Antoni Rycyk

Varnish Ablation Control by Optical Coherence Tomography

Preliminary results of the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT), in particular in its spectral mode (SOCT) to the control of a varnish ablation process, are presented. Examination of the ablation craters made with an Er:YAG laser allows optimization of the laser emission parameters controlling fluence with respect to efficiency and safety of the ablation process. Results of measurements of ablation crater depth as a function of the number of pulses for a given fluence are presented for selected resins. This validates the applicability of SOCT to calibration of ablation conditions for the particular laser-varnish-paint layer combinations, and of its usage in planning the varnish ablation procedure. These results also imply that a review of conventional ablation thresholds is called for. Applicability of the SOCT technique to contemporaneous in situ monitoring of the range of varnish ablation is discussed.

Comparative Laser Spectroscopy Diagnostics for Ancient Metallic Artefacts Exposed to Environmental Pollution

Metal artworks are subjected to corrosion and oxidation processes due to reactive agents present in the air, water and in the ground that these objects have been in contact with for hundreds of years. This is the case for archaeological metals that are recovered from excavation sites, as well as artefacts exposed to polluted air. Stabilization of the conservation state of these objects needs precise diagnostics of the accrued surface layers and identification of original, historical materials before further protective treatments, including safe laser cleaning of unwanted layers. This paper presents analyses of the chemical composition and stratigraphy of corrosion products with the use of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy. The discussion of the results is supported by material studies (SEM-EDS, XRF, ion-analyses). The tests were performed on several samples taken from original objects, including copper roofing from Wilanów Palace in Warsaw and Karol Poznański Palace in ŁódŸ, bronze decorative figures from the Wilanów Palace gardens, and four archaeological examples of old jewellery (different copper alloys). Work has been performed as a part of the MATLAS project in the frames of EEA and Norway Grants (www.matlas.eu) and the results enable the comparison of the methodology and to elaborate the joint diagnostic procedures of the three project partner independent laboratories.

Characterization of Laser Cleaning of Artworks

The main tasks of conservators of artworks and monuments are the estimation and analysis of damages (present condition), object conservation (cleaning process), and the protection of an object against further degradation. One of the physical methods that is becoming more and more popular for dirt removal is the laser cleaning method. This method is non-contact, selective, local, controlled, self-limiting, gives immediate feedback and preserves even the gentlest of relief - the trace of a paintbrush. Paper presents application of different, selected physical sensing methods to characterize condition of works of art as well as laser cleaning process itself. It includes, tested in our laboratories, optical surface measurements (e.g. colorimetry, scatterometry, interferometry), infrared thermography, optical coherent tomography and acoustic measurements for “on-line” evaluation of cleaning progress. Results of laser spectrometry analyses (LIBS, Raman) will illustrate identification and dating of objects superficial layers.

From medical to art diagnostics OCT: a novel tool for varnish ablation control

Since many medical diagnostic methods are non-invasive and even non-contact, they are well suited for inspection of fragile and unique objects of art. In art conservation it is a need for convenient and non-invasive method for monitoring of removal of the varnish layer from paintings - one of the most crucial operations in their restoration. In this study we present application of the Spectral Optical Coherence Tomography (SOCT) for in-situ monitoring of the laser ablation of the varnish layer. The examination of the ablation craters made with Er:YAG laser permits for the optimization of the laser emission parameters like fluency and working regime, with respect to efficiency and safety of the ablation process. Frames from the SOCT movies obtained during real time monitoring of the burning of the ablation crater are shown for the first time.

Laser micro-structuring of surfaces for applications in materials and biomedical science

Laser radiation is used, among others, for surface treatment of various materials. At the Institute of Optoelectronics, under the direction of the late Professor Jan Marczak, a number of works in the field of laser materials processing were performed. Among them special recognition deserves flagship work of Professor Jan Marczak: implementation in Poland laser cleaning method of artworks. Another big project involved the direct method of laser interference lithography. These two projects have already been widely discussed in many national and international scientific conferences. They will also be discussed at SLT2016. In addition to these two projects in the Laboratory of Lasers Applications many other works have been carried out, some of which will be separately presented at the SLT2016 Conference. These included laser decorating of ceramics and glass (three projects completed in cooperation with the Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials), interference structuring medical implants (together with the Warsaw University of Technology), testing the adhesion of thin layers (project implemented together with IFTR PAS), structuring layers of DLC for growing endothelial cells (together with IMMS PAS), engraving glass for microfluidic applications, metal marking, sapphire cutting and finally the production of microsieves for separating of blood cells.

Analysis of deformation of aluminum plates under the influence of nano- and microsecond laser pulses

The paper presents numerical modeling of interaction of strong laser radiation with conventional aluminum sheets, similar to those used in military technology. The theoretical model uses equations of continuum mechanics (equations of hydrodynamics and the equations of mechanics of solid bodies in a cylindrical coordinates r, z), enriched with equations describing the typical effects of high temperature, such as absorption of laser radiation within the Al shield, electronic and radiative thermal conductivity, and energy loss on phase transitions (melting, evaporation, ionization). Semiempirical equations of state were used to describe the properties of material in the conditions of large deformation and the Johnson-Cook’s model. The equations were solved using the method of free points developed by one of the authors. Two kinds od laser pulses were considered: microsecond pulse with duration of 200 μs and a low peak power of 10 kW/cm2 (CW laser), and nanosecond pulse with duration of 10 ns and high peak power of 5 GW/cm2 (pulsed laser). The aim of this study was to determine the shapes and temperatures of Al plates under the influence of these pulses for the comparison of the numerical results with future experiments and to verify the possibility to determine the distribution of the energy density of the laser beam on the basis of the plate deformation.

