Abstract
High-peak and high-average-power pulse lasers have the advantage of large tissue penetration and little thermal damage effect. The efficient transmission of these beams through light guides could have important implications for endoscopic applications. We have developed a high-peak-power Excimer Dye Laser (maximum energy 8mJ/shot, wavelength 630nm, pulse duration 5ns). It is difficult to transmit Excimer Dye Laser radiations down quartz optical fibers. The transmission is limited by surface damage to the fibers. The surface damage depends on the peak-power density of single laser pulses. We have obtained the approximate surface damage threshold value of 100MW/mm2.
