Contrasting the beam interaction characteristics of selected lasers with a partially stabilized zirconia bio-ceramic

Differences in the beam interaction characteristics of a CO 2 laser, a Nd : YAG laser, a high power diode laser (HPDL) and an excimer laser with a partially stabilized zirconia bio-ceramic have been studied. A derivative of Beer-Lambert's law was applied and the laser beam absorption lengths of the four lasers were calculated as 33.55×10 -3 cm for the CO 2 laser, 18.22×10 -3 cm for the Nd : YAG laser, 17.17×10 -3 cm for the HPDL and 8.41×10 -6 cm for the excimer laser. It was determined graphically that the fluence threshold values at which significant material removal was effected by the CO 2 laser, the Nd : YAG laser, the HPDL and the excimer laser were 52 J cm -2 , 97 J cm -2 , 115 J cm -2 and 0.48 J cm -2 , respectively. The thermal loading value for the CO 2 laser, the Nd : YAG laser, the HPDL and the excimer laser were calculated as being 1.55 kJ cm -3 , 5.32 kJ cm 3 , 6.69 kJ cm -3 and 57.04 kJ cm -3 , respectively.