Harada Takaaki, Spence Stephanie, Margiolakis Athanasios, Deckoff-Jones Skylar, Ploeger Rebecca, Shugar Aaron N, Hamm James F, Dani Keshav M, Dani Anya R
Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Art Conservation Program, Science and Technology Group, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Materials (Basel). 2017 Jan 26;10(2):107. doi: 10.3390/ma10020107.
Recently, ultrafast lasers exhibiting high peak powers and extremely short pulse durations have created a new paradigm in materials processing. The precision and minimal thermal damage provided by ultrafast lasers in the machining of metals and dielectrics also suggests a novel application in obtaining precise cross-sections of fragile, combustible paint layers in artwork and cultural heritage property. Cross-sections of paint and other decorative layers on artwork provide critical information into its history and authenticity. However, the current methodology which uses a scalpel to obtain a cross-section can cause further damage, including crumbling, delamination, and paint compression. Here, we demonstrate the ability to make controlled cross-sections of paint layers with a femtosecond pulsed laser, with minimal damage to the surrounding artwork. The femtosecond laser cutting overcomes challenges such as fragile paint disintegrating under scalpel pressure, or oxidation by the continuous-wave (CW) laser. Variations in laser power and translational speed of the laser while cutting exhibit different benefits for cross-section sampling. The use of femtosecond lasers in studying artwork also presents new possibilities in analyzing, sampling, and cleaning of artwork with minimal destructive effects.
近年来，具有高峰值功率和极短脉冲持续时间的超快激光在材料加工领域开创了新的模式。超快激光在金属和电介质加工中所具备的高精度以及最小热损伤特性，也为获取艺术品和文化遗产中易碎、可燃漆层的精确横截面提供了一种新的应用方法。艺术品上漆层和其他装饰层的横截面能为其历史和真伪提供关键信息。然而，目前使用手术刀获取横截面的方法可能会造成进一步损坏，包括剥落、分层和漆层挤压。在此，我们展示了用飞秒脉冲激光制作漆层可控横截面的能力，同时对周围艺术品的损伤最小。飞秒激光切割克服了诸如易碎漆层在手术刀压力下破碎或被连续波（CW）激光氧化等挑战。切割过程中激光功率和激光平移速度的变化对横截面采样呈现出不同的益处。在艺术品研究中使用飞秒激光也为以最小破坏效应分析、采样和清洁艺术品带来了新的可能性。
