[Carotenoid levels measured by resonance Raman in vivo].

Carotenoid molecules are powerful antioxidants which can act as scavengers for free radicals, singlet oxygen, and other harmful reactive oxygen species in human body. Studies have shown an inverse correlation between the level of carotenoid and the risk of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and degenerative diseases. High-performance liquid chromatography is used for measuring carotenoid levels as a standard method, but it is not noninvasive and real-time detecting.

High-power high-repetition-rate UV light at 355 nm generated by a diode-end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.

We describe experimental results with a diode-pumped, passively Q-switched extracavity second- and third-harmonic generation. Cr:YAG is used as a saturable absorber for pulse generation. Taking into account the thermal effects of Nd:YAG at high incident pump power, we use a short plane-to-plane cavity configuration to take advantage of the maximum pump power and obtain the compactness structure.

High-repetition rate Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser with a composite semiconductor absorber.

A diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser passively Q switched by a semiconductor absorber is demonstrated. The Q-switched operation of the laser has an average output power of 135 mW with a 1.6 W incident pump power.