Abstract: Embodiments of locating seismic events are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single difference seismic locator and a reverse double difference seismic locator are combined into a combined system of equations, and the combined system of equations is solved to determine a location of the seismic event in substantially real time relative to the seismic event. The combined system of equations may be weighted such that the determined location of the seismic event is partially influenced by the single difference seismic locator and partially influenced by the reverse double difference seismic locator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for fast, efficient, precise and damage-free biological tissue removal using an ultrashort pulse duration laser system operating at high pulse repetition rates. The duration of each laser pulse is on the order of about 1 fs to less than 50 ps such that energy deposition is localized in a small depth and occurs before significant hydrodynamic motion and thermal conduction, leading to collateral damage, can take place. The depth of material removed per pulse is on the order of about 1 micrometer, and the minimal thermal and mechanical effects associated with this ablation method allows for high repetition rate operation, in the region 10 to over 1000 Hertz, which, in turn, achieves high material removal rates. The input laser energy per ablated volume of tissue is small, and the energy density required to ablate material decreases with decreasing pulse width.