LIST OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE

CONCEPT OF LASER
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF

LASER
TYPES OF LASER
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF A LASER

USES OF LASER IN MILITARY

USES OF LASER IN MEDICAL

FIELD
 Laser
Laser Light Concept

Laser light is very different from normal light. Laser light has the following properties:
• . It contains one specific wavelength of light (one specific color). The wavelength of
light is determined by the amount of energy released when the electron drops to a
lower orbit.
• The light released is coherent. It is “organized” -- each photon moves in step with the
others. This means that all of the photons have wave fronts that launch in unison.
• The light is very directional. A laser light has a very tight beam and is very strong and
concentrated. A flashlight, on the other hand, releases light in many directions, and the
light is very weak and diffuse.
The wavelength (color) of laser light is extremely pure (monochromatic) when compared to
other sources of light, and all of the photons (energy) that make up the laser beam have a
fixed phase relationship (coherence) with respect to one another. Light from a laser typically
has very low divergence. It can travel over great distances or can be focused to a very small
spot with a brightness which exceeds that of the sun. Because of these properties, lasers are
used in a wide variety of applications in all walks of life.

To make these three properties occur takes something called stimulated emission. This does
not occur in your ordinary flashlight -- in a flashlight, all of the atoms release their photons
randomly. In stimulated emission, photon emission is organized.
The photon that any atom releases has a certain wavelength that is dependent on the energy
difference between the excited state and the ground state. If this photon (possessing a certain
energy and phase) should encounter another atom that has an electron in the same excited
state, stimulated emission can occur. The first photon can stimulate or induce atomic
emission such that the subsequent emitted photon (from the second atom) vibrates with the
same frequency and direction as the incoming photon.
The other key to a laser is a pair of mirrors, one at each end of the lasing medium. Photons,
with a very specific wavelength and phase, reflect off the mirrors to travel back and forth
through the lasing medium. In the process, they stimulate other electrons to make the
downward energy jump and can cause the emission of more photons of the same wavelength
and phase. A cascade effect occurs, and soon we have propagated many, many photons of the
same wavelength and phase. The mirror at one end of the laser is "half-silvered," meaning it
reflects some light and lets some light through. The light that makes it through is the laser
light.
HISTORY OF LASER

The name LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by theStimulated Emission

of Radiation. In 1917, Albert Einstein first theorized about the process which makes lasers
possible called "Stimulated Emission."

Before the Laser there was the Maser

In 1954, Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow invented themaser (microwave amplification
by stimulated emission ofradiation), using ammonia gas and microwave radiation - the maser
was invented before the (optical) laser. The technology is very close but does not use a visible
light.

On March 24, 1959, Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow were granted a patent for the
maser. The maser was used to amplify radio signals and as an ultrasensitive detector for space
research.

In 1958, Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow theorized and published papers about a
visible laser, an invention that would use infrared and/or visible spectrum light, however, they
did not proceed with any research at the time.

Many different materials can be used as lasers. Some, like the ruby laser, emit short pulses of
laser light. Others, like helium-neon gas lasers or liquid dye lasers emit a continuous beam of
light. See - How a Laser Works

Ruby Laser

In 1960, Theodore Maiman invented the ruby laser considered to be the first successful
optical or light laser.

Many historians claim that Theodore Maiman invented the first optical laser, however, there
is some controversy that Gordon Gould was the first.

Gordon Gould - Laser

Gordon Gould was the first person to use the word "laser". There is good reason to believe
that Gordon Gould made the first light laser. Gould was a doctoral student at Columbia
University under Charles Townes, the inventor of the maser. Gordon Gould was inspired to
build his optical laser starting in 1958. He failed to file for a patent his invention until 1959.
As a result, Gordon Gould's patent was refused and his technology was exploited by others. It
took until 1977 for Gordon Gould to finally win his patent war and receive his first patent for
the laser.
Gas Laser

The first gas laser (helium neon) was invented by Ali Javan in 1960. The gas laser was the
first continuous-light laser and the first to operate "on the principle of converting electrical
energy to a laser light output." It has been used in many practical applications.

