Laser
From HvWiki
Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
Contents |
Types of Lasers
Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser
A type of gas laser commonly used for cutting and welding metal. The CO2 laser produces a beam of infrared light with the principal wavelength bands centering around 9.4 and 10.6 micrometers. The efficiency can be as high as 20%.
TEA laser
Transverse electrical discharge in gas at atmospheric pressure. A TEA laser is a laser in which the lasing medium is the nitrogen in air at atmospheric pressure. The output of such a laser is at 337.1 nm, which is invisible ultraviolet. How to make: Nitrogen TEA laser
Diode Laser
A common type of laser, frequently seen in laser pointers.
CD/CD-ROM laser
Infrared
DVD laser
Red
Blu-ray laser
Blue/violet
Safety
The human eye has some response in the near infrared so if you see a curious red light emitting from a laser that is supposed to be infrared you are in danger of going blind because the intensity is at least 10 000 times greater than you perceive.
Some laser modules may emit more than one wavelength at the same time. For example a green laser may emit a more powerful infrared beam at the same time. If you block the visible light the infrared light may pass through and pose an invisible danger.
