Interaction with Biological Tissue

Abstract

In low-absorbing and low-scattering material, like biological tissue, optical breakdown can occur not only at the surface of the tissue but also inside the bulk. Here, different mechanical phenomena like cavitation and bubble development take place. In this chapter the basic interaction processes of ultrashort laser pulses with biological tissue like nonlinear effects during propagation through transparent media as well as plasma formation and mechanical side effects are discussed.