Estimation of ablation dynamics using single-shot 3D imaging at 1 million frames per second (Conference Presentation)

To capture fast dynamic events like laser ablation, reconstructing the full sequence with adequate temporal resolution often requires combining images from several exposures. However, the inherent variability between samples introduces uncertainty when using this approach. To address that limitation, we present a high-speed multi-projection framing camera-based imaging system designed for capturing rapid dynamic events within a single acquisition. It utilizes a spinning mirror that laterally displaces sub-images across a large area camera and a picosecond pulsed fiber-coupled laser that provides low speckle strobe light illumination of the scene. We demonstrate the utility of this system for studying laser-tissue interaction by visualizing the ablation kinetic difference for a variety of laser pulse durations spanning picoseconds to microseconds. From each video the physical parameters of the ablation dynamics, including shockwave and ejecta propagation and velocities, are estimated.