The work presented in this thesis was undertaken to explain the differences in output powers and small-signal gain coefficients observed in cw N20 and C02 lasers. To isolate the factors limiting small-signal gain, the dynamics of conventional cw N20 laser discharges were investigated using a tunable diode laser (TDL) operating in the 2120-2350 cm-1 frequency region. Absorption measurements were made with the TDL on more than 10 different vibrational bands, allowing vibrational population distributions in the three normal modes of vibration of N20 to be determined. The vibrational populations follow a Boltzmann distribution, and the v1 and v2 mode temperatures are found to be strongly coupled, and to maintain equilibrium with the background gas temperature under all discharge conditions. It is observed that the v3 mode temperature saturates at high discharge currents. This saturation, which is attributed to electron de-excitation, is determined to be the primary factor limiting small-signal 10-μm gain in the N20 laser and is much more important than N20 dissociation. The maximum small-signal gain coefficients achievable in cw N20 lasers are calculated, and the results of the work indicates the measures that must be taken to optimize small-signal gain in the N20 laser. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

A irradiação com laser de CO2 e o emprego de compostos fluoretados podem contribuir para que o esmalte do dente decíduo se torne mais resistente a desafios ácidos. Assim, o presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar in vitro o efeito do laser de CO2 e de compostos fluoretados no controle da progressão de lesões de cárie em esmalte de dentes decíduos por meio da análise de microdureza subsuperficial. Foram utilizados 40 caninos humanos decíduos, dos quais foram obtidos fragmentos de 3x3x2 mm. Estes foram submetidos a desafio cariogênico inicial que consistiu na imersão em solução desmineralizadora por 3 horas e remineralizadora por 21 horas, durante 5 dias. Os fragmentos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos (n=10) de acordo com o tratamento superficial: CO2 - laser de CO2 (10,6 μm), VF - verniz fluoretado a 5%, FFA - flúor fosfato acidulado a 1,23% e ST - sem tratamento (controle). O laser de CO2 foi aplicado no modo ultra pulso, com potência de 0,5 W, densidade de energia de 0,04 J/cm2. Nos grupos que receberam tratamento com os fluoretos foi realizada uma aplicação de 0,1g durante um minuto. Após o tratamento superficial, foi realizado desafio cariogênico durante 5 dias, seguindo o protocolo anteriormente descrito. Foram realizadas 3 leituras de microdureza subsuperficial Knoop (KHN) a 30 μm da superfície. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de Duncan com significância de 5%. Verificou-se que a microdureza subsuperficial do esmalte do dente decíduo obtida após irradiação com laser de CO2 foi semelhante à obtida após a aplicação do FFA, mas estatisticamente diferente dos grupos ST e VF (p≤0,05), que obtiveram as menores médias. Conclui-se que o laser de CO2 pode contribuir para o controle da progressão de lesões de cárie em esmalte de dentes decíduos. / The CO2 laser irradiation and the employment of fluoride compounds may contribute to the deciduous tooth enamel becoming more resistant to acid challenges. Thus, this study aims to evaluate in vitro the effect of CO2 laser irradiation and fluoride compounds in the control of the progression of carious lesions on enamel of deciduous teeth by subsurface microhardness analysis. A total of 40 deciduous canines were used, of which fragments were obtained 3x3x2 mm. These fragments were submitted to an initial cariogenic challenge that consisted of immersion on demineralizing solution for 3 hours and remineralizing solution for 21 hours, for 5 days. The fragments were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10) according to the superficial treatment: CO2 - CO2 laser (10.6 μm), VF - fluoride varnish 5%, FFA - acidulated phosphate fluoride 1.23% and ST - without treatment (control). The CO2 laser was applied in ultra pulse mode with power of 0.5 W and power density of 0.04 J/cm2. In the groups treated with fluoride application was performed from 0.1 g for one minute. After superficial treatment, cariogenic challenge was performed during 5 days, following the protocol described previously. Three Knoop subsurface microhardness (KHN) readings were performed at 30 μm from the surface. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan test with significance of 5%. It was found that the subsurface microhardness on the enamel of deciduos teeth obtained after irradiation with CO2 laser was similar to that obtained after the application of FFA but statistically different from the VF and ST groups (p≤0.05) that received the lowest average . It was concluded that the CO2 laser can contribute to the control of the progression of carious lesions on enamel of deciduous teeth.

A irradiação com laser de CO2 e o emprego de compostos fluoretados podem contribuir para que o esmalte do dente decíduo se torne mais resistente a desafios ácidos. Assim, o presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar in vitro o efeito do laser de CO2 e de compostos fluoretados no controle da progressão de lesões de cárie em esmalte de dentes decíduos por meio da análise de microdureza subsuperficial. Foram utilizados 40 caninos humanos decíduos, dos quais foram obtidos fragmentos de 3x3x2 mm. Estes foram submetidos a desafio cariogênico inicial que consistiu na imersão em solução desmineralizadora por 3 horas e remineralizadora por 21 horas, durante 5 dias. Os fragmentos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos (n=10) de acordo com o tratamento superficial: CO2 - laser de CO2 (10,6 μm), VF - verniz fluoretado a 5%, FFA - flúor fosfato acidulado a 1,23% e ST - sem tratamento (controle). O laser de CO2 foi aplicado no modo ultra pulso, com potência de 0,5 W, densidade de energia de 0,04 J/cm2. Nos grupos que receberam tratamento com os fluoretos foi realizada uma aplicação de 0,1g durante um minuto. Após o tratamento superficial, foi realizado desafio cariogênico durante 5 dias, seguindo o protocolo anteriormente descrito. Foram realizadas 3 leituras de microdureza subsuperficial Knoop (KHN) a 30 μm da superfície. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de Duncan com significância de 5%. Verificou-se que a microdureza subsuperficial do esmalte do dente decíduo obtida após irradiação com laser de CO2 foi semelhante à obtida após a aplicação do FFA, mas estatisticamente diferente dos grupos ST e VF (p≤0,05), que obtiveram as menores médias. Conclui-se que o laser de CO2 pode contribuir para o controle da progressão de lesões de cárie em esmalte de dentes decíduos. / The CO2 laser irradiation and the employment of fluoride compounds may contribute to the deciduous tooth enamel becoming more resistant to acid challenges. Thus, this study aims to evaluate in vitro the effect of CO2 laser irradiation and fluoride compounds in the control of the progression of carious lesions on enamel of deciduous teeth by subsurface microhardness analysis. A total of 40 deciduous canines were used, of which fragments were obtained 3x3x2 mm. These fragments were submitted to an initial cariogenic challenge that consisted of immersion on demineralizing solution for 3 hours and remineralizing solution for 21 hours, for 5 days. The fragments were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10) according to the superficial treatment: CO2 - CO2 laser (10.6 μm), VF - fluoride varnish 5%, FFA - acidulated phosphate fluoride 1.23% and ST - without treatment (control). The CO2 laser was applied in ultra pulse mode with power of 0.5 W and power density of 0.04 J/cm2. In the groups treated with fluoride application was performed from 0.1 g for one minute. After superficial treatment, cariogenic challenge was performed during 5 days, following the protocol described previously. Three Knoop subsurface microhardness (KHN) readings were performed at 30 μm from the surface. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan test with significance of 5%. It was found that the subsurface microhardness on the enamel of deciduos teeth obtained after irradiation with CO2 laser was similar to that obtained after the application of FFA but statistically different from the VF and ST groups (p≤0.05) that received the lowest average . It was concluded that the CO2 laser can contribute to the control of the progression of carious lesions on enamel of deciduous teeth.