Femtosecond pulse laser cleaning of Makrana marble and semi- precious stones for the preservation of the Holy Samadh

Abstract

<p>This study examines the use of heat-free femtosecond pulse laser technology for the cleaning of Makrana marble and semi-precious stones from the Soami Bagh Samadh temple in Agra, India. We determined the ablation thresholds of the semi-precious stones used in the inlay stonework with femtosecond laser pulses and demonstrated that laser ablation can effectively remove dust layers and environmental staining from the marble surfaces without damaging the original material. We demonstrated, by using optical microscopy, colorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, that femtosecond laser processing of surfaces reduced the risk of thermal damage due to minimal heat generation and allowed the preservation of the original surface structure. This research suggests that femtosecond pulse laser technology can be a sustainable and effective cleaning method for heritage places such as the Holy Samadh temple.</p>