I recently had the pleasure of attending a gathering where Oklahoma City Lasik eye surgery patients and local ophthalmologists were brought together to gain a better understanding of laser eye surgery procedures. The highlight of the event was when a noted molecular physicist gave a detailed and vivid presentation to the crowd that explained just how a laser beam is created.
This is Basically How He Explained Lasers To the Crowd In Attendance
In spite of the fact that lasers are being used in an increasing number of applications, such as in laser surgery where they are used for delicate cutting, they do for the most part remain a mystery. So what exactly is a laser and how is one created? Also why are some lasers such as a laser pointer weak and safe for use in a classroom while other lasers can cut through steel?
#1 gain medium - #2 laser energizing source - #3 highly reflective end - #~4 output coupler end - # 5 laser beam
Did You Know That There are Invisible Lasers?
The actual word laser is derived from the abbreviation for the phrase “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”. However; it must be understood that the word light in this case is used rather loosely because lasers can and are created that aren’t in the visible spectrum, “you can’t see them”, such as microwave and radio wave lasers.
The Word Laser Has Been Adapted To a Broad Range Of Usages
Just the same, the word laser is the one word that has been adapted for common use and pretty much referrers to all types of lasers. In fact the word laser has been adapted to some applications that don’t even have anything to with a laser. For instance any device now that can develop a stream of atoms in a coherent state in a laboratory or industrial setting is now commonly referred to as an “atomic laser”
A laser beam being used in eye surgery
Did You Say Laser With an “S” or Lazer With a “Z” ??
It goes even much further than that! Because for some as of yet understood reason the word “laser” can now be spelled “lazer”. However; this spelling is most often seen in works of pop culture and fiction. That would be science fiction novels and comic books. Its just easier to read and pronounce for people reading this type of material if its spelled with a “Z” rather than an “S”.
Now Kids! – Don’t Try This At Home!
A laser is basically a hollow tube with a highly reflective inside surface that contains a gain medium. A gain medium is a material that has the ability to amplify light that is passed through it while an energy source is being applied to it. So basically what you have is a hollow mirrored tube with mirrors at both ends filled with any one of a number of substances that can be either liquid solid or a gas with a source of electricity ran to it.
For the typical patient in Oklahoma City, Lasik eye surgery takes about an hour
The Crowd of Oklahoma City Lasik Eye Surgery Patients Was Enthralled!
The actual laser beam is produced by sending light of a specific wave length into one end of the tube. The light is then bounced back and forth and being amplified inside the energized gain medium and eventually makes its way out a hole in the opposite end of the tube that it was sent in at. When it comes out it is now amplified up to the level being a laser beam.
So Now Do You Understand How a Laser Works?
Of course there is much more to it then that but as far a simple explanations for the gathering of Oklahoma City Lasik eye surgery patients go, this is one of the best that they will ever will get. You see light comes in many types and also light can be manipulated in many different ways. Lasers basically take various types or wavelengths of light and use energy sources and directional devices to amplify and direct it.
