L A S E R S

Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation i.e. LASER is one of the most incredible discoveries of Physics. First produced in 1960s, it recently completed its 50th year.
Laser light is emitted when atoms make transition from one Quantum State to a lower one.

Properties of Laser Light

1) Laser light is highly monochromatic.

2) Laser Light is highly coherent .

3) Laser light is highly directional.

4) Laser light can be sharply focused.

Types of Lasers

There are many kinds of LASERs differing their operational wavelength & applications:
I. Gas LASERs:
The Helium-Neon Gas Laser, Carbon dioxide gas Laser
II. Chemical LASERs:
HF Laser

III. Solid LASERs: Ruby LASER (most popular), Hybrid Silicon LASER, Diode LASER

IV. Metal Vapour LASERs: Copper Vapour LASER, Gold Vapour LASER

V. Dye LASERs

VI. RAMAN LASERs

VII. Free Electron LASER

VIII. Gas Dynamic LASER

Uses

* The smallest Lasers are use in Fibre Optics– for -Voice & Data Transmission over Optical Fibres.

* The Largest lasers are used for nuclear fusion research, to measure astronomical distances and in military applications.

* Other uses are– Reading Bar Codes, Manufacturing and Reading CDs and DVDs, Performing Surgery, Surveying, Cutting hundred layes Cloth at a time in the garment industry, weldings and in generating holograms.