Robert Hall - Semiconductor Injection Laser

In 1962, Robert Hall created a revolutionary type of laser that is still used in many of the
electronic appliances and communications systems that we use every day.

Kumar Patel - Carbon Dioxide Laser

The carbon dioxide laser was invented by Kumar Patel in 1964.

Hildreth "Hal" Walker - Laser Telemetry

Hildreth Walker invented laser telemetry and targeting systems.

Doctor Steven Trokel patented the Excimer laser for vision correction. The Excimer laser was
originally used for etching silicone computer chips in the 1970s. Working in the IBM
research laboratories in 1982, Rangaswamy Srinivasin, James Wynne, and Samuel
Blum saw the potential of the Excimer laser in interacting with biological tissue. Srinivasin
and the IBM team realized that you could remove tissue with a laser without causing any heat
damage to the neighboring material.

Steven Trokel

New York City ophthalmologist, Steven Trokel made the connection to the cornea and
performed the first laser surgery on a patient's eyes in 1987. The next ten years were spent
perfecting the equipment and the techniques used in laser eye surgery. In 1996, the first
Excimer laser for ophthalmic refractive use was approved in the United States.

Note: It took the observations of Dr. Fyodorov in a case of eye trauma in the 1970's to bring
about the practical application of refractive surgery through radial keratotomy.
TYPES OF LASERS

Gas laser

Laser gain medium and

type Applications and notes

Interferometry, holography, spectroscopy, barcode scanning,

Helium-neon laser
alignment, optical demonstrations.
Retinal phototherapy (for diabetes), lithography, confocal
Argon laser
microscopy, spectroscopy pumping other lasers.

Scientific research, mixed with argon to create "white-light" lasers,

Krypton laser
light shows.
Xenon ion laser Scientific research.
Pumping of dye lasers, measuring air pollution, scientific research.
Nitrogen laser Nitrogen lasers can operate superradiantly (without a resonator
cavity). Amateur laser construction. See TEA laser
Carbon dioxide laser Material processing (cutting, welding, etc.), surgery.
Material processing (engraving, welding, etc.), photoacoustic
Carbon monoxide laser
spectroscopy.

Ultraviolet lithography for semiconductor manufacturing,

Excimer laser
lasersurgery, LASIK.

Chemical laser

Laser gain medium and type

Applications and notes

Used in research for laser weaponry by the U.S. DOD, operated

Hydrogen fluoride laser
Deuterium fluoride laser
in continuous wave mode, can have power in
the megawattrange.
MIRACL, Pulsed Energy Projectile & Tactical High Energy
Laser

COIL(Chemicaloxygen- Laser weaponry, scientific and materials research, laser used in the
iodinelaser) U.S. military's Airborne laser, operated in continuous
 wavemode, can have power in the megawatt range.

Agil (All gas-phase iodine

Scientific, weaponry, aerospace.
laser)

Dye laser

Laser gain medium and type

Applications and notes

Research, laser medicine,

[2]
Dye lasers spectroscopy, birthmark removal, isotope separation. The
tuning range of the laser depends on which dye is used.

Metal-vapor laser

Laser gain medium and type Applications a

Printing and ty
Helium-cadmium (HeCd) metal-vapor laser
paper currency
Helium-mercury (HeHg) metal-vapor laser Rare, scientific
Helium-selenium (HeSe) metal-vapor laser Rare, scientific
Helium-silver (HeAg) metal-vapor laser[3] Scientific resea

Neon-copper (NeCu) metal-vapor laser[3] Dermatologica

Copper vapor laser Rare, dermatological and photodynamic ther

Solid-state laser
Laser gain medium Applications and notes
and type
 Holography, tattoo removal. The first type of visible light laser
Ruby laser
invented; May 1960.
Material processing, rangefinding, laser target designation, surgery,
research, pumping other lasers (combined with frequency
Nd:YAG laser doubling to produce a green 532 nm beam). One of the most
common high power lasers. Usually pulsed (down to fractions of
a nanosecond)
Er:YAG laser Periodontal scaling, Dentistry
Neodymium YLF
Mostly used for pulsed pumping of certain types of
(Nd:YLF) solid-state
pulsed Ti:sapphire lasers, combined withfrequency doubling.
laser
Mostly used for continuous pumping of mode-locked Ti:sapphire
Neodymium dopedY or dye lasers, in combination withfrequency doubling. Also used
ttriumorthovanada pulsed for marking and micromachining. A frequency doubled
te(Nd:YVO4) laser nd:YVO4 laser is also the normal way of making a green laser
pointer.

