The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the laser- induced fluorescence characters of normal and malignant stomach tissue in Vitro and in Vivo. The stepwise multivariate discrimination analysis was used to make a multivariate statistical algorithm for analyzing the diagnostic parameters of human stomach tissues fluorescence spectrum. The resulting spectra could be differentiating histologically stomach abnormal tissue from normal tissue with a sensitivity and specificity value of 95% and 97%. The diagnosis results were in excellent agreement with histopathological results.

The possibility of laser fluorescence diagnosis of malignant tumors with the aid of multifrequency (355, 440, 446, 532, 660, 670 nm) solid state YAG:Nd laser and the rise in accuracy of this method were discussed. Permitted for clinical employment sodium fluorescein has been used as human tumor-localizing dye. The fluorescence spectra of sodium fluorescein containing human normal tissue and breast, stomach, intestine, skin cancer during excitation with the third harmonics of YAG:Nd and with help of multichannel fiber-optic spectrofluorometer were studied. The contrast accumulation of the dye in tumors of different localization was investigated. The fluorescence spectra of chlorine e₆, containing animal tissues at different excitation wavelength (355, 532 and 660 nm) were obtained. The pharmacokinetic behavior of chlorine e₆, containing different organs and tumor tissues of rats, infected with Sarcoma-45 has been investigated.

With recent developments in laser technology, high power diode laser and optical delivery systems have become highly promising surgical devices with advantages of lower cost and higher precision. The aim of the present study was to test the 980 nm wavelength laser (Opto Power OPC-D010-980-FCPS) for its potential use in neurosurgery. Response of neural tissue to different energy levels of laser irradiation was investigated with different exposure durations in a dosimetric study using Wistar rats. Laser-induced lesions were placed stereotactically in anesthetized Wistar rats both cortically and subcortically. In order to investigate the lesioning effects of the 980 nm diode laser as a function of pulse duration, laser power was varied between 0.5 to 3.0 Watts with 0.5 to 3.0 sec exposures. Histologic investigation of brain specimens indicated that the 980 nm wavelength high power diode laser has the potential to be used for coagulation/ablation with proper selection of energy level and exposure duration.

The medical laser market is with no doubt one of the most active with a very fast growth. The increase was led by a surge in both ophthalmic excimer systems and CO2 lasers for dermatology treatment and skin resurfacing. Specialty niches in dermatology (wrinkle removal, hair removal), urology (treatment of BPH), and ophthalmology (laser vision correction) continued to boost sales in 1997 and are likely to do so in 1998 (20% expected growth). The laser technologies that will benefit the most from these medical applications are ruby (hair removal), excimer (ophthalmology) and CO2 lasers (skin resurfacing). The control and the monitoring of the energy delivered by these lasers are critical for the success and the repeatability of the treatments. According to the application, lasers are used in Q-switched mode or long-pulse mode, we will present the both the suitable way to make in-situ measurement of the energy delivered by the laser. The second part of the presentation will focus on the on-line monitoring solution and its great advantages for the operator and the patient.

Compared to other technological relevant laser machining processes, up to now laser cutting is the application most frequently used. With respect to the large amount of possible fields of application and the variety of different materials that can be machined, this technology has reached a stable position within the world market of material processing. Reachable machining quality for laser beam cutting is influenced by various laser and process parameters. Process integrated quality techniques have to be applied to ensure high-quality products and a cost effective use of the laser manufacturing plant. Therefore, rugged and versatile online process monitoring techniques at an affordable price would be desirable. Methods for the characterization of single plant components (e.g. laser source and optical path) have to be substituted by an omnivalent control system, capable of process data acquisition and analysis as well as the automatic adaptation of machining and laser parameters to changes in process and ambient conditions. At the Laser Zentrum Hannover eV, locally highly resolved thermographic measurements of the temperature distribution within the processing zone using cost effective measuring devices are performed. Characteristic values for cutting quality and plunge control as well as for the optimization of the surface roughness at the cutting edges can be deducted from the spatial distribution of the temperature field and the measured temperature gradients. Main influencing parameters on the temperature characteristic within the cutting zone are the laser beam intensity and pulse duration in pulse operation mode. For continuous operation mode, the temperature distribution is mainly determined by the laser output power related to the cutting velocity. With higher cutting velocities temperatures at the cutting front increase, reaching their maximum at the optimum cutting velocity. Here absorption of the incident laser radiation is drastically increased due to the angle between the normal of the cutting front and the laser beam axis. Beneath process optimization and control further work is focused on the characterization of particulate and gaseous laser generated air contaminants and adequate safety precautions like exhaust and filter systems.

