Open AccessReflectometry, ablation and fluid retrieval with an optical fiber
Author(s) -
Azizahalhakim Sudirman,
Gunnar Björk,
Walter Margulis
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.000134
Subject(s) - reflectometry , materials science , optics , laser ablation , optical fiber , fiber laser , fiber , ablation , optical coherence tomography , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , fiber optic sensor , laser , optoelectronics , computer science , time domain , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics , composite material , computer vision , aerospace engineering
A technique combining low-coherence reflectometry, laser ablation and microfluidics in a single microstructured fiber is developed. Experimental results demonstrate the possibility to ablate thin aluminum foil samples with fiber-guided Nd:YAG laser light, to collect liquid in the holes of the fiber and to simultaneously monitor the positioning of fiber for ablation and the fluid collection process with low-coherence reflectometry. Potential applications of the technique include minimally invasive retrieval of liquid samples with low contamination risk.