Abstract: A nonlinear Yb:YAB laser material is disclosed. The material is capable of generating fundamental o-polarized first wavelength laser light and frequency doubled e-polarized second wavelength laser light, the material being oriented for type 1 phase matching of the first wavelength laser light. Also disclosed is a laser system. The system comprises a pumping light source emitting a pumping beam of light, a laser cavity having an input coupler operatively disposed with respect to the light source so as to couple the pumping beam of light into the cavity, and a nonlinear Yb:YAB laser material capable of lasing in response to a pumping beam of light thereby generating fundamental o-polarized first wavelength laser light and frequency doubled e-polarized second wavelength laser light, the material being oriented for type 1 phase matching of the first wavelength laser light, the first wavelength laser light being in the range of 1020-1100 nm and the second wavelength laser light being in the range of 510-550 nm.

Abstract: A method for joining tissue comprising aligning and abutting edges of the tissue to be joined applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof, across the edges and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond to the tissue surface adjacent the edges to provide a weld holding the edges together.

Abstract: A process of making a microstructure, is described. The process comprises the steps of forming a plurality of fillable features in a first material, to form a template; and applying a second material to the template so that the second material at least partially fills at least some of the fillable features in the template so as to form the microstructure, said second material being different from the first material. The process of forming a template uses a laser selected from a picosecond laser, a femtosecond laser and a nanosecond UV laser. The invention includes a photonic crytal made by this process.