AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

Registration required - add this session to your Annual Meeting registration
$264 registration fee; maximum 40 registrants

This two-day, hands-on workshop will provide an introduction to the two types of lasers most frequently used in conservation: Nd-YAG and Er-YAG. For decades, neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd-YAG) lasers have been used in conservation particularly for removing dark crusts from stone sculpture and architectural facades. Erbium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er-YAG) lasers can be used to thin/remove aged natural varnishes, biological growth, and adhesives by beneficially producing thermally-induced photo-disruption at the surfaces of media that contain O-H bonds. Both laser classes and their associated wavelengths can work well in tandem with other traditional cleaning techniques.

Conservation professionals from all specialties are invited to join this workshop as instructors and expert users will discuss laser applications for architecture, gilded surfaces, metals, paintings, paper, stone, textiles, and other media. The workshop will combine presentations and hands-on demonstrations focusing on the type of lasers most frequently used for conservation and small-scale site work. Participants will learn important concepts such as damage thresholds, fluence, pulse duration, high frequency systems, beam profile, and safety considerations as well as some specific characteristics that distinguish individual systems. After general background and case studies are presented, subsequent sessions will be dedicated to using Nd-YAG and Er-YAG lasers. Attendees will have the opportunity to experiment with both classes of lasers on different materials. The intent of this workshop is to introduce Nd-YAG and Er-YAG lasers, with a secondary outcome to create a community of conservation professionals interested in using laser technologies. Following this workshop, the hope is that participants will have acquired the knowledge necessary to determine what wavelength(s), pulse duration, power, etc., may be necessary and be inspired to seek out dedicated user training on specific laser systems that align with their own conservation needs.

To maximize the hands-on component of the workshop, some of the introductory lectures will be pre-recorded and made available prior to the workshop. Participants will be requested to watch the lectures in advance of the workshop. A laser questionnaire and waiver of liability will be circulated prior to the workshop and will need to be completed prior to the workshop. All safety precautions, such as protective eyewear and barriers, will be provided.