Physics Book - User contributions [en]

Lasers

2022-04-26T16:46:47Z

SamManley: /* Lasers */

'''Claimed by Sam Manley: 4/20/2022'''

== Lasers ==

Lasers have become a very useful invention and have been used in a variety of applications throughout the world, ranging from medical procedures such as laser-eye surgery to simply using a laser to engrave one's initials onto an item of value. The word laser is actually an acronym that stands for ''light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,'' which essentially describes the process by which lasers work.

Lasers excite the atoms in what's called the ''lasing-medium'' with either another light or an electric field into a state known as "population inversion" where the majority of the electrons are in an excited state until one of the atoms spontaneously emits a photon. This is caused by an electron dropping from a ''higher'' energy state to a ''lower'', more stable energy state. When this photon passes by other atoms of the same material that have electrons that are able to make the same change in energy level (i.e. they ''could'' release a photon of the same energy), then they '''will''' change energy levels and release a photon, amplifying the light beam.<ref name="lsrphys"/> This process cascades throughout the medium, emitting more and more photons. Mirrors are typically placed on the sides of the lasing-medium to reflect photons to continue the process, with an opening in one mirror to allow the beam to exit the chamber.<ref name="lsrphys"/>

The energy levels mentioned above are relative to each other, and different amounts of energy levels have different uses. Most lasers use atoms that have 3 or 4 energy levels for an electron to jump between.<ref name="lsrphys"/> Three-level lasers involve exciting an electron to a higher, unstable state from which of will drop to a slightly lower energy state, called a "metastable state".<ref name="lsrphys"/> From this metastable state, the electron can fall to the ground state and release the desired photon. The weakness of three-level lasers is that once the electron is in the ground state, it is then able to ''absorb'' a photon, which would prevent the amplification of light by removing photons, so these lasers are usually only good for producing pulses.<ref name="lsrphys"/> Four-level lasers work on similar principles as three-level lasers, with a high and unstable state with a slightly lower energy metastable state.<ref name="lsrphys"/> The difference is that four-level lasers have an additional state between the metastable state and the ground state called the lower metastable state, which mitigates the issue with the three-level laser.<ref name="lsrphys"/> The desired photon is emitted when the electron falls from the higher metastable state to the lower metastable state (rom which the electron may also fall to the ground state).<ref name="lsrphys"/> This prevents the electrons in the ground state from absorbing photons since they can only abosorb photons of a discrete energy and there is no energy level above the ground state with that specific energy difference.<ref name="lsrphys"/>

Lasers may also be named for the lasing-medium they use, such is the case for "ruby lasers".
===Laser Light===
To create laser light, there are some conditions that need to be satisfied: the atoms in the lasing-medium must have electrons in an excited state from which they can drop, producing a photon with energy (and thus wavelength) equal to the electron's change in potential energy as it fell, and the light used to stimulate the emission must be that exact same wavelength. This means that all the light emitted by the laser is monochromatic, meaning the photons are all of only one wavelength. <ref name="lsrphys">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/Fundamental-principles]</ref>

Another difference between laser light and normal light is its state when shone. Laser light is very directional, which explains why when a laser is shone, the beam is very concentrated and organized - there is no or very little scattering of the light. This feat is extremely helpful when considering the applications such as laser-eye surgery where focusing and precise energy is needed.

[https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/lasers/latest/lasers.html?simulation=lasers/ Here] you can find a link to a simulation of a laser that allows you to adjust the parameters of the experiment.

