Expanding the horizons of laser applications: From cultural heritage imaging to sustainable pest control
Abstract
Lasers have long supported science, industry, and medicine, but their applications are now expanding into new interdisciplinary domains. This keynote introduces recent developments in two such areas: cultural heritage analysis and sustainable pest control.
For cultural artifacts like ceramics, laser-based multispectral imaging—combining infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray spectroscopy—enables non-invasive analysis of glaze composition and coloration, helping identify production techniques and provenance.
In agriculture, we present a chemical-free pest control method using blue semiconductor lasers. By detecting pest flight paths with image tracking and targeting them with laser beams, this approach offers an environmentally friendly solution to pesticide-resistant species.
These examples illustrate how laser technologies are contributing to societal challenges through cross-disciplinary innovation.