Neodymium doped Nd:YCOB is a so called "self-frequency doubling" or SFD laser

yttrium calcium material which is both capable of lasing and which has nonlinear
oxoborateNd:YCa4O characteristics suitable for second harmonic generation. Such
(BO3)3 or simply materials have the potential to simplify the design of high brightness
Nd:YCOB green lasers.
Used in extremely high power (terawatt scale), high energy
Neodymium (megajoules) multiple beam systems for inertial confinement
glass(Nd:Glass) laser fusion. Nd:Glass lasers are usually frequency tripled to the third
harmonic at 351 nm in laser fusion devices.

Semi-conductor laser

Laser gain medium and

type Applications and notes

Semiconductor laser Telecommunications, holography, printing, weapons,

diode(general information) machining, welding, pump sources for other lasers.
GaN Optical discs.

AlGaInP, AlGaAs
InGaAsP
Vertical cavity surface
emitting laser (VCSEL)
Quantum cascade laser
Other types of laser
Laser gain medium and type
Free electron laser
Gas dynamic laser
"Nickel-like" Samariumlaser
Raman laser, uses inelastic
stimulatedRaman scattering in a
nonlinear media, mostly fiber, for
amplification
Nuclear pumped laser
Optical discs, laser pointers, data communications.
780 nm Compact Disc player laser is the most common laser
type in the world. Solid-state laser pumping, machining,
medical.
Telecommunications, solid-state laser pumping, machining,
medical..
Telecommunications
Research,Future applications may include collision-avoidance
radar, industrial-process control and medical diagnostics such
as breath analyzers.
Applications and notes
atmospheric research, material science, medical
applications.
Military applications; can operate in CW mode at
several megawatts optical power.
First demonstration of efficient "saturated" operation of
a sub–10 nm X-ray laser, possible applications in high
resolution microscopy andholography, operation is
close to the water window at 2.2 to 4.4 nm where
observation of DNA structure and the action
of viruses and drugs on cells can be examined.
Complete 1-2 μm wavelength coverage;
distributed optical signal
amplification for telecommunications;
optical solitons generation and amplification
Research
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF A LASER

Lasers are possible because of the way light interacts with electrons. Electrons exist at
specific energy levels or states characteristic of that particular atom or molecule. The energy
levels can be imagined as rings or orbits around a nucleus. Electrons in outer rings are at
higher energy levels than those in inner rings. Electrons can be bumped up to higher energy
levels by the injection of energy-for example, by a flash of light. When an electron drops
from an outer to an inner level, "excess" energy is given off as light. The wavelength or color
of the emitted light is precisely related to the amount of energy released. Depending on the
particular lasing material being used, specific wavelengths of light are absorbed (to energize
or excite the electrons) and specific wavelengths are emitted (when the electrons fall back to
their initial level).

For a ruby laser, a crystal of ruby is formed into a cylinder. A fully reflecting mirror is placed
on one end and a partially reflecting mirror on the other. A high-intensity lamp is spiraled
around the ruby cylinder to provide a flash of white light that triggers the laser action. The
green and blue wavelengths in the flash excite electrons in the chromium atoms to a higher
energy level. Upon returning to their normal state, the electrons emit their characteristic ruby-
red light. The mirrors reflect some of this light back and forth inside the ruby crystal,
stimulating other excited chromium atoms to produce more red light, until the light pulse
builds up to high power and drains the energy stored in the crystal.
How lasers work?
Step 1
High-voltage electricity causes the quartz flash tube to emit an intense burst of light, exciting
some of the atoms in the ruby crystal to higher energy levels.

Step 2
.

