Lasers – How Do They Work And What Are They Used For?
“Laser” is an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”, yeah quite a mouthful, and has been used regularly in various forms of technology for over 50 years. Today we see lasers in everything from laser pointers to computers to cd players to weapons to surgical equipment. Tattoo removal, eye surgeries, hair replacement therapy – and a list of other applications that all need lasers.
So how do they work? Its actually pretty complicated for the scientists and engineers who came up with this stuff, even though to us it seems as easy as turning on or pushing a button, but that is far from the reality of the physics behind the laser beam.
Lasers produce a beam by stimulated emission of its gain medium, a controlled material that is the crystal of the laser which produces the specific light frequency that the laser diode emits. The laser lens then blocks all light frequencies except the desired one, such as 532nm for a green laser. What then comes out of the laser is the green beam that we can all see, that is about the most simple way you can put it.
The quality and clarity of any laser will vary greatly from one design to the next and if you’re looking for a laser pointer its important to ensure that the quality will meet a few standards. Lasers are available in hand held form as well as independent diodes, laser display systems and dpss industrial lasers.
There are also some laws that regulate the importation and sale of laser pointers of powerful output powers, so be sure any high power laser you consider is FDA certified and legal in the United States.
