A group of scientists from Russian universities taught a neural network to quickly assess the ability of materials to block laser radiation that is dangerous to human eyes. The invention will help more effectively protect the eyesight of workers in industrial production where laser technologies are used. The press service of the Russian Science Foundation reported this to RT. The study was supported by a grant from the foundation. The results were published in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.

First, the study authors selected a new class of compounds that can effectively absorb high-power laser radiation with nanosecond pulse durations. These substances turned out to be phthalocyanines - synthetic analogues of porphyrins, which are widespread in nature (pigments that are part of the non-protein part of the hemoglobin molecule, chlorophyll, and a number of enzymes). They form stable complexes with almost all elements of the Periodic Table and are traditionally used as pigments and dyes. It is known that phthalocyanines are good at blocking rays in the visible range - light visible to the human eye. 

Experiments have shown that phthalocyanines attenuate not only visible light, but also laser pulses, and very significantly - by 10-20 times. The best results were obtained with zinc phthalocyanine complex. Scientists also identified and described the relationship between the electronic structure of dye molecules and their absorption capacity.

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At the next stage, the researchers loaded all the obtained data into a special neural network, which they adapted for the new task. The program quickly sorts different flatocyanine compounds based on their ability to absorb laser light.

The algorithm allows you to quickly select the composition of the material according to the specified parameters - the required level of protection, as well as the thickness of the absorbent coating. 

“A new model based on a set of mathematical algorithms in the future will open up wide opportunities for creating optical limiters of high-intensity light based on phthalocyanines and their analogues,” project leader Alexander Tolbin, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, chief researcher at the Institute of Physiologically Active Substances of the Federal Research Center told RT Problems of Chemical Physics and Medical Chemistry RAS.

Let us remind you that it is impossible to imagine modern industry without laser systems, which are used to cut metals and many other operations. The laser is very dangerous for the eyes: when such radiation hits the retina, a person goes blind. Nowadays, special glasses are used to protect the eyes, in which light filters are inserted instead of glasses. But the power of industrial lasers is constantly increasing, so old methods that were used to protect workers in production may become less effective. The scientists' development will help create more reliable protective coatings.

The study involved scientists from the Institute of Physiologically Active Substances of the Federal Research Center for Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Biomedical Systems of the National Research University MIET and the Institute of Bionic Technologies and Engineering.