==History==
The theory of stimulated emission was first suggested by Albert Einstein in 1917. <ref name="lsrhist">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/History]</ref> The first person to witness stimulated emission was Rudolf Ladenburg, a german physicist, in 1928. He saw no practical uses for it at the time though, so he effectively dismissed it and lasers went unstudied for over 20 years. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
This streak came to an end in 1951, when Charles Townes came up with a way to stimulate emission of light in the microwave region of frequencies, and he created a working device in 1953 that he called a "maser" (for ''microwave'' amplification through stimulated emission of radiation). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Aleksandr M. Prokhorov and Nikolay G. Basov described that theory of the ''maser'' independently, ad in 1964, Townes, Prokhorov, and Basov earned the Nobel prize for their work.<ref name="lsrhist"/> Townes mentioned the idea of extending the capabilities of the maser to produce stimulated emission of shorter wavelengths of light to his brother-in-law, Arthur Schawlow, and Gordon Gould, who took their research in different directions (Schawlow and Townes began researching optical masers while Gould had more militaristic goals in mind). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Gould was the man that came up with the term "laser" but he is not credited with inventing the first one. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
The first laser was created by Theodore H. Maiman in May of 1960, when he made a laser that used synthetic ruby as the lasing-medium. <ref name="lsrhist"/>

==Types of Lasers==

===Ruby Lasers===
[[File:rubylaser_components.jpg]]

Ruby lasers have a flash tube and two mirrors. In this case, the lasing medium is the ruby rod. When light is flashed, the atoms in the ruby get excited and some of these atoms emit photons, which bounce off the mirrors and are eventually emitted as monochromatic and directional laser.

===Solid-state Lasers===
In solid-state lasers, the lasing medium is distributed in a solid matrix such as ruby.

===Gas Lasers===
The Lasing medium in this case is usually either helium or helium-neon. They usually have an output color of red. Carbon dioxide is used as a lasing medium when the lasers are being used to cut hard materials.

===Semiconductor Lasers===
These are also called diode lasers and are different from solid-state lasers. They are usually very small and use a very small amount of power. These lasers are incorporated into a larger arrays.

==Connectedness==
Lasers are a very unique invention because they have so many applications, as mentioned before. They can be used as a method to decorate objects and have also been applied to the medical field -laser-eye surgery. The concept and process by which lasers work is directly related to physics, specifically the idea of energy emission in the form of photons. This may not have a direct relationship to chemical engineering, but the basic principles of chemistry - atoms and energy - play a large part in the manufacturing of lasers. Industrial applications range from cameras, firearms, scientific techniques such as spectroscopy, and also daily use during presentations. An interesting recent application of lasers is the laser focus that is implemented in LG G3 phone camera. Click on the link below to read more about this feature.

== See also ==
This link has more information about the laser used in the LG G3 phone camera.
[
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/how-the-lg-g3-laser-af-camera-focus-works]

==References==

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page
#http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser5.htm
#http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/images/rubylaser_components.jpg
#http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3
#http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserhistory.htm
[[Category:Optics]]

File:3lvllsr.webp

2022-04-26T16:40:13Z

SamManley:

Lasers

2022-04-26T15:24:44Z

SamManley: /* References */

'''Claimed by Sam Manley: 4/20/2022'''

== Lasers ==

Lasers have become a very useful invention and have been used in a variety of applications throughout the world, ranging from medical procedures such as laser-eye surgery to simply using a laser to engrave one's initials onto an item of value. The word laser is actually an acronym that stands for ''light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,'' which essentially describes the process by which lasers work.

There are many types of lasers - each with their own distinct features. Often times, the laser is named after the lasing medium that is used. The lasing medium is used to excite the atoms into their excited state; when in their excited state, these atoms release energy in the form of photons, thus creating the laser beam.
===Laser Light===
To create laser light, there are some conditions that need to be satisfied: the atoms in the lasing-medium must have electrons in an excited state from which they can drop, producing a photon with energy (and thus wavelength) equal to the electron's change in potential energy as it fell, and the light used to stimulate the emission must be that exact same wavelength. This means that all the light emitted by the laser is monochromatic, meaning the photons are all of only one wavelength. <ref name="lsrphys">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/Fundamental-principles]</ref>

Another difference between laser light and normal light is its state when shone. Laser light is very directional, which explains why when a laser is shone, the beam is very concentrated and organized - there is no or very little scattering of the light. This feat is extremely helpful when considering the applications such as laser-eye surgery where focusing and precise energy is needed.