Rapid solidification of aluminum alloys during the remelting process using high power laser radiation results in refined effects of the solidified grain texture and improved wear resistance and material hardness. High temperature gradients can be achieved, and energy coupling into the aluminum alloy is locally restricted and can be precisely controlled. For the adjustment of defined grain textures, the dynamic behavior of the melted material on the irradiated material surface is of high interest. Current activities at the Laser Zentrum Hannover eV are focused on a new visualization system for locally and temporally highly-resolved visualization of the aluminum alloy surface during short pulse laser interaction. Experimental measurements have been performed to determine the heating and cooling velocities. The main aim of the work is the correlation of image information and the resulting grain structures dependent on material properties and actual laser beam and processing parameters. The aluminum samples are remelted using an Nd:YAG solid-state slab laser system providing short pulse durations and high pulse power. Frequency selective irradiation of the melting zone is realized by using a frequency-doubled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser system. Image information from the processing zone is obtained using a CCD-camera, coaxially mounted to the processing zone. By using pulse durations in the ns-range and high beam intensities of the illuminating laser source, time resolutions for process visualization can be realized, with orders of magnitudes higher than existing visualization techniques. Image data related to the temporal development of the solid and liquid isotherms are compared to the results of numerical calculations using the finite difference method.

The increasing demand for highly developed ceramic materials for various applications calls for innovative machining technologies yielding high accuracy and efficiency. Associated problems with conventional, i.e. mechanical methods, are unacceptable tool wear as well as force induced damages on ceramic components. Furthermore, the established grinding techniques often meet their limits if accurate complex 2D or 3D structures are required. In contrast to insufficient mechanical processes, UV-laser precision machining of ceramics offers not only a valuable technological alternative but a considerable economical aspect as well. In particular, excimer lasers provide a multitude of advantages for applications in high precision and micro technology. Within the UV wavelength range and pulses emitted in the nano-second region, minimal thermal effects on ceramics and polymers are observed. Thus, the ablation geometry can be controlled precisely in the lateral and vertical directions. In this paper, the excimer laser machining technology developed at the Laser Zentrum Hannover is explained. Representing current and future industrial applications, examinations concerning the precision cutting of alumina (Al₂O₃), and HF-composite materials, the ablation of ferrite ceramics for precision inductors and the structuring of SiC sealing and bearing rings are presented.

A proper calibration of an optical power meter at a given wavelength requires the verification of two crucial parameters: the absolute accuracy and the linearity. We discuss the key elements involved in determining the uncertainty in the absolute accuracy and the nonlinearity of the power response under what are termed `reference conditions of calibration'. We also discuss the underlying causes of erroneous measurements resulting from each of the three subsystems constituting a power meter: the detector element, the collecting optics and the electronics.

In this paper, a brief description of fiber optic based system for detection of single-phasing faults in 3-phase induction motors used in underground coal mines has been given. The system has an alarm facility which start sounding in absence of power. It also consists of three light emitting diodes of different colors to show the absence of power in a particular phase along with the alarm. Optical fiber, being a dielectric, non-metallic, and non-sparking is an intrinsically safe media and is ideally suited for single phasing faults detection of 3-phase motors used in underground mines or in any other hazardous environment.

