Abstract

A comprehensive spectroscopic study of the photoprocesses that occur as a result of XeCl excimer laser excitation (i.e., 60-ns pulses at λ = 308, nm) of atherosclerotic plaque and vessel wall tissue is described. They include light propagation through the tissue, absorption and scattering effects, fluorescence of excited biomolecules, photochemical decomposition of electronic bonds of proteins, generation of heat in irradiated volume, and explosion of overheated volume accompanied by hot plume luminescence.

© 1991 Optical Society of America