Laser Cleaning : Introduction and Applications

Laser cleaning has begun to attract a considerable amount of interest recently as a new cleaning technique among scientists and engineers. The unique characteristics of laser cleaning are currently finding successful applications in industry, in medicine as well as in the world of art conservation. This paper takes an overview of the laser cleaning technique itself including basic principles and characteristics, and provides an account of current trends especially with regard to practical applications. Experience with its successful applications in various fields shows that laser cleaning may be about to emerge as a real alternative to conventional cleaning methods.