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Volume: 50 | Article ID: art00001
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Time-Resolved Microscopy Analysis of Laser Photothermal Imaging Media
  DOI :  10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.(2006)50:5(401)  Published OnlineSeptember 2006
Abstract

Methods for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of laser photothermal imaging are described and applied to model imaging media. The light response is characterized with a series of Gaussian laser pulses of varying intensities and durations. The results are compared to a reference model, the "local fluence" model, that assumes the likelihood of exposure at a given pulse duration depends solely on the laser fluence received at that location. The mechanisms underlying the material behavior are studied with time-resolved microscopy using a variety of exposure and viewing conditions. The imaging media have in common a silicone rubber (polydimethylsiloxane) coating that can be removed by a single laser pulse to form an imaged spot that attracts ink. They differ in having a thin-film absorber layer, a volume absorber layer, or a combination of volume absorber and energetic underlayer. The thin-film media are the least sensitive with longer duration microsecond pulses but the most sensitive with nanosecond pulses, which is explained using a thermal conduction model. The volume absorbing media show deviations from the local fluence model that indicate the existence of useful dot gain properties which improve sensitivity. Time-resolved microscopy shows that this dot gain results from high-speed mechanical effects caused by hot gas trapped under a silicone rubber balloon.

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  Cite this article 

F. Richard Kearney, Hyunung Yu, Dana D. Dlott, "Time-Resolved Microscopy Analysis of Laser Photothermal Imaging Mediain Journal of Imaging Science and Technology,  2006,  pp 401 - 410,  https://doi.org/10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.(2006)50:5(401)

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Copyright © Society for Imaging Science and Technology 2006
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