Lasers are amazing light beams powerful enough to zoom miles into the sky or cut through lumps of metal. Although they seem pretty recent inventions, they've actually been with us over half a century: the theory was figured out in 1958; the first practical laser was built in 1960. At that time …

Atoms or molecules in a laser are energized by an external energy source to give off light of certain wavelengths. That light is amplified as it passes through the laser apparatus until it forms a sharp, concentrated beam. This process of stimulated emission works by imparting energy to atoms or …

Lasers have three big advantages compared to conventional light sources: Its emission is monochrome, directional and coherent. These characteristics enable users to send laser light on located area with defined quantity and definite time scale. LASER is the acronym for Light Amplification by …

A laser is created when electrons in the atoms in optical materials like glass, crystal, or gas absorb the energy from an electrical current or a light. That extra energy “excites” the electrons enough to move from a lower-energy orbit to a higher-energy orbit around the atom’s nucleus. A laser …

How are lasers classified? In this article, you'll learn all about the different types of lasers, their different wavelengths and the uses to which we put them (like laser pointers). But first, let's start with the fundament­als of laser technology by explaining the basics of an atom. What's Your …

How does it differ from ordinary light? Why can it cut through metal, encode information, or measure the distance to the Moon with startling accuracy? To understand the physics behind the beam, we have to embark on a journey through the quantum world, the dance of atoms, and the beauty of …