LASER:

DUALITY OF
PARTICLES
Light amplifi cation by stimulated emission of radiation
(laser) is an acronym that stands for light
amplifi cation by stimulated emission of radiation.
Lasers operate in the electromagnetic spectrum's
infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions.
On July 7, 1960, the fi rst working laser was demonstrated.
Initially, the invention appeared to be a solution in search of
applications. In fact, for the fi rst few years, lasers appeared
to be capable of little more than blazing holes in razor blades
for TV commercials. Then, as the benefi ts of lasers' strange
new light became clearer, the devices seemed to fi nd
application everywhere.
• Lasers are used in a wide range
o f a p p l i c a t i o n s t o d a y, i n c l u d i n g
medicine, science, industrial
production, the home, o ffi c e ,
communications, and the
m i l i t a r y.

• The main reason for this

widespread application is that
laser light has very unique
properties: it is very pure in
c o l o r, it can be very intense,
and it can be directed with great
precision. What makes it all
possible? It has a quality called
coherence because of how it is
produced, which means that its
waves remain in phase (in step)
as they are produced.
Nowadays, lasers can be found
almost ever ywhere. For
example, in the home, we have
laser-based CD players.
In f a ct, l a ser a pp l i ca ti o ns a r e cl a ssi fi ed i nto
two b r oa d ca tego r i es: (1) com m er ci a l ,
i ndustr i a l , m i l i ta r y, hom e, a nd m edi ca l
a ppl i ca ti ons; a nd (2) sci enti fi c r esea r ch.
L a ser s a r e used i n the fi r st g r o up to d o
somethi ng tha t ha s p r ev i ousl y been d one
(but p er ha p s not a s w el l ) . One of the fi r st
medi ca l a p p l i ca ti ons wa s for " wel d i ng " a
deta ched r eti na ba ck i nto pl a ce d ur i ng eye
sur ger y. The l a ser i s esp eci a l l y usef ul i n thi s
si tua ti o n b eca use it ca n p a ss thr oug h
tra nsp a r ent ob jects l i ke the eye's l ens
wi thout ha r m i ng it a nd per f o r m the
necessa r y sur g er y ( "sti tchi ng ") on the
r eti na .
The laser's unique proper ties have also led to its
widespread use in cosmetic surger y to treat ever ything
from sagging eyelids to varicose veins, as well as for all
types of skin rejuvenation, including wrinkle treatments
and treatments for acne, skin texture, and discoloration.
Lasers can per form nearly bloodless cutting in general
surger y by cauterizing (sealing off blood vessels) as they
cut. They are used to relieve pain instead of radiotherapy
in cancer treatment.
Precision manufacturing requires
highly accurate laser tracking and
measurement systems. The high
intensity of laser light can cut or
penetrate almost any material,
including diamond, the hardest
known material. Another advantage is
that laser drills do not become dull
with use.
REFERENCES:

Bromberg, Joan Lisa. The Laser in America, 1950–1970. Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press, 1991.

M a i m a n , T h e o d o r e . T h e L a s e r O d y s s e y. B l a i n e , WA : L a s e r P r e s s , 2 0 0 0 .

L a s e r F o c u s Wo r l d M a g a z i n e . “ P h o t o n i c I n d u s t r y N e w s .”
h t t p : / / l f w. p e n n n e t . c o m / ( a c c e s s e d N o v e m b e r 1 4 , 2 0 0 7 ) .

G o l d w a s s e r, S a m . “ L a s e r Po i n t e r s a n d D i o d e L a s e r M o d u l e s .” Po p t r o n i c s 3 , n o . 4
(April 2002):46–48, 53.