INTERACTION EFFECT BETWEEN BEAM DIAMETER AND ENERGY DENSITY IN LASER-INDUCED TACTILE PERCEPTION

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the interaction effect between the beam diameter and energy density, which are perceived as laser-induced tactile perception by humans, by diversely varying the laser parameters, beam diameter, and energy. Eight healthy male college students of 23.5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]1.7 years participated in the study. The range of the beam diameter of the displayed laser stimulation was between 0.03[Formula: see text]mm and 8[Formula: see text]mm, and a total of 21 sizes were displayed. The laser energy was sequentially displayed from the minimum energy that can be displayed by one beam diameter to the maximum energy range that does not exceed the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) level since the energy varies according to the beam diameter. The laser energy was controlled by an optical density ([Formula: see text]) filter and was measured by an optical power meter (energy meter). Furthermore, the beam diameter was adjusted by moving the lens, which was confirmed with the beam profiler. The experimental test consists of the control phase (19[Formula: see text]s), stimulus phase (7[Formula: see text]s), and response phase (4[Formula: see text]s); the total duration of the test was 30[Formula: see text]s. The stimulus phase is the period in which stimulation was displayed on the skin through laser irradiation, and the stimulation was displayed by changing the beam diameter and the energy from the laser. The total number of beam diameter and energy pairs displayed to the subjects was 113 and 5 trials of irradiation were conducted for each pair. Stimulation perception response was recorded by pressing the response buttons during the response phase, and the responses were predefined as “no feeling,” “tactile sensation”, and “pain.” Through the extracted response data from the response phase, the beam diameter and energy density pair in which more than 50% of the subjects responded as having perceived tactile sensation were selected from the possible laser energy that could be displayed from one beam diameter. The simulation results showed that increasing the beam diameter increased the penetration depth, indicating an effective energy transfer to the skin. Therefore, increasing the beam diameter results in increased scattering, and hence increased penetration depth, and ultimately a more effective energy transfer. Therefore, increased beam diameter results in higher energy transfer efficiency, indicating that the required energy density by more than 50% of the subjects to perceive tactile sensation decreased.