About Different Types of Lasers

A laser is an apparatus that directs the generation of photons from energized atoms. The word laser is an abbreviation for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It shouldn't be confused with normal light. A fluorescent light generates photons from energized atoms but isn't a laser. The light it generates is irregular in pattern, multicolored and scattered. A laser has specific light properties, which result in the generated light being organized, of one color and directional.

Identification

The particular light properties of lasers are:
Coherent: The photons' wave fronts launch together. This makes the light organized, so that each photon moves the same way as every other photon, like a school of fish.
Monochromatic: A single color, a specific wavelength of light. The quantity of energy an electron releases determines this wavelength.
Directional: Laser light has a synchronized beam, the result of which is a very concentrated light. To contrast, a candle sends light in all directions, and its light is diffused.

The Facts

A laser should have a label saying what type it is. The wavelength determines the different types of lasers. They are classed into four general groups, with physical harm being the definitive classifier. It's not just the danger level that defines different types of lasers, but also their specific components. Since the laser's discovery, an expansive range of laser types, numbering in the thousands, have been created from different materials.

Function

Here are the main groups:
Class I: Lasers that can't generate hazardous radiation levels.
Class I.A: A special classification only for certain Class I lasers hazardous when looked at. Four milliwatts is the highest power Class I.A. can go up to.
Class II: Low-power lasers that are above Class I, but do not generate radiant power above one milliwatt.
Class IIIA: Lasers of intermediate power at 1.5 milliwatts. They are harmful only if looked at directly. Most penlight lasers are classified as this type.
Class IIIB: Lasers of moderate power.
Class IV: High-powered lasers at 500 milliwatts that cause damage when seen. A potential fire and physical hazard. Precautions and controls are required for places with Class IV lasers.

Features

Gas Lasers principally generate visible red light. A helium/neon mixture and helium by itself are very common gas lasers. Carbon dioxide lasers are powerful, emitting infrared light used for cutting hard things. A few other examples of gas lasers are argon, carbon monoxide and nitrogen.
Excimer lasers are gas lasers that use combinations of reactive and inert gases like chlorine and argon. The name excimer comes from the words excited and dimmers. Electrical stimulation causes a pseudo molecule (the dimmer) to be created. Then, when the photons are emitted, ultraviolet light occurs.
Dye lasers are composed of liquid suspensions and liquid solutions of complex organic dyes. Such lasers can be tuned to a large variety of wavelengths. Some of the dyes used for dye lasers are rhodamine 6G, coumarin 102 and stilbene.
Semi-conductor lasers, which are not he same as solid-state lasers, also go by the name of "diode lasers." They are electric devices, mostly low in power and not large. Useful in machines, you can find them in things like CD players.
Chemical lasers are used as direct energy weapons. Two kinds of chemical lasers are hydrogen fluoride and deuterium fluoride.
Metal vapor lasers can use a combination of reactive gases and metals, or some metals. Examples of metal vapor lasers are helium-silver, gold vapor, neon-copper and copper vapor.

Significance

Different types of lasers are used in many ways. Whether buying groceries, having surgery, burning music, machine construction, giving a presentation or even just playing with a pet, lasers continue to change the world.