Abstract: Ultra-short pulsed laser radiation is applied to a patient's eye to create a row of bubbles oriented perpendicular to the axis of vision. The row of bubbles leads to a region of the eye to be ablated. In a second step, a femtosecond laser beam guided through the row of bubbles converts it to a channel perpendicular to the axis of vision. In a third step, a femtosecond laser beam is guided through the channel to ablate a portion of the eye. Using a femtosecond laser with intensity in the range of 1011-1015 W/cm2 for the second and third steps facilitates multi-photon ablation that is practically devoid of eye tissue heating. Creating bubbles in the first step increases the speed of channel creation and channel diameter uniformity, thereby increasing the precision of the subsequent multi-photon ablation.

Abstract: Ultra-short pulsed laser radiation is applied to a patient's eye to create a row of bubbles oriented perpendicular to the axis of vision. The row of bubbles leads to a region of the eye to be ablated. In a second step, a femtosecond laser beam guided through the row of bubbles converts it to a channel perpendicular to the axis of vision. In a third step, a femtosecond laser beam is guided through the channel to ablate a portion of the eye. Using a femtosecond laser with intensity in the range of 1011-1015 W/cm2 for the second and third steps facilitates multi-photon ablation that is practically devoid of eye tissue heating. Creating bubbles in the first step increases the speed of channel creation and channel diameter uniformity, thereby increasing the precision of the subsequent multi-photon ablation.

Abstract: An ignitor and associated electronics for igniting a combustible mixture in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine are described. The ignitor includes at least two spaced-apart electrodes that define a discharge gap. The space between the electrodes is substantially filled with a dielectric material. The dielectric material is spaced-apart from at least one of the electrodes to provide an air gap over which an initial voltage breakdown between the electrodes will occur. The air gap serves to vary the location of the initial breakdown and as a barrier to a short circuit between the electrodes due to carbon and/or metal deposit buildup on the dielectric material. The associated electronics provide a first potential between the electrodes that generates a plasma between the electrodes. Then the volume of the plasma is increased by the application of a second potential that creates a current through the plasma.