Femtosecond lasers in biology: nanoscale surgery with ultrafast optics

Femtosecond lasers are emerging as a powerful tool in basic biological research. The high peak light intensity generated by a tightly focused, ultrashort, pulse of infrared laser light enables versatile submicron ablation deep within biological samples. Recent studies have begun to exploit these capabilities to conduct meticulous laser surgery experiments within single cells, as well as within intact organisms. This review will discuss the basic physical mechanisms behind femtosecond laser ablation in biological samples. It will then examine a series of prominent applications in biology and how they are opening new possibilities in a range of research fields. The interface between physics and biology has been exceptionally fruitful over recent years and femtosecond laser ablation is proving to be another prime example of this.