[https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/lasers/latest/lasers.html?simulation=lasers/ Here] you can find a link to a simulation of a laser that allows you to adjust the parameters of the experiment.

==History==
The theory of stimulated emission was first suggested by Albert Einstein in 1917. <ref name="lsrhist">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/History]</ref> The first person to witness stimulated emission was Rudolf Ladenburg, a german physicist, in 1928. He saw no practical uses for it at the time though, so he effectively dismissed it and lasers went unstudied for over 20 years. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
This streak came to an end in 1951, when Charles Townes came up with a way to stimulate emission of light in the microwave region of frequencies, and he created a working device in 1953 that he called a "maser" (for ''microwave'' amplification through stimulated emission of radiation). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Aleksandr M. Prokhorov and Nikolay G. Basov described that theory of the ''maser'' independently, ad in 1964, Townes, Prokhorov, and Basov earned the Nobel prize for their work.<ref name="lsrhist"/> Townes mentioned the idea of extending the capabilities of the maser to produce stimulated emission of shorter wavelengths of light to his brother-in-law, Arthur Schawlow, and Gordon Gould, who took their research in different directions (Schawlow and Townes began researching optical masers while Gould had more militaristic goals in mind). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Gould was the man that came up with the term "laser" but he is not credited with inventing the first one. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
The first laser was created by Theodore H. Maiman in May of 1960, when he made a laser that used synthetic ruby as the lasing-medium. <ref name="lsrhist"/>

==Types of Lasers==

===Ruby Lasers===
[[File:rubylaser_components.jpg]]

Ruby lasers have a flash tube and two mirrors. In this case, the lasing medium is the ruby rod. When light is flashed, the atoms in the ruby get excited and some of these atoms emit photons, which bounce off the mirrors and are eventually emitted as monochromatic and directional laser.

===Solid-state Lasers===
In solid-state lasers, the lasing medium is distributed in a solid matrix such as ruby.

===Gas Lasers===
The Lasing medium in this case is usually either helium or helium-neon. They usually have an output color of red. Carbon dioxide is used as a lasing medium when the lasers are being used to cut hard materials.

===Semiconductor Lasers===
These are also called diode lasers and are different from solid-state lasers. They are usually very small and use a very small amount of power. These lasers are incorporated into a larger arrays.

==Connectedness==
Lasers are a very unique invention because they have so many applications, as mentioned before. They can be used as a method to decorate objects and have also been applied to the medical field -laser-eye surgery. The concept and process by which lasers work is directly related to physics, specifically the idea of energy emission in the form of photons. This may not have a direct relationship to chemical engineering, but the basic principles of chemistry - atoms and energy - play a large part in the manufacturing of lasers. Industrial applications range from cameras, firearms, scientific techniques such as spectroscopy, and also daily use during presentations. An interesting recent application of lasers is the laser focus that is implemented in LG G3 phone camera. Click on the link below to read more about this feature.

== See also ==
This link has more information about the laser used in the LG G3 phone camera.
[
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/how-the-lg-g3-laser-af-camera-focus-works]

==References==

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page
#http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser5.htm
#http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/images/rubylaser_components.jpg
#http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3
#http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserhistory.htm
[[Category:Optics]]

Lasers

2022-04-26T15:20:04Z

SamManley: /* References */

'''Claimed by Sam Manley: 4/20/2022'''

== Lasers ==

Lasers have become a very useful invention and have been used in a variety of applications throughout the world, ranging from medical procedures such as laser-eye surgery to simply using a laser to engrave one's initials onto an item of value. The word laser is actually an acronym that stands for ''light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,'' which essentially describes the process by which lasers work.