CITEQ is a small R&D company owned by Hydro-Quebec, a leading designer and operator of large-scale power transmission systems, and ABB, removed for its expertise in the design and manufacture of power transmission equipment and systems. CITEQ undertook some applied research efforts in photonic systems. Naturally, the dielectric nature of photonic systems is a great advantage for the application of photonic systems in the electrical world. Among CITEQ's projects, the fiber optic current sensor for high-voltage networks and the interferometric fiber optic gyroscope for civil structure inspection are presented. The new possibilities of photonic systems in power systems are explain

The engine video system with the infrared fiber optical image guide is an optical equipment for the investigation of all kinds of periodic events in production engines, such as injection or combustion process in reciprocating engines etc. It is a reliable and easy-to-handle tool for research and development work avoiding significant alterations to the engine. This is possible by obtaining optical access to most parts of the engine via an infrared fiber optical image guide. On-line observation of various phenomena is realized by connecting a miniature infrared video CCD camera to the infrared fiber optical image guide. System features are suitable for diesel and gasoline engine, on-line observation and recording, system resolution better than 10 pl/mm. This system can be used to observe non-luminous phenomena such as fuel injection or cyclic movement of mechanical parts by the use of a high power xenon lamp that has the power 350 W guided by an infrared optical fiber bundle to the observed target.

We present a polarimetric and interferometric fiber-optic sensor systems employing highly birefringent fibers for stress monitoring in civil engineering applications. Both systems are designed to be used with concrete-embeddable pressure c ells, optimized for stress measurement inside a concrete medium and equipped with a direct read-out of its inside pressure using an internally incorporated all-fiber sensor. In its present form the polarimetric system contains up to four space division multiplexed sensors. An overall system accuracy, including temperature drift in a wide range of temperatures is better than 1% at pressures up to 40 MPa. A concept of coherence multiplexing was applied in the interferometric system. We built and tested the system composed of three serially connected temperature-compensated pressure sensors.

Dense wavelength-division multiplexing fiber-optic techniques hold great promise as tools to address many of the challenges facing communication system operators. This new technical solution can increase the capacity of existing networks without the need for expensive re-cabling and is also an open door toward all optical network design. But the many advantages they offer come at a price: optical component properties and cable characteristics must be addressed that could safely be neglected in systems using simpler transmission techniques. The new spectral dimension brought by testing capabilities must now be provided to the field, capabilities that are usable by maintenance personnel working in conditions that are very different from those in the stable, controlled laboratory environment.

A non-contact nine channel fiber optic laser vibrometer has been developed to measure the vibrations of low mass flexible space structures. The Multi-Channel Fiber optic VIBrometer (MCFVIB) system is based on a commercial single channel laser vibrometer and a fiber-optic distribution system. This entailed the development of appropriate systems architecture for the optical signals, active 1 X 9 optical switch, and optical sensor heads suitable for coupling the reflected test signal back into the fiber optic system. MCFVIB employs single-mode, polarization maintaining fibers to maintain the signal coherence. The performance of the MCFVIB was tested at various vibrational frequencies using a shaker. Correlation of the measurements against those measured by an accelerometer indicate excellent linearity and accuracy for the fiber optic vibrometer system.

Optimal loading, prevention of catastrophic failures and reduced maintenance costs are some of the benefits of accurate determination of hot spot winding temperatures in medium and high power transformers. Temperature estimates obtained using current theoretical models are not always accurate. Traditional technology (IR, thermocouples...) are unsuitable or inadequate for direct measurement. Nortech fiber-optic temperature sensors offer EMI immunity and chemical resistance and are a proven solution to the problem. The Nortech sensor's measurement principle is based on variations in the spectral absorption of a fiber-mounted semiconductor chip and probes are interchangeable with no need for recalibration. Total length of probe + extension can be up to several hundred meters allowing system electronics to be located in the control room or mounted in the transformer instrumentation cabinet. All of the sensor materials withstand temperatures up to 250 degree(s)C and have demonstrated excellent resistance to the harsh transformer environment (hot oil, kerosene). Thorough study of the problem and industry collaboration in testing and installation allows Nortech to identify and meet the need for durable probes, leak-proof feedthroughs, standard computer interfaces and measurement software. Refined probe technology, the method's simplicity and reliable calibration are all assets that should lead to growing acceptance of this type of direct measuring in the electric power industry.