At a specific energy level, some atoms emit particles of light called photons. At first the
photons are emitted in all directions. Photons from one atom stimulate emission of photons
from other atoms and the light intensity is rapidly amplified
Step 3
Mirrors at each end reflect the photons back and forth, continuing this process of stimulated
emission and amplification.
Step 4

The photons leave through the partially silvered mirror at one end. This is laser light

APPLICATIONS OF LASER
Scientific
In science, lasers are used in many ways, including:
• A wide variety of interferometric techniques
• Raman spectroscopy
• Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
• Atmospheric remote sensing
• Investigating nonlinear optics phenomena
• Holographic techniques employing lasers also contribute to a number of
measurement techniques.
• Laser based LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) technology has application in
geology, seismology, remote sensing and atmospheric physics.
• Lasers have been used aboard spacecraft such as in the Cassini-Huygens mission.
• In astronomy, lasers have been used to create artificial laser guide stars, used as
reference objects for adaptive optics telescopes.
Lasers may also be indirectly used in spectroscopy as a micro-sampling system, a technique
termed Laser ablation (LA), which is typically applied to ICP-MS apparatus resulting in the
powerful LA-ICP-MS.
The principles of laser spectroscopy are discussed by Demtröder[1] and the use of tunable
lasers in spectroscopy are described in Tunable Laser Applications.[2] ).
Spectroscopy
Most types of laser are an inherently pure source of light; they emit near-monochromatic
light with a very well defined range of wavelengths. By careful design of the laser
components, the purity of the laser light (measured as the "linewidth") can be improved
more than the purity of any other light source. This makes the laser a very useful source for
spectroscopy. The high intensity of light that can be achieved in a small, well collimated
beam can also be used to induce a nonlinear optical effect in a sample, which makes
techniques such as Raman spectroscopy possible. Other spectroscopic techniques based on
lasers can be used to make extremely sensitive detectors of various molecules, able to
measure molecular concentrations in the parts-per-1012 (ppt) level. Due to the high power
densities achievable by lasers, beam-induced atomic emission is possible: this technique is
termed Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS
Lunar laser ranging
When the Apollo astronauts visited the moon, they planted retroreflector arrays to make
possible the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment. Laser beams are focused through large
telescopes on Earth aimed toward the arrays, and the time taken for the beam to be reflected
back to Earth measured to determine the distance between the Earth and Moon with high
accuracy.

Material processing
Laser cutting, laser welding, laser brazing, laser bending, laser engraving or marking, laser
cleaning, weapons etc. When the material is exposed to laser it produce intense heat thus the
material is heated and melted.
Photochemistry
Some laser systems, through the process of modelocking, can produce extremely brief
pulses of light - as short as picoseconds or femtoseconds (10−12 - 10−15seconds). Such pulses
can be used to initiate and analyse chemical reactions, a technique known as photochemistry.
The short pulses can be used to probe the process of the reaction at a very high temporal
resolution, allowing the detection of short-lived intermediate molecules. This method is
particularly useful in biochemistry, where it is used to analyse details of protein folding and
function.
Also, it has the binary functions to seal anything it has in the human eye of each atomic
particle in its system.
Laser cooling
A technique that has recent success is laser cooling. This involves atom trapping, a method
where a number of atoms are confined in a specially shaped arrangement of electric and
magnetic fields. Shining particular wavelengths of laser light at the ions or atoms slows
them down, thus cooling them. As this process is continued, they all are slowed and have the
same energy level, forming an unusual arrangement of matter known as a Bose-Einstein
condensate.
Nuclear fusion
Some of the world's most powerful and complex arrangements of multiple lasers and optical
amplifiers are used to produce extremely high intensity pulses of light of extremely short
duration. These pulses are arranged such that they impact pellets of tritium-deuterium
simultaneously from all directions, hoping that the squeezing effect of the impacts will induce
atomic fusion in the pellets. This technique, known as "inertial confinement fusion", so
far has not been able to achieve "breakeven", that is, so far the fusion reaction generates less
power than is used to power the lasers, but research continues.
Microscopy
Confocal laser scanning microscopy and Two-photon excitation microscopy make
use of lasers to obtain blur-free images of thick specimens at various depths. Laser capture
microdissection use lasers to procure specific cell populations from a tissue section under
microscopic visualization.
Additional laser microscopy techniques include harmonic microscopy, four-wave mixing
microscopy and interferometric microscopy.[4]

