness to safely conduct operations. This assessment was performed according to DOE Operational Readiness Review requirements and included a detailed evaluation of the Laser Safety Program based on ten criteria. This paper includes a description of the review process, a summary of the results, and noteworthy practices. The overall finding was that the NIF Laser Safety Program is in complete compliance with...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1201 (Laser Safety Management in a Research Institute)

Laser Safety Management in a Research Institute
Authors:
Shimon Gabay, DGS Laser in Medicine Technologies; Modi'in Israel
Presented at ILSC 2009

The laser safety management in a research institute is a complicated business, made of many topics that are supported by mutual interfaces. This paper presents our experience in Weizmann Institute of Science at Rehovot, Israel. The activity in such research institute is characterized by the following facts that require appropriate handling to keep the laser safety on a high standard level:
1.The laser labs entrance is accessible to the public, where many of them are not aware of laser hazards. - High risk for visitors.
2.The experimental set...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1202 (Non-beam Hazards of the Ophthalmic Excimer Laser)

Non-beam Hazards of the Ophthalmic Excimer Laser
Authors:
Angela Monks, Health Protection Agency; Leeds Great Britain
Presented at ILSC 2009

The excimer laser, with a gas mixture of ArF, is widely used in refractive eye surgery. Over the past decade the excimer laser has become the preferred choice for treatment; the ultraviolet laser beam at 193 nm is able to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the cornea via a photochemical interaction, resulting in a huge improvement in results from refractive eye surgery compared with previous techniques. The use of the excimer laser for ophthalmic surgery introduces a number of hazards, many being non-beam hazards.

The non-beam hazards are discuss...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1203 (Revised Non-beam Hazard Section in ANSI Z136.1)

Revised Non-beam Hazard Section in ANSI Z136.1
Authors:
Gene Moss, Corning Inc.; Corning NY USA
Ben Edwards, Duke University; Durham NC USA
Tom Tierney, Lanl; Los Alamos NM USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

The ANSI Z136 Non-Beam Hazards (NBH) Technical Subcommittee has proposed revision of the NBH section in the Z136.1 Standard for the Safe Use of Laser. Factors motivating these changes include:
a) The number of NBH have tripled in the last decade,
b) NBH tend to incur greater regulatory compliance burdens and consequences than beam hazards,
c) NBH remain the leading cause of laser related incidents,
d) N BH can extend beyond the NHZ,
e) Unlike beam hazards, NBH h...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1204 (Picosecond and Femtosecond Laser Machining May Cause Health Risks Related to Nanoparticle Emission)

Picosecond and Femtosecond Laser Machining May Cause Health Risks Related to Nanoparticle Emission
Authors:
Thomas Puester, Presenter Not Author - Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; - Germany
Juergen Walter, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; Hannover Germany
Stephan Barcikowski, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
Anne Hahn, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
Juergen Koch, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
Hatim Haloui, Lumera Laser GmbH; Kaiserslautern Germany
Thomas Herrmann, Lumera Laser Gmbh; Kaiserslautern Germany
Antonietta Gatti, Universit� Di Modena E Reggio Emilia; Modena Italy
Pre...

ILSC 2009 Paper #1205 (Lasers in Medicine - Rules, Regulations, and Practices in Managing Laser Plume)

Lasers in Medicine - Rules, Regulations, and Practices in Managing Laser Plume
Authors:
Dan Palmerton, Buffalo Filter; Buffalo NY USA
Joseph Lynch, Buffalo Filter; - NY USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

The use of lasers for medical and dental applications has grown significantly over the past two decades. Unfortunately, when any type of thermal or ablative instrument, such as laser energy, is applied to human tissue an unwanted by-product is produced which is commonly known as surgical smoke. Through many educational efforts and a number of published standards, it is well documented that surgical laser plume must be evacuated and filtered to protect healthcare workers and their patients ...