There are many types of lasers - each with their own distinct features. Often times, the laser is named after the lasing medium that is used. The lasing medium is used to excite the atoms into their excited state; when in their excited state, these atoms release energy in the form of photons, thus creating the laser beam.
===Laser Light===
To create laser light, there are some conditions that need to be satisfied: the atoms in the lasing-medium must have electrons in an excited state from which they can drop, producing a photon with energy (and thus wavelength) equal to the electron's change in potential energy as it fell, and the light used to stimulate the emission must be that exact same wavelength. This means that all the light emitted by the laser is monochromatic, meaning the photons are all of only one wavelength. <ref name="lsrphys">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/Fundamental-principles]</ref>

Another difference between laser light and normal light is its state when shone. Laser light is very directional, which explains why when a laser is shone, the beam is very concentrated and organized - there is no or very little scattering of the light. This feat is extremely helpful when considering the applications such as laser-eye surgery where focusing and precise energy is needed.

[https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/lasers/latest/lasers.html?simulation=lasers/ Here] you can find a link to a simulation of a laser that allows you to adjust the parameters of the experiment.

==History==
The theory of stimulated emission was first suggested by Albert Einstein in 1917. <ref name="lsrhist">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/History]</ref> The first person to witness stimulated emission was Rudolf Ladenburg, a german physicist, in 1928. He saw no practical uses for it at the time though, so he effectively dismissed it and lasers went unstudied for over 20 years. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
This streak came to an end in 1951, when Charles Townes came up with a way to stimulate emission of light in the microwave region of frequencies, and he created a working device in 1953 that he called a "maser" (for ''microwave'' amplification through stimulated emission of radiation). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Aleksandr M. Prokhorov and Nikolay G. Basov described that theory of the ''maser'' independently, ad in 1964, Townes, Prokhorov, and Basov earned the Nobel prize for their work.<ref name="lsrhist"/> Townes mentioned the idea of extending the capabilities of the maser to produce stimulated emission of shorter wavelengths of light to his brother-in-law, Arthur Schawlow, and Gordon Gould, who took their research in different directions (Schawlow and Townes began researching optical masers while Gould had more militaristic goals in mind). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Gould was the man that came up with the term "laser" but he is not credited with inventing the first one. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
The first laser was created by Theodore H. Maiman in May of 1960, when he made a laser that used synthetic ruby as the lasing-medium. <ref name="lsrhist"/>

==Types of Lasers==

===Ruby Lasers===
[[File:rubylaser_components.jpg]]

Ruby lasers have a flash tube and two mirrors. In this case, the lasing medium is the ruby rod. When light is flashed, the atoms in the ruby get excited and some of these atoms emit photons, which bounce off the mirrors and are eventually emitted as monochromatic and directional laser.

===Solid-state Lasers===
In solid-state lasers, the lasing medium is distributed in a solid matrix such as ruby.

===Gas Lasers===
The Lasing medium in this case is usually either helium or helium-neon. They usually have an output color of red. Carbon dioxide is used as a lasing medium when the lasers are being used to cut hard materials.

===Semiconductor Lasers===
These are also called diode lasers and are different from solid-state lasers. They are usually very small and use a very small amount of power. These lasers are incorporated into a larger arrays.

==Connectedness==
Lasers are a very unique invention because they have so many applications, as mentioned before. They can be used as a method to decorate objects and have also been applied to the medical field -laser-eye surgery. The concept and process by which lasers work is directly related to physics, specifically the idea of energy emission in the form of photons. This may not have a direct relationship to chemical engineering, but the basic principles of chemistry - atoms and energy - play a large part in the manufacturing of lasers. Industrial applications range from cameras, firearms, scientific techniques such as spectroscopy, and also daily use during presentations. An interesting recent application of lasers is the laser focus that is implemented in LG G3 phone camera. Click on the link below to read more about this feature.

== See also ==
This link has more information about the laser used in the LG G3 phone camera.
[
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/how-the-lg-g3-laser-af-camera-focus-works]

==References==

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page
#http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser5.htm
#http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/images/rubylaser_components.jpg
#http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3
#http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserhistory.htm
#https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/History
#https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/Fundamental-principles
[[Category:Optics]]

Lasers

2022-04-25T19:20:59Z

SamManley: /* Laser Light */

'''Claimed by Sam Manley: 4/20/2022'''

== Lasers ==

Lasers have become a very useful invention and have been used in a variety of applications throughout the world, ranging from medical procedures such as laser-eye surgery to simply using a laser to engrave one's initials onto an item of value. The word laser is actually an acronym that stands for ''light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,'' which essentially describes the process by which lasers work.