Military
Military uses of lasers include applications such as target designation and ranging,
defensive countermeasures, communications and directed energy weapons. Directed
energy weapons are also in use, such as Boeing’s Airborne Laser which was constructed
inside a Boeing 747. It disrupts the trajectory of shoulder-fired missiles.[5]
On March 18, 2009 Northrop Grumman announced that its engineers in Redondo Beach
had successfully built and tested an electric laser capable of producing a 100-kilowatt ray of
light, powerful enough to destroy cruise missiles, artillery, rockets and mortar rounds.[6] An
electric laser is theoretically capable, according to Brian Strickland, manager for the United
States Army's Joint High Power Solid State Laser program, of being mounted in an aircraft,
ship, or vehicle because it requires much less space for its supporting equipment than a
chemical laser.[7]
On 19 July 2010 an anti-aircraft laser was unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow[2]. It was
described as the Laser Close-In Weapon System.
Defensive countermeasures
Defensive countermeasure applications can range from compact, low power infrared
countermeasures to high power, airborne laser systems. IR countermeasure systems use lasers
to confuse the seeker heads on heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles. High power boost-phase
intercept laser systems use a complex system of lasers to find, track and destroy
intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). In this type of system a chemical laser, one
in which the laser operation is powered by an energetic chemical reaction, is used as the main
weapon beam (see Airborne Laser). The Mobile Tactical High-Energy Laser (MTHEL)
is another defensive laser system under development; this is envisioned as a field-deployable
weapon system able to track incoming artillery projectiles and cruise missiles by radar
and destroy them with a powerful deuterium fluoride laser.
Another example of direct use of a laser as a defensive weapon was researched for the
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI, nicknamed "Star Wars"), and its successor programs.
This project would use ground-based or space-based laser systems to destroy incoming
intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The practical problems of using and aiming
these systems were many; particularly the problem of destroying ICBMs at the most
opportune moment, the boost phase just after launch. This would involve directing a laser
through a large distance in the atmosphere, which, due to optical scattering and
refraction, would bend and distort the laser beam, complicating the aiming of the laser and
reducing its efficiency.
Another idea to come from the SDI project was the nuclear-pumped X-ray laser. This was
essentially an orbiting atomic bomb, surrounded by laser media in the form of glass rods;
when the bomb exploded, the rods would be bombarded with highly-energetic gamma-
rayphotons, causing spontaneous and stimulated emission of X-ray photons in the
atoms making up the rods. This would lead to optical amplification of the X-ray photons,
producing an X-ray laser beam that would be minimally affected by atmospheric distortion
and capable of destroying ICBMs in flight. The X-ray laser would be a strictly one-shot
device, destroying itself on activation. Some initial tests of this concept were performed with
underground nuclear testing; however, the results were not encouraging. Research into
this approach to missile defense was discontinued after the SDI program was cancelled.
Targeting
Target designator

A target designator
Another military use of lasers is as a laser target designator. This is a low-power laser
pointer used to indicate a target for a precision-guided munition, typically launched from
an aircraft. The guided munition adjusts its flight-path to home in to the laser light reflected
by the target, enabling a great precision in aiming. The beam of the laser target designator is
set to a pulse rate that matches that set on the guided munition to ensure munitions strike their
designated targets and do not follow other laser beams which may be in use in the area. The
laser designator can be shone onto the target by an aircraft or nearby infantry. Lasers used for
this purpose are usually infrared lasers, so the enemy cannot easily detect the guiding laser
light.
Firearms
Laser sight

