ablaatsioon

Ablatsioon is a general scientific term describing the removal or erosion of material from a surface through various processes, such as melting, vaporization, sublimation, chemical reaction, or mechanical wear. The exact meaning depends on the field, but all uses share the idea of material loss or destruction.

In medicine, ablation refers to destroying or removing tissue to treat disease. Techniques include radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, laser ablation, cryoablation, and high-intensity focused ultrasound. Applications span cardiac electrophysiology (catheter ablation for arrhythmias), tumor treatment in organs such as the liver or kidney, treatment of uterine fibroids, and various dermatological procedures. Ablation is often minimally invasive, using probes or catheters inserted through the skin, and aims to minimize damage to adjacent tissues. Typical concerns include pain, infection, collateral injury, and the possibility of incomplete treatment or recurrence.

In Earth and planetary sciences, ablation describes loss of material from ice, snow, or rock, typically through melting, sublimation, or calving. In glaciers, ablation affects ice extent and mass balance and influences sea-level rise. In atmospheric and planetary contexts, ablation can refer to surface erosion of meteoroids or spacecraft surfaces due to intense heating during entry.

In materials science, laser ablation uses short, intense laser pulses to remove material, enabling micromachining, surface modification, and thin-film deposition via ablation plumes. The amount of material removed depends on pulse energy, duration, wavelength, and the material’s properties.

Ablation rates are typically expressed as thickness or mass loss over time and depend on the specific mechanism and context.