Laser ablation

Laser ablation is like using a tiny superhero laser to chop up really small things on a surface. Imagine you have a table with some dried pasta stuck to it. You take a laser and shoot it at the pasta. The laser is so powerful, it heats up the pasta until it melts and breaks apart. This process is called ablation.

Now, let's say instead of pasta, we have a microscopic substance on the surface we want to remove, like a small piece of paint or metal. By using a laser, we can heat up just that tiny spot until it evaporates and disappears. This is called laser ablation on a microscopic level.

Laser ablation can be used for many things. For example, scientists use it to study tiny particles, like the ones in space dust. They can zap the particles with lasers to see what they are made of. Doctors can also use laser ablation to remove unhealthy or cancerous cells from the body.

Just like a superhero laser can slice through any obstacle, a laser beam can precisely aim at only the unwanted substance and leave the surrounding area untouched. This makes laser ablation a powerful tool for cleaning and cutting on a microscopic level.