Smith & Wesson revolver equipped with a laser sight mounted on the trigger guard.
The laser has in most firearms applications been used as a tool to enhance the targeting of
other weapon systems. For example, a laser sight is a small, usually visible-light laser placed
on a handgun or a rifle and aligned to emit a beam parallel to the barrel. Since a laser beam
by definition has low divergence, the laser light appears as a small spot even at long
distances; the user places the spot on the desired target and the barrel of the gun is aligned
(but not necessarily allowing for bullet drop, windage and the target moving while the
bullet travels).
Most laser sights use a red laser diode. Others use an infrared diode to produce a dot
invisible to the naked human eye but detectable with night vision devices. The firearms
adaptive target acquisition module LLM01 laser light module combines visible and
infrared laser diodes. In the late 1990s, green diode pumped solid state laser (DPSS)
laser sights (532 nm) became available. Modern laser sights are small and light enough for
attachment to the firearms.
In 2007, LaserMax, a company specializing in manufacturing lasers for military and police
firearms, introduced the first mass-production green laser available for small arms.[8] This
laser mounts to the underside of a handgun or long arm on the accessory rail. The green laser
is supposed to be more visible than the red laser in bright lighting conditions because, for the
same wattage, green light appears brighter than red light.
Eye-targeted lasers
A non-lethal laser weapon was developed by the U.S. Air Force to temporarily impair an
adversary’s ability to fire a weapon or to otherwise threaten enemy forces. This unit
illuminates an opponent with harmless low-power laser light and can have the effect of
dazzling or disorienting the subject or causing him to flee. Several types of dazzlers are now
available, and some have been used in combat.
There remains the possibility of using lasers to blind, since this requires much lower power
levels, and is easily achievable in a man-portable unit. However, most nations regard the
deliberate permanent blinding of the enemy as forbidden by the rules of war (see Protocol
on Blinding Laser Weapons). Although several nations have developed blinding laser
weapons, such as China's ZM-87, none of these are believed to have made it past the
prototype stage.
In addition to the applications that crossover with military applications, a widely known law
enforcement use of lasers is for lidar to measure the speed of vehicles.
Medical
• Cosmetic surgery (removing tattoos, scars, stretch marks, sunspots, wrinkles,
birthmarks, and hairs): see laser hair removal. Laser types used in dermatology
include ruby (694 nm), alexandrite (755 nm), pulsed diode array (810 nm),
Nd:YAG (1064 nm), Ho:YAG (2090 nm), and Er:YAG (2940 nm).
• Eye surgery and refractive surgery
• Soft tissue surgery: CO2, Er:YAG laser
• Laser scalpel (General surgery, gynecological, urology, laparoscopic)
• Photobiomodulation (i.e. laser therapy)
• "No-Touch" removal of tumors, especially of the brain and spinal cord.
• In dentistry for caries removal, endodontic/periodontic procedures, tooth
whitening, and oral surgery
Industrial and commercial

Lasers used for visual effects during a musical performance. (A laser light show.)

Levelling of ceramic tiles floor with a laser device

• Cutting and peening of metals and other material, welding, marking, etc.
• Guidance systems (e.g., ring laser gyroscopes)
• Rangefinder / surveying,
• LIDAR / pollution monitoring,
• Digital minilabs
• Barcode readers
• Laser engraving of printing plate
• Laser bonding of additive marking materials for decoration and identification,
• Laser pointers
• Laser accelerometers
• Holography
• Bubblegrams
• Photolithography
• Optical communications (over optical fiber or in free space)
 • Optical tweezers
• Writing subtitles onto motion picturefilms.[9]
• Space elevator, a possible solution transfer energy to the climbers by laser or
microwavepower beaming
• 3D laser scanners for accurate 3D measurement.
• Laser line levels are used in surveying and construction. Lasers are also used for
guidance for aircraft.
• Extensively in both consumer and industrial imaging equipment.
• In laser printers: gas and diode lasers play a key role in manufacturing high
resolution printing plates and in image scanning equipment.
• Diode lasers are used as a lightswitch in industry, with a laser beam and a receiver
which will switch on or off when the beam is interrupted, and because a laser can
keep the light intensity over larger distances than a normal light, and is more precise
than a normal light it can be used for product detection in automated production.
• Laser alignment
• Additive manufacturing
In consumer electronics, telecommunications, and data communications, lasers are
used as the transmitters in optical communications over optical fiber and free space.
• To store and retrieve data in optical discs
• Laser lighting displays (pictured) accompany many music concerts.