Excimer laser

Excimer Laser is a form of ultraviolet laser which is commonly used in the production of microelectronic devices, laser eye surgery, and in DNA sequencing. The name excimer is derived from the terms excited and dimer, indicating the formation of a short-lived dimer in an excited state which is essential for the laser process.

History

The concept of the excimer laser was first proposed in the 1970s. The first excimer laser, operating at 308 nm, was invented in 1975 by John Emmett and Bill Cable at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Operation

Excimer lasers function by a type of laser ablation that is able to remove exceptionally fine layers of surface material with almost no heating or change to the remainder of the material which is left intact. These lasers operate in the ultraviolet range, and the high photon energies associated with these wavelengths often leads to the breaking of bonds and the creation of free radicals.

Applications

Excimer lasers are used in:

• Laser eye surgery: This includes procedures like LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy.
• Microelectronics: Excimer lasers are used in photolithography, which is a method of microfabrication to pattern parts of a thin film.
• DNA sequencing: They are used in the sequencing of the human genome.

Safety

As with all lasers, operating an excimer laser requires attention to safety. Protective eyewear is usually required to prevent damage to the retina from high intensity ultraviolet light. In addition, the skin should be protected to prevent burns and other injuries.

See also

• Laser
• Laser ablation
• Laser safety
• LASIK
• Photorefractive keratectomy
• Microelectronics
• DNA sequencing

Excimer laser Resources
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