This paper presents a summary of some of the research activities conducted at the Centre d'optique, photonique et laser from Universite Laval that find applications in the field of optical communications. The subjects considered are: absolute frequency control, compensation of dispersion and nonlinear effects within dense wavelength division multiplexed systems, writing of in-fiber Bragg gratings, optical fast frequency-hopped code division multiple access, gain dynamics in Erbium doped fiber amplifiers, short pulsed emission at high repetition rates, dual wavelength operation of semiconductor lasers, applications of Fourier-transform spectrometers and holographic interconnections.

Integrated-optical demultiplexer using 2D gradient waveguide and layer of polymer organic thin film is proposed and demonstrated for the single-mode transmission system. The technology used to fabricate the components of the optical scheme is described and performance characterization are discussed. By determining appropriate diffusion parameters to obtain excellent dimensional match between waveguides for the different wavelength and simultaneously low propagation loss. These successful characteristics are realized by the introduction of the additional polymer thin film structure.

For short distance communications, graded index polymer optical fiber has been proposed as the physical transport layer for high data rate networks. This paper reports the results of various transmission experiments through polymer optical fiber. Bit-error-rate of < 10^-9 has been obtained after transmission through 200 m of polymer optical fiber at received optical powers of -22 dBm at 155 Mb/s and -19 dBm at 622 Mb/s respectively. The experiment utilized a 659 nm laser as the source and a Si photodiode as a detector. The measured power penalty due to modal noise of < 1 dB is in agreement with the calculated results. The performance of a hybrid AM/BPSK optical fiber transmission system has been investigated. A BPSK modulated 2 Mb/s pseudorandom digital channel is substituted for one of the AM channels in a 60-channel cable TV system. For the subcarrier modulated digital channel, a bit error rate < 10^-9 is obtained after transmission through 200 m of fiber. The intermodulation distortion (IMD) effects using long and short fiber lengths have been studied. The results show that distortion caused by the laser non-linearity did not degrade the system at low modulation depth. However, as the modulation depth of the BPSK signal is increased, the distortion is more pronounced. The differences in the measured IMD between the long and the short fiber is negligible, suggesting the fiber-induced distortion in the transmission system is small.

We describe the principle of an instrument for PMD determination over nearly four orders of magnitude, from under 10 fs to 40 ps, through an adaptive combination of three standard PMD measurement methods: the interferometric, fixed analyzer, and Poincare sphere methods. The key elements in this adaptive instrument are a conventional interferometric PMD analyzer and a rotating polarizer. The fringe patterns, obtained with a few settings of the rotating polarizer, are used to perform either a direct time-domain analysis or a frequency-domain analysis after Fourier transform.

SYNAPSE is a consortium of private companies and research centers associated in a pre-competitive effort to foster the development of new components, systems and applications likely to be needed in future transparent optical networks. It plans to deploy a high data rate DWDM-based test bench linking the Quebec, Rimouski and Montreal metropolitan areas to allow in situ validation of new components, sub-systems, network topologies and applications requiring large bandwidth. The scope and goals of this 5-year initiative, as well as technical aspects and distinctive features of the projected test bench, will be briefly reviewed in this article.

I thank the organizers of Opto-Contact Québec I 998 and SPIE for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today about some legal issues of technology transfer. Four common forms of technology transfer are licensing agreements, joint ventures, limited partnerships and direct investment Keywords: License agreements, Subject matter to be licensed, Patents, Know-how, The license, Non-exclusive license, Sole license, Exclusive license, Territorial restrictions, Royalties, Joint Venture, New corporation, Simple joint venture, Limited partnerships and Direct investment.