LIBS spectra of multi-component Al, Fe, Cu alloys and composite materials used for selected elements of armament and munition

Spectral investigations in the UV-VIS range of selected Al, Cu, and Fe alloys and composite materials were performed using LIBS technique. The investigated objects were typical rifle cartridges, mortars, rocket launchers and samples of different type steel, Cu and Al alloys, as well as composite materials of special chemical composition. Two Nd:YAG lasers were applied: a short 4 ns, 60 mJ Brio Quantel/BigSky laser (1064 nm) and a long pulse 200/400 (up to 1000) µs (~ 2/4 up to 10 J) laser (1064 nm) constructed at the Institute of Optoelectronics MUT. This spectrochemical analysis was possible for Al, Cu, and Fe alloys objects for both lasers, and in case of composites only if the samples were irradiated by short laser pulse since in the experiment with the long pulse, all composite materials spectra, in general, were very similar to each other – they imitated a grey/black body spectra. For metal alloys in experiments with a short laser pulse only atomic spectra were observed while for long microsecond laser pulses molecular transitions have been registered for Al alloys. Electron temperatures of plasma created on different materials for short and long laser pulses were found on the base of Boltzmann plots. Temperatures are clearly higher for plasmas generated with a short laser pulse which results from much higher laser power density on the sample surface for short pulse and not from fluence which is 20-40 times larger for long pulse.

Modeling of remelting processes of metal targets using pulses of continuous laser with pre-impulses

The study presents preliminary results of theoretical analyses concerning interaction of quasi-cw laser radiation with an aluminium target. The range of laser power the authors were interested in was from 1 to 10 kW, and target thicknesses from 0.1 to 1 cm. It was also assumed that a laser beam diameter on the target (Al) was around 0.5 cm. A mathematicalphysical model of the phenomenon was based on the equation of conservation of energy (spatially one-dimensional model – (z,t)) taking into account: radiation absorption and transport inside the target, heat conduction, reflection of part of radiation from the target’s surface, and heat losses in the processes of melting and evaporation. Coefficients of light absorption and reflection from the target’s surface were described with semi-empirical expressions, which took into account their dependence on the temperature and density. Initially, a case of target static during heating was considered. Subsequently, the problem of enhancement of radiation interaction with the target (decrease of reflection coefficient) by the use of short (< 20 ns), high power pre-impulse was analyzed. The last case needed expansion of a set of equations with the continuity equation and the equation of motion, to take into account evaporation of target’s surface under influence of the pre-impulse. It was shown that thermal effect of the pre-impulse is practically not influencing final depths of target remelting. On the other hand, damage (matting) of the target’s surface by the pre-impulse, causing the decrease of reflection coefficient can have a substantial influence on the remelting depth.

Research on quasi-cw and pulse interaction of strong laser radiation with the military technical materials

The paper describes work connected to the investigation of the interaction of strong laser radiation with selected metals, constituting typical materials applied in military technology, like aluminum, copper, brass and titanium. A special laser experimental stand was designed and constructed to achieve this objective. The system consisted of two Nd:YAG lasers working in the regime of free generation (quasi-cw) and another Nd:YAG laser, generating short pre-pulses in the Qswitching regime. During the concurrent operation of both quasi-cw systems it was possible to obtain pulse energies amounting to 10 J in a time period (pulses) of 1 ms. The synchronized, serial operation resulted in energy amounting to 5 J over a time period (pulse) of 2 ms. Variations of the target’s surface reflection coefficient, caused by the interaction of short pre-pulses with high power density were determined. The experiments were performed using a standard Nd:YAG laser with amplifiers, generating output pulses whose duration amounted to 10 ns and energy to 1 J, with near Gaussian profile. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to analyze the emission spectra of targets under the conditions of the interaction of destructive strong and weak as well as long and short excitation laser pulses. A decay of the spectra in the UV range from 200 to around 350 nm was observed when irradiating the target with a long, quasi-cw destructive pulse. Moreover, in the case of an Al target, some AlO molecular spectra appeared, suggesting a chemical reaction of the aluminum atoms with oxygen.

Batory's Chapel at Wawel Castle, Cracow: laser cleaning and hue measurements of epitaph and stalls

During the last decade, laser ablation process has been just utilized for removal of encrustation at works of art and architectural historical objects. This technique utilizes substantial difference in laser radiation absorption coefficients of encrustation and substrate. In the paper authors present next architectural object cleaned with pulse laser radiation - limestone epitaph and stalls of King Batorys Chapel at Wawel Castle in Cracow, Poland. Experimental results include measurements and optimization of laser fluency in dependence on radiation wavelength of Nd:YAG laser with harmonic generation as well as colorimetric (hue) measurements of objects before, during and after laser cleaning.