Temperature measurements by thermal radiation during ArF excimer laser ablation with gelatin gel

Abstract

We measured temperature elevation during photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) by thermal radiation. The thermal radiation from ablating surface of gelatin gel (15%wt) by ArF excimer laser was detected by a MCT detector with 1 /spl mu/s rise time. The measured signal increased sharply just after the laser pulse and decreased quasi-exponentially. We calculated the temperature elevation using Stefan-Boltzmann radiation law. The maximum temperature elevation was 97/spl deg/C at 208 mJ/cm/sup 2/ in laser fluence. The temperature elevation over 60/spl deg/C was kept for 85 /spl mu/s. These temperature elevation might induce possible heat damage on ablated surface. Our high temporal resolution temperature monitoring may be available to achieve safety and precise PRK.