As the years have passed, it has become clear how accurate that statement truly is. Laser technology has solved an ever expanding range of problems over the last 60 years, and continues to solve more every year. That first solid state, ruby laser demonstration in 1960 triggered the discovery and development of many different laser families. Let’s explore these varying laser media and some of the ways they are used today.

Diode/Semiconductor

Diode or semiconductor lasers are the most common type of laser medium. A diode laser is composed of thin slices of semiconducting material known as a p-n junction. A small electric pulse excites the junction between the positively and negatively stacked diodes, and a laser beam is born. 

Consumer Electronics Applications

Diode lasers are found in a huge range of electronic devices available to consumers. Their scanning abilities are helpfully used in barcode readers, disc readers (CD/DVD/Blu-ray players), printer, and scanners. They are also widely used as components in fiber optics communications.

Industrial Applications

Many different industries use diode lasers for cutting, welding, scanning, LIDAR, heat treating, distance measuring, engraving, and more. Diode lasers are also frequently used to pump and excite electrons in other types of lasers. 

Medical and Dental Applications

The use of diode lasers in the medical industry are expanding rapidly as researchers discover more and more applications. They are specially suited for minor procedures that require small, precise incisions and cauterizations that would be difficult to accomplish with traditional surgical tools. Because they are so precise, diode lasers are perfect for finicky eye and dental procedures. They can also be used to light activate drugs in photo-dynamic therapy (like certain cancer treatments). 

Solid State

The world’s very first laser was, in fact, a solid state laser. Today’s solid state lasers have evolved far past the ruby crystal used by Theodore Maiman and they now include fiber, slab, microchip and disc lasers. The most well-known solid state lasers are: ruby lasers, titanium-sapphire lasers, and YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) doped with rare earth elements (like neodymium, erbium, holmium, and thulium). 

Consumer Electronics Applications

Smart phone and tablet manufacturers use solid state lasers to micro-drilling invisible speaker and microphone holes in their technology casing. They are also used as internal proximity sensors and OLED display screens in a wide range of consumer products. 

Laboratory Research Applications

Solid state lasers are ideally suited for MPM (multiphoton microscopy). MPM uses lasers to image map biological tissues all the way down to the molecular level. This allows researchers to get a deeper understanding of biological processes non-invasively. 

Medical and Dental Applications

The application of solid state lasers in the medical industry is expanding constantly. Currently they are used for removing unwanted hair, lesions, wrinkles and skin discoloration. They are also perfect