First, I would like to welcome all of you, who have travelled to Quebec City to attend Opto-Contact 1 998. I would also like to thank the organisers of Opto-Contact for inviting me here today to talk to you about the Société Innovatech Québec. I will be starting off with who created lnnovatech, why it was created, and finally what is the current role of Innovatech.

The principle of the presented visualization system is based on the backscatter absorption gas imaging technique. Applying this technique, developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Laser Imaging Systems in the USA, it is possible to visualize a large amount of environmental relevant gases normally invisible to the human eye. An image of the spreading of gases is created from infrared (IR) laser radiation that is backscattered from the scenery background in the field of view of a special designed IR- camera. Gaseous components within this field of view absorb a portion of the emitted laser radiation at their specific absorption wavelength and cause an attenuation of a portion of the radiation, backscattered by the scenery background. This leads to a dark gas image on the video screen. Analyzing the wavelength of maximum attenuation then allows the identification of the observed gas. The applied method is based on commercially available IR technology consisting of a thermal imaging device and a tunable CO₂-laser. Main advantages of this approach in comparison to conventional laser-based remote gas-sensing methods (i.e. Differential Absorption Lidar DIAL or Raman Lidar) are reachable speed of localization, high sensitivity as well as the detection of multileakages. Main aim of a project carried out at the Laser Zentrum Hannover is the computer based processing of spectroscopic and IR-image information provided by the visualization system described above. For this the dependence between the wavelength and the power output of the laser has to be known and so investigations have been carried out to determine this dependence.

The application of an hand-held fluorometer used to monitor algal growth on stone surfaces is reported. The system is based on a modulated ultra-bright blue LED, used to induce chlorophyll-a fluorescence, as well as that of accessory pigments. With the addition of an encoding wheel and when linked to computer this system can produce real time map of the algae population on solid surface. The system has been shown to have a linear response to algal concentration, making it a viable tool for algal monitoring. The hand-held system is relatively immune to ambient light allowing it to be used on-site in various daylight conditions. Results from field and laboratory tests of the system on historically important sites and test samples are presented.

The opportunities of spatial-resolvable atmosphere monitoring and air pollutions' analysis based on the CW- laser transmitters are discussed. The frequency-responsive processing peculiarities of LIDAR signals are described. The specifications to the CW-LIDAR receiving and transmitting systems parameters are formulated. The evaluations of the system sensitivity limit, measurement accuracy and accuracy increase ways are presented.

A laser method of measuring the particle mean size and dust concentration by laser optics is presented in this paper, the method is based on Fraunhofer diffraction theory which is the approximation of Mie scattering within the forward Fraunhofer diffraction lobe, and Rosin-Rammber function is used to describe the particle size distribution in dust flow in advance. Compared with the values by the Sample-weight method, the measurement results have a reasonable agreement. The present work has demonstrated this method will be probably used to monitor the parameters of two phase flow.

Over the years, various optical techniques have been developed to provide in-situ real time HF monitoring of aluminum smelters and stacks. The most popular approaches have used either laser based absorption techniques or various forms of non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy (NDIR). The very long path lengths encountered in roof vents would seem to favor laser-based approaches or very narrow spectral sources in order to avoid interference from the water absorption background. However, in practice, it is possible to use a special NDIR technique using 3-IR filters. In-situ result show that these monitors can measure HF concentrations over a very large dynamic range, require essentially no periodic calibration and have very low maintenance cost. The choice of the central wavelengths and width of the filters is critical and was made possible with the help of a sophisticated atmospheric propagation computer model (FASCODE). Recent developments in solid state technology was also beneficial since the drift-prone PbS detectors could be replaced with much more stable InAs detectors. The performance of this technology is illustrated with the results of a 2-probe instrument monitoring a total distance of close to 1 km with simultaneous and independent information for each half hall. Thanks to the use of infrared fiber cables, the principal instrument module is conveniently located on the ground floor.

A new concept of surveillance system called Wide Area Coverage Infrared Surveillance System (WACISS), based on the human vision, was developed and a first laboratory prototype was demonstrated recently. A second prototype, more operational, is named the Infrared Eye is being built and will be tested in cooperation with the NRCC Flight Research Laboratory. The Infrared Eye will use the new pixel-less quantum well infrared photodetector sensors, coupled to light emitting diodes (QWIP/LED), currently being developed at NRCC Institute for Microstructural Science under DREV sponsorship. The multiple advantages of the pixel-less QWIP/LED over conventional sensors will considerably simplify the design of the system. As the WACISS, the IR Eye will integrate two cameras: the first, with a wide field-of- view, will be used for detection while the second camera, with a narrower field with higher resolution for identification, will be mobile within the WFOV and slaved to the operator's line-of-sight by means of an eye-tracking system. The images from both cameras will be fused and shown simultaneously on a standard high resolution CRT display unit, interfaced with the eye-tracking unit. The basic concepts pertaining to the project and the design constraints of this second prototype are presented.

Bomem designs, manufactures, and markets spectrometers for quality control in the plastics, petroleum, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The company also offers a range of more sophisticated FT-IR spectrometers designed for research in physical chemistry. Our spectrometers are increasingly being used in the monitoring of atmospheric pollution emissions.

When deploying surveillance systems using electro-optic sensors, data is sometimes collected in demanding weather conditions and surroundings. In many instances, images are subject to distortions and perturbations that can undermine the surveillance capability. A recent field trial with imaging surveillance equipment has shown that the sensor movement induced by the wind resulted in unstable video sequences being displayed on the control station monitor. To improve image stability, a practical and cost-effective image processing technique has been developed at the Defense Research Establishment Valcartier to electronically register image sequences (image stabilization). The technique was implemented on hardware at video rate and is one of the main components of a new image processing station. This paper describes the image processing system and some of the results obtained.

Scattering optical waveguide microscopy is a novel imaging technique, that allows for the microscopic characterization of thin film samples by using the evanescent field of a guided optical wave as the illuminating light source. The image contrast is generated by the scattered intensity of the thin film sample within the evanescent field. Excellent lateral resolution (< 1 micrometers ) is demonstrated for an evaporated SiO_x grating. Immersion microscopy has been performed with an additional cuvette in the same setup. The contrast of the image is investigated with respect to mode number and polarization of the illuminating, propagating waveguide mode and the surface roughness of the sample.

The coupling of p-polarized waveguide modes into waveguide- surface plasmon coupled modes is a promising concept to combine the features of propagating waveguide modes with the resonant field enhancement of surface plasmons. We demonstrate a waveguide device which allows to couple more than one TM mode to the surface plasmon. For a given waveguide device and a fixed laser wavelength the development of the imaginary part, K, of the propagation constant, N_eff, of the waveguide-surface plasmon coupled modes are simulated and the results are compared with experimental results. The waveguide losses are in perfect agreement with the simulations. Due to the resonant nature of the waveguide-surface plasmon coupled modes, which was found by the simulations, the waveguide attenuation is very sensitive to the refractive index of the subphase outside of the waveguide structure. This resonant behavior could be confirmed experimentally.

Uniformity of physical properties of paper continues to be one of the most serious quality issues in today's paper mills. The large-scale `average' profile can often be controlled effectively with today's technologies. However, to detect and control sizes from several microns to a few centimeters remains the industry's biggest challenge. Over the last several years, INO has developed and perfected an entirely new instrument to measure surface fiber orientation. This non-destructive, non-contact technique can more appropriately be described as a surface strain tester. It is slowly finding its way in various laboratories around the world, notably Sweden, United States and France. The instrument uses a custom designed phase-modulated, laser- based ellipsometer in the far infrared spectral region. It basically measures the local surface birefringence and direction of the optic axis. Our approach is highly unusual since it works for samples of widely varying surface roughness and does not require careful alignment of the sample with respect to the laser beam. This paper describes how the instrument works, what it measures and illustrates various applications from small scale mapping to cross- machine profiles.

Photonics is ideal for precise, remote and contactless measurements in harsh conditions. Thanks to major breakthroughs in the technologies involved, optical sensing is becoming more compact, robust and affordable. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview on the capabilities of photonics applied to road transportation problems. In particular we will consider four types of situations: (1) measurements for traffic analysis and surveillance, (2) measurements for road infrastructures diagnosis and quality assessment, (3) photonics in smart driving and intelligent vehicles and (4) measurements for other purposes (safety, inventories, tolls etc.). These topics will be discussed and illustrated by using the results of different projects that have been carried out at INO over the last few years. We will look at different challenges we had to face such as performing sensitive optical measurements in various outdoor illumination conditions and performing fast and accurate measurements without interfering with normal road traffic flow.

Miniaturized digital High Angular Resolution Laser Irradiation Detector (HARLID^TM) modules have been developed by the Defence Research Establishment Valcartier in collaboration with EG&G Optoelectronics Canada. These modules are designed to locate a collimated beam of radiation, such as a laser, within +/- 1 degree(s) over a 90 degree(s) field of view either in azimuth or elevation. There are presently two versions of HARLID: the 1-band HARLID which is based on Si detectors and is functional within the range of 0.45 to 1.1 micrometers ; and the 2-band HARLID based on Si/InGaAs detectors and is functional within the range of 0.45 to 1.70 micrometers . The principle of operation of this new patented module is based on the use of a Gray code mask to encode the angle of arrival of a laser beam. Military and civilian applications fields include defensive aid suites (Laser Warning Receivers) and platform guidance, alignment and positioning aids, where high angular precision is required. There are other laser detectors on the market, but HARLID has emerged, through laboratory testing and comparative field trials, to be one of the best performers, selling at the lower cost and having the lowest integration encumbrance.

We have developed a new diagnostic that allows accurate time- and space-resolved measurements of low intensity femtosecond light pulses, from the infrared to the hard x- rays. Based on an ultrafast streak camera, this revolutionary tool allows the accumulation of streak traces at rates up to a state-of-the-art 1 kHz which is of great interest to understand the dynamics of ultrafast phenomena in physics and chemistry. Axis Photonique Inc. has commercialized a unique subpicosecond streak camera which was especially developed at INRS-U. of Quebec to record ultrafast events in the x-rays. A laser-triggered sweep unit developed by Medox Electro-Optics Inc. and using high- voltage photoconductive switches designed by Alliage was coupled to the AXIS-PX camera. We present here of the characterization tests performed on a 10 Hz high-power laser at the Max Planck Institut fur Quantenoptik.

The interaction of DD-fragment of fibrinogen with antibodies immobilized on the surface of polycrystalline gold films monoclonal has been studied by means of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensor instrument as a model system for real-time biomolecular interaction analysis. A BioHelper Plasmon-002 device (ISP NASU, Kiev, Ukraine), that exploits the SPR phenomenon to detect the interactions between sensor layer and analyte has been used for investigation. The results show that the kinetic parameters of antigen-antibody interactions are directly related to concentration of DD- fragment of fibrinogen in the examined solutions in the range from 10² to 10⁵ ng/ml. The binding kinetic data can be described by a set of several time-division binding equilibrium, each of them correlated well with an ideal binding first-order reactions. The influence of the procedure of antibody immobilization on the quasi flat gold surface has been examined as well.

Simple and cheap long-focus optical systems consisting of cylindrical mirrors are proposed to use in processes of laser processing of materials (cutting, welding, thin film deposition by evaporation). Methods of calculation of the focusing systems of this type are developed and aberrations are estimated. Optical system was used as a part of installation for thin alloys and polymer films deposition as well as for manufacturing PTFE wool and PTFE porous material.