A laser is a device that amplifies or increases the intensity of

light by utilizing a process called stimulated emission of

radiation. It produces highly directional light, which is different
from conventional light sources like the sun or incandescent
lamps. When an electron transitions from a higher energy level
to a lower energy level, it emits a photon of light, and the
energy of the photon corresponds to the energy difference
between the two levels. In lasers, the emitted photons have
extraordinary properties not found in ordinary light. Laser light
is highly directional, monochromatic (single color), coherent (in
phase), and polarized. Unlike conventional light sources where
excited electrons emit light at different times and directions
without any phase relation, laser photons are emitted by
electrons in the same phase and move in the same direction.
This unique characteristic of laser light allows it to be harnessed
for various applications in science, medicine, industry, and
technology.

There are several types of lasers, including:

Gas Lasers:

A gas laser is a type of laser that uses an electric current

through a gas to generate light. Examples of gas lasers include
carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers, helium-neon lasers, argon lasers,
krypton lasers, and excimer lasers. Gas lasers have various
applications such as holography, spectroscopy, barcode
scanning, air pollution measurements, material processing, and
laser surgery. CO2 lasers, in particular, are well-known and
commonly used for laser marking, laser cutting, and laser
welding.

Solid-State Lasers:

Solid-state lasers use solid materials (crystals or glasses) mixed

with a rare earth element as the source of optical gain.
Common rare earth elements used include neodymium,
chromium, erbium, thulium, and ytterbium. The ruby laser is
the most well-known solid-state laser, being the first laser ever
constructed. Another widely used solid-state laser is the
Nd:YAG laser (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet),
commonly employed in material processing applications. Solid-
state lasers are also utilized in LIDAR technology and various
medical applications such as tattoo and hair removal, tissue
ablation, and kidney stone removal.

Fiber Lasers:

Fiber lasers are a special type of solid-state laser that uses an

optical fiber (silica glass) mixed with a rare-earth element as the
gain medium. The unique properties of optical fibers allow fiber
lasers to produce straighter and smaller laser beams, making
them highly precise. Fiber lasers are known for their small
footprint, good electrical efficiency, low maintenance, and low
operating costs. They find applications in material processing
(laser cleaning, texturing, cutting, welding, marking), medicine,
and directed energy weapons. Examples of fiber lasers include
ytterbium and erbium-doped fiber lasers.

Liquid Lasers (Dye Lasers):

Liquid lasers, also known as dye lasers, utilize organic dyes in

liquid form as the gain medium. One advantage of dye lasers is
their ability to generate a wide range of wavelengths, making
them suitable for tunable lasers where the wavelength can be
controlled during operation. Dye lasers are used in laser
medicine, spectroscopy, birthmark removal, and isotope
separation. In laser isotope separation, specific atomic
resonances are targeted, and the laser is tuned to ionize
specific isotopes for separation using an electric field.

Semiconductor Lasers (Laser Diodes):

Semiconductor lasers, commonly known as laser diodes, are
similar to regular diodes but with a PN junction that includes an
intrinsic layer for spontaneous emission. The photons
generated in the intrinsic layer are amplified, converting the
electric current into laser light. Laser diodes are often used as
energy sources to pump other lasers, referred to as diode-
pumped lasers. They are widely used in various applications
such as barcode readers, laser pointers, laser printers, laser
scanners, and more. While most semiconductor lasers are
diode lasers, there are other types such as quantum cascade
lasers and optically pumped semiconductor lasers that do not
use the diode structure. Laser diodes are classified as solid-
state lasers due to their solid gain medium, but they have their
category because of the PN junction structure.