Environmental and Medical Applications of Photonic Interactions

Optical spectroscopy, and in particular laser spectroscopy, provides numerous possibilities for advanced diagnostics and multi-spectral imaging with real-time capability. We describe applications to the environmental and medical fields and it is noted that the basic approaches are very similar in both areas. Environmental diagnostics discussed includes satellite imagery, long-path absorption atmospheric spectroscopy, differential absorption lidar, gas correlation imaging and fluorescence lidar imaging of vegetation and historical building facades. The medical field is illustrated by photodynamic therapy, laser-induced fluorescence diagnostics, scattering spectroscopy and optical mammography, gas in scattering media absorption spectroscopy and imaging with laser-produced x-rays.