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Questions tagged [lasers]

Questions related to lasers, laser-based systems or devices, and their applications.

Laser, which stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, is a device that typically produces a well-defined narrow beam of light. Usually it is monochromatic, or single-colour, i.e. its radiation encompasses a very narrow spectral range. Lasers can be ultraviolet, visible and infrared, as well as continuous or pulsed.

Most common lasers are based in a semiconductor diode, but there are also gas-, liquid-, fibre- and solid-state lasers.

Lasers are used in a vast variety of applications nowadays, including:

  • telecommunication
  • surgery
  • remote sensing
  • measuring distances
  • data storage
  • entertainment
  • metal welding and cutting
  • research
  • security
  • laser pointers
  • and many more
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Why are lasers used for concentrated light applications instead of incoherent light sources?

Some laser applications consist simply of concentrating light into a small spot. Two example applications are laser welding and cutting. In these cases a CO2 laser is often used which needs a regulated power supply, a water cooling system, and a…
user3368561
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Can a very bright light attract an incoming laser guided weapon?

I would like to know if a very bright light will attract an incoming laser guided weapon such as a laser guided missile. Say for example that a tank has a six-foot pole on the top of it and attached to the end of this pole is a high-voltage carbon…
user33377
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Metal micro perforation

I'm trying to design a metal surface with micro-perforation for a product and light it from other side with LED, such that the perforated pattern appears only when lit. In my previous prototype, which used laser drilling (20 micron holes) for…
Aditya
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Laser diode input/output ratio

I am a photo technician working in photographic labs to repair printing machines. I am trying to better understand how these machines operate. Blue laser gun Laser gun type = 473 $nm$ blue dpss. On label = maximum output 50 $mW$, 473 $nm$, type 3b…
SARDAR TARIQ
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Can all electromagnetic spectra be focused like a laser?

Lasers have a wide range of applications, but can be very costly to produce at high power/intensity. Since light is nothing more than a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum, it makes me wonder if the same high power/intensity applications…
Paul
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How to measure a laser diode's Wavelength

I have some laser diodes. I want to know how to measure the wavelength of laser diodes ranging from visible to near infrared? (300 nm to 1100 nm) What type of instrument/meter do I need to use? spectrometer, spectrophotometer, wavelength meter,…
SARDAR TARIQ
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How does a laser printer write with light on the photosensitive drum?

I want to understand how a laser printers laser writes on a photosensitive drum. I am trying to understand this process. the photosensitive cylinder is illuminated by a laser beam that projects above the negative of the image. After you…
user332153
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What is the accuracy of direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)?

They've printed jet engines with it that work after polishing. So how is the accuracy measured and how accurate is the DMLS process? I can't find the required info anywhere.
Daniel Donnelly
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Difference between continuous wave laser and a pulsed laser

I understand the difference between the two in terms of how they function; one will release all of it's energy in small pulses with the other creates a constant stream of radiation. My question is for materials processing such as marking or cutting.…
Jonny Flowers
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Alternatives to laser line?

I'm trying to project a very thin line at a low angle over some surface defects (peaks and troughs). The scale is ~20mm square, but the defects can be sub-mm (0.2 - 1.0mm). I am currently using a line generated by a laser pointer. The $4 laser…
John
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Tea nitrogen laser debugging

I am making a tea nitrogen laser based off the rimstarorg youtube channel. I have a perfect setup as seen below I use 11, 1kv diodes to convert my 7,500 volt lug on my neon sign transformer to DC. My dielectric, well, i tried everything from…
Reese Houseknecht
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Is it possible to reduce the divergence of a red laser pointer beam from 40 degrees to 1 degree?

I would like to find out if it is possible to reduce the divergence of a red laser pointer beam from 40 degrees to 1 degree. @Ruslan wrote on October 3 2013 that because the active zone of a red diode laser has diameter of order of several…
Frank
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How to handle reflections when cutting metal with a laser?

I have heard of lasers being used to cut metal, however all laser cutting machines I've found can't cut metal, I'm guessing because it reflects the light? What is different in the designs of such machines between those that can and can't cut metal?…
Jayy
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collapsing a telescope image cone into an optical fiber

I have an application where a telescope will be receiving light from a laser source, and I need to couple the output, which is the image cone, into an optical fiber. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the most efficient way to do this?
Anthony Knighton
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Comparison of beam divergence between laser diode and DPSS laser

I'm currently comparing a pulsed laser diode and a pulsed DPSS laser. For the DPSS laser, the beam divergence is listed as "beam divergence (80% of total energy): $<4 \text{mr}$". The laser diode is said to already be collimated, and has a beam…
The Pointer
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