Science and engineering experience
Laser systems maintained and operated
Raydiance Discovery System (1 ps laser, 1552 nm, <5 uJ/pulse, <500 kHz).
Ti-sapphire femtosecond laser system from Spectra-Physics (70 fs, 800 nm, 1 mJ/pulse, 1 kHz).
Pump-probe spectroscopy system.
Opto-mechanical assemblies, motion, detection, and analysis systems
Ablation system
I designed, constructed and operated a laser ablation system provided with spectroscopic and visual feedback. We used a galvanometer scanner from ScanLab for fast beam scanning, and a Newport xyz linear stage system for sample positioning. The laser source used was a Raydiance Discovery System (1 ps)
Time resolved pump-probe spectroscopy
I designed, constructed, and operated a complete time-resolved pump-probe spectrometer. I also designed the detection system as well as the LabView program to control all moving parts and instruments, and to display and analyze the data. The laser source was a Ti-sapphire fs laser system from Spectra-Physics. Other components: optical parametrical amplification system (OPA), and a regenerative amplification system (Spitfire).
Time-Resolved Molecular Force Measurement System
ps LIBS
I developed a new LIBS technique using a 5 uJ/pulse picosecond laser source, which doesn't require time-gating for acquisition. The sensitivity of this technique is better than common ns LIBS techniques. The acquisition time is in the order of seconds. For the proof of concept experiment I used an HR200 spectrometer from Ocean Optics.
Projects
Among other projects, I was heavily involved in stent fabrication, photovoltaic cell fabrication, as well as microfluidic chip fabrication (and lab-on-a-chip). I was also the technical lead in a burn debridement project, integrating ablation, live feedback, and on-the-fly adaptive capability, the "smart laser scalpel" concept.
Ablation
At Raydiance Inc. I used the Raydiance Discovery System (1 ps laser, 1552 nm, <5 uJ/pulse, <500 kHz) for material processing. I worked on biological materials, soft tissue (skin, cornea, aortic valve, and others) and hart tissue (tooth and bone), dielectrics, semiconductors, metals, polymers, ceramics, as well as composite materials.
I pioneered the following laser processes at Raydiance Inc.
Surface
Milling
Hole drilling (Scanning, Trepanning, Percussion)
Cutting
Scribing
Cutting /drilling by water entrenchment (only for transparent and non-scattering samples)
Cutting/drilling from the back of the sample in air (only for transparent and non-scattering samples)
Subsurface
Bulk ablation
Interface
Liftoff
Subsurface photodisruption
I was very instrumental in planning and executing a successful flap cutting experiment (at 1552 nm, 1ps) in skin and cornea.
LIBS
I developed a new LIBS technique using a 5 uJ/pulse, 1 picosecond laser source, which doesn't require time-gating for acquisition. The sensitivity of this technique is better than common ns LIBS techniques. The acquisition time is in the order of seconds. For the proof of concept experiment I used an HR200 spectrometer from Ocean Optics.
Laser Activation
I studied the activation by laser of an elastomer and proposed new applications in artificial muscles.
Artificial Muscle Membranes Fabricated Using Ultra-Short Pulse Laser Ablation (SMASIS2009-1322): Iain A. Anderson, Benjamin O'Brien, Tiberius Brastaviceanu, Gregory J.R. Spooner.
Optical fiber displacement/force sensing
Piezo-based micromanipulators
I contributed to the Manipulators project, which develops a family of open source and low-cost micromanipulation devices.
Control systems for agriculture
I am contributing to the development of open source sensing and control systems for home, urban, and large scale agriculture. See more on Sensing and sensemaking for glocal food systems.
Knowledge management
At Raydiance Inc. (2007-2008) I also took the initiative to create a content management system and to conceptualize a knowledge management system to support the growing Raydiance Applications Network. I was also very instrumental in setting up a remote communication system, giving customers remote access to the lab environment as well as to our processing and analytical tools.
The new economy
Since 2008 I am studying and applying my knowledge in open innovation and open collaborative systems. I am the founder of Sensorica, an open value network (OVN) that designs, produces and distributes open source hardware.