There are many types of lasers - each with their own distinct features. Often times, the laser is named after the lasing medium that is used. The lasing medium is used to excite the atoms into their excited state; when in their excited state, these atoms release energy in the form of photons, thus creating the laser beam.
===Laser Light===
To create laser light, there are some conditions that need to be satisfied: the atoms in the lasing-medium must have electrons in an excited state from which they can drop, producing a photon with energy (and thus wavelength) equal to the electron's change in potential energy as it fell, and the light used to stimulate the emission must be that exact same wavelength. This means that all the light emitted by the laser is monochromatic, meaning the photons are all of only one wavelength. <ref name="lsrphys">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/Fundamental-principles]</ref>

Another difference between laser light and normal light is its state when shone. Laser light is very directional, which explains why when a laser is shone, the beam is very concentrated and organized - there is no or very little scattering of the light. This feat is extremely helpful when considering the applications such as laser-eye surgery where focusing and precise energy is needed.

[https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/lasers/latest/lasers.html?simulation=lasers/ Here] you can find a link to a simulation of a laser that allows you to adjust the parameters of the experiment.

==History==
The theory of stimulated emission was first suggested by Albert Einstein in 1917. <ref name="lsrhist">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/laser/History]</ref> The first person to witness stimulated emission was Rudolf Ladenburg, a german physicist, in 1928. He saw no practical uses for it at the time though, so he effectively dismissed it and lasers went unstudied for over 20 years. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
This streak came to an end in 1951, when Charles Townes came up with a way to stimulate emission of light in the microwave region of frequencies, and he created a working device in 1953 that he called a "maser" (for ''microwave'' amplification through stimulated emission of radiation). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Aleksandr M. Prokhorov and Nikolay G. Basov described that theory of the ''maser'' independently, ad in 1964, Townes, Prokhorov, and Basov earned the Nobel prize for their work.<ref name="lsrhist"/> Townes mentioned the idea of extending the capabilities of the maser to produce stimulated emission of shorter wavelengths of light to his brother-in-law, Arthur Schawlow, and Gordon Gould, who took their research in different directions (Schawlow and Townes began researching optical masers while Gould had more militaristic goals in mind). <ref name="lsrhist"/> Gould was the man that came up with the term "laser" but he is not credited with inventing the first one. <ref name="lsrhist"/>
The first laser was created by Theodore H. Maiman in May of 1960, when he made a laser that used synthetic ruby as the lasing-medium. <ref name="lsrhist"/>

==Types of Lasers==

===Ruby Lasers===
[[File:rubylaser_components.jpg]]

Ruby lasers have a flash tube and two mirrors. In this case, the lasing medium is the ruby rod. When light is flashed, the atoms in the ruby get excited and some of these atoms emit photons, which bounce off the mirrors and are eventually emitted as monochromatic and directional laser.

===Solid-state Lasers===
In solid-state lasers, the lasing medium is distributed in a solid matrix such as ruby.

===Gas Lasers===
The Lasing medium in this case is usually either helium or helium-neon. They usually have an output color of red. Carbon dioxide is used as a lasing medium when the lasers are being used to cut hard materials.

===Semiconductor Lasers===
These are also called diode lasers and are different from solid-state lasers. They are usually very small and use a very small amount of power. These lasers are incorporated into a larger arrays.

==Connectedness==
Lasers are a very unique invention because they have so many applications, as mentioned before. They can be used as a method to decorate objects and have also been applied to the medical field -laser-eye surgery. The concept and process by which lasers work is directly related to physics, specifically the idea of energy emission in the form of photons. This may not have a direct relationship to chemical engineering, but the basic principles of chemistry - atoms and energy - play a large part in the manufacturing of lasers. Industrial applications range from cameras, firearms, scientific techniques such as spectroscopy, and also daily use during presentations. An interesting recent application of lasers is the laser focus that is implemented in LG G3 phone camera. Click on the link below to read more about this feature.

== See also ==
This link has more information about the laser used in the LG G3 phone camera.
[
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/how-the-lg-g3-laser-af-camera-focus-works]

==References==

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page
#http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser5.htm
#http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/images/rubylaser_components.jpg
#http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3
#http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserhistory.htm
[[Category:Optics]]

Lasers

2022-04-25T19:02:44Z

SamManley:

Lasers

2022-04-25T19:01:08Z

SamManley:

Lasers

2022-04-25T18:59:30Z

SamManley:

Lasers

2022-04-21T18:36:51Z

SamManley: /* History */

Lasers

2022-04-21T17:54:07Z

SamManley:

Lasers

2022-04-20T18:58:27Z

SamManley:

Claimed by Sam Manley: 4/20/2022

== Lasers ==

Lasers have become a very useful invention and have been used in a variety of applications throughout the world, ranging from medical procedures such as laser-eye surgery to simply using a laser to engrave one's initials onto an item of value. The word laser is actually an acronym that stands for ''light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,'' which essentially describes the process by which lasers work.

There are many types of lasers - each with their own distinct features. Often times, the laser is named after the lasing medium that is used. The lasing medium is used to excite the atoms into their excited state; when in their excited state, these atoms release energy in the form of photons, thus creating the laser beam.
===Laser Light===
Laser light is much different than normal light. Unlike the UV visible spectrum of light where many wavelengths are seen, laser light is monochromatic, meaning when shone, it has one wavelength, resulting in only one color seen. The wavelength depends on the amount of energy released by the electron when it is stimulated.

Another difference between laser light and normal light is its state when shone. Laser light is very directional, which explains why when a laser is shone, the beam is very concentrated and organized - there is no or very little scattering of the light. This feat is extremely helpful when considering the applications such as laser-eye energy where focusing and precise energy is needed.

==History==
The theory of stimulated emission was first discovered by Albert Einstein in 1917. Stimulated emission describes the process of a incoming photon interacting with an excited electron causing the electron to decrease in energy level. The incoming photon must be equal to the difference in energy between the electron's current level and a lower level - this "stimulate a transition" to the lower energy level resulting in the emission of another photon. [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3]. Although Einstein introduced this new concept, scientists such as Charles Townes, Joseph Weber, Alexander Prokhorov and Nikolai G. Basov did notable work to apply this concept of stimulated emission to practical uses. They first started researching into MASER (Microwave Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation), which was used to amplify microwaves in microwave communication systems. Townes and Prokohorov did significant work with the stimulated emissions, but it wasn't until 1960 that the first Laser was invented by Theodore Maiman.

==Types of Lasers==

===Ruby Lasers===
[[File:rubylaser_components.jpg]]

Ruby lasers have a flash tube and two mirrors. In this case, the lasing medium is the ruby rod. When light is flashed, the atoms in the ruby get excited and some of these atoms emit photons, which bounce off the mirrors and are eventually emitted as monochromatic and directional laser.

===Solid-state Lasers===
In solid-state lasers, the lasing medium is distributed in a solid matrix such as ruby.

===Gas Lasers===
The Lasing medium in this case is usually either helium or helium-neon. They usually have an output color of red. Carbon dioxide is used as a lasing medium when the lasers are being used to cut hard materials.

===Semiconductor Lasers===
These are also called diode lasers and are different from solid-state lasers. They are usually very small and use a very small amount of power. These lasers are incorporated into a larger arrays.

==Connectedness==
Lasers are a very unique invention because they have so many applications, as mentioned before. They can be used as a method to decorate objects and have also been applied to the medical field -laser-eye surgery. The concept and process by which lasers work is directly related to physics, specifically the idea of energy emission in the form of photons. This may not have a direct relationship to chemical engineering, but the basic principles of chemistry - atoms and energy - play a large part in the manufacturing of lasers. Industrial applications range from cameras, firearms, scientific techniques such as spectroscopy, and also daily use during presentations. An interesting recent application of lasers is the laser focus that is implemented in LG G3 phone camera. Click on the link below to read more about this feature.

== See also ==
This link has more information about the laser used in the LG G3 phone camera.
[
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/how-the-lg-g3-laser-af-camera-focus-works]

==References==

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page
#http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser5.htm
#http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/images/rubylaser_components.jpg
#http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3
#http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserhistory.htm
[[Category:Optics]]

Lasers

2022-04-20T18:57:53Z

SamManley:

== Lasers (Claimed by Sam Manley: 4/20/2022)==

Lasers have become a very useful invention and have been used in a variety of applications throughout the world, ranging from medical procedures such as laser-eye surgery to simply using a laser to engrave one's initials onto an item of value. The word laser is actually an acronym that stands for ''light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,'' which essentially describes the process by which lasers work.

There are many types of lasers - each with their own distinct features. Often times, the laser is named after the lasing medium that is used. The lasing medium is used to excite the atoms into their excited state; when in their excited state, these atoms release energy in the form of photons, thus creating the laser beam.
===Laser Light===
Laser light is much different than normal light. Unlike the UV visible spectrum of light where many wavelengths are seen, laser light is monochromatic, meaning when shone, it has one wavelength, resulting in only one color seen. The wavelength depends on the amount of energy released by the electron when it is stimulated.

Another difference between laser light and normal light is its state when shone. Laser light is very directional, which explains why when a laser is shone, the beam is very concentrated and organized - there is no or very little scattering of the light. This feat is extremely helpful when considering the applications such as laser-eye energy where focusing and precise energy is needed.

==History==
The theory of stimulated emission was first discovered by Albert Einstein in 1917. Stimulated emission describes the process of a incoming photon interacting with an excited electron causing the electron to decrease in energy level. The incoming photon must be equal to the difference in energy between the electron's current level and a lower level - this "stimulate a transition" to the lower energy level resulting in the emission of another photon. [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3]. Although Einstein introduced this new concept, scientists such as Charles Townes, Joseph Weber, Alexander Prokhorov and Nikolai G. Basov did notable work to apply this concept of stimulated emission to practical uses. They first started researching into MASER (Microwave Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation), which was used to amplify microwaves in microwave communication systems. Townes and Prokohorov did significant work with the stimulated emissions, but it wasn't until 1960 that the first Laser was invented by Theodore Maiman.

==Types of Lasers==

===Ruby Lasers===
[[File:rubylaser_components.jpg]]

Ruby lasers have a flash tube and two mirrors. In this case, the lasing medium is the ruby rod. When light is flashed, the atoms in the ruby get excited and some of these atoms emit photons, which bounce off the mirrors and are eventually emitted as monochromatic and directional laser.

===Solid-state Lasers===
In solid-state lasers, the lasing medium is distributed in a solid matrix such as ruby.

===Gas Lasers===
The Lasing medium in this case is usually either helium or helium-neon. They usually have an output color of red. Carbon dioxide is used as a lasing medium when the lasers are being used to cut hard materials.

===Semiconductor Lasers===
These are also called diode lasers and are different from solid-state lasers. They are usually very small and use a very small amount of power. These lasers are incorporated into a larger arrays.

==Connectedness==
Lasers are a very unique invention because they have so many applications, as mentioned before. They can be used as a method to decorate objects and have also been applied to the medical field -laser-eye surgery. The concept and process by which lasers work is directly related to physics, specifically the idea of energy emission in the form of photons. This may not have a direct relationship to chemical engineering, but the basic principles of chemistry - atoms and energy - play a large part in the manufacturing of lasers. Industrial applications range from cameras, firearms, scientific techniques such as spectroscopy, and also daily use during presentations. An interesting recent application of lasers is the laser focus that is implemented in LG G3 phone camera. Click on the link below to read more about this feature.

== See also ==
This link has more information about the laser used in the LG G3 phone camera.
[
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/how-the-lg-g3-laser-af-camera-focus-works]

==References==

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page
#http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser5.htm
#http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/images/rubylaser_components.jpg
#http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3
#http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserhistory.htm
[[Category:Optics]]

Lasers

2022-04-20T18:54:57Z

SamManley:

== Lasers ==
Claimed by Sam Manley (4-20-2022)

Lasers have become a very useful invention and have been used in a variety of applications throughout the world, ranging from medical procedures such as laser-eye surgery to simply using a laser to engrave one's initials onto an item of value. The word laser is actually an acronym that stands for ''light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,'' which essentially describes the process by which lasers work.

There are many types of lasers - each with their own distinct features. Often times, the laser is named after the lasing medium that is used. The lasing medium is used to excite the atoms into their excited state; when in their excited state, these atoms release energy in the form of photons, thus creating the laser beam.
===Laser Light===
Laser light is much different than normal light. Unlike the UV visible spectrum of light where many wavelengths are seen, laser light is monochromatic, meaning when shone, it has one wavelength, resulting in only one color seen. The wavelength depends on the amount of energy released by the electron when it is stimulated.

Another difference between laser light and normal light is its state when shone. Laser light is very directional, which explains why when a laser is shone, the beam is very concentrated and organized - there is no or very little scattering of the light. This feat is extremely helpful when considering the applications such as laser-eye energy where focusing and precise energy is needed.

==History==
The theory of stimulated emission was first discovered by Albert Einstein in 1917. Stimulated emission describes the process of a incoming photon interacting with an excited electron causing the electron to decrease in energy level. The incoming photon must be equal to the difference in energy between the electron's current level and a lower level - this "stimulate a transition" to the lower energy level resulting in the emission of another photon. [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3]. Although Einstein introduced this new concept, scientists such as Charles Townes, Joseph Weber, Alexander Prokhorov and Nikolai G. Basov did notable work to apply this concept of stimulated emission to practical uses. They first started researching into MASER (Microwave Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation), which was used to amplify microwaves in microwave communication systems. Townes and Prokohorov did significant work with the stimulated emissions, but it wasn't until 1960 that the first Laser was invented by Theodore Maiman.

==Types of Lasers==

===Ruby Lasers===
[[File:rubylaser_components.jpg]]

Ruby lasers have a flash tube and two mirrors. In this case, the lasing medium is the ruby rod. When light is flashed, the atoms in the ruby get excited and some of these atoms emit photons, which bounce off the mirrors and are eventually emitted as monochromatic and directional laser.

===Solid-state Lasers===
In solid-state lasers, the lasing medium is distributed in a solid matrix such as ruby.

===Gas Lasers===
The Lasing medium in this case is usually either helium or helium-neon. They usually have an output color of red. Carbon dioxide is used as a lasing medium when the lasers are being used to cut hard materials.

===Semiconductor Lasers===
These are also called diode lasers and are different from solid-state lasers. They are usually very small and use a very small amount of power. These lasers are incorporated into a larger arrays.

==Connectedness==
Lasers are a very unique invention because they have so many applications, as mentioned before. They can be used as a method to decorate objects and have also been applied to the medical field -laser-eye surgery. The concept and process by which lasers work is directly related to physics, specifically the idea of energy emission in the form of photons. This may not have a direct relationship to chemical engineering, but the basic principles of chemistry - atoms and energy - play a large part in the manufacturing of lasers. Industrial applications range from cameras, firearms, scientific techniques such as spectroscopy, and also daily use during presentations. An interesting recent application of lasers is the laser focus that is implemented in LG G3 phone camera. Click on the link below to read more about this feature.

== See also ==
This link has more information about the laser used in the LG G3 phone camera.
[
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/how-the-lg-g3-laser-af-camera-focus-works]

==References==

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page
#http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser5.htm
#http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/images/rubylaser_components.jpg
#http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod5.html#c3
#http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserhistory.htm
[[Category:Optics]]