Which of the following wavelengths is considered ablative for lasers?

The correct answer, which identifies the ablative wavelength for lasers, is 10600 nm. This wavelength is associated with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, widely used in medical and surgical applications due to its ability to effectively remove tissue by vaporization.

Ablative lasers operate by delivering energy that is absorbed by the water content in biological tissues, leading to the rapid heating, vaporization, and removal of the tissue in a controlled manner. The CO2 laser's wavelength of 10600 nm is optimal for these processes, as it is well absorbed by water, making it highly effective for cutting and ablating soft tissues. This characteristic allows the CO2 laser to achieve precise removal of tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding structures.

In contrast, the other wavelengths listed are not as effective for ablative purposes. While 2940 nm is also an ablative wavelength (in the context of erbium lasers) used for similar applications, the primary recognition of ablative wavelengths in the context of common laser treatments frequently points to the CO2 laser at 10600 nm. Thus, while 2940 nm could fit the category depending on the context, 10600 nm is typically the most classically referenced wavelength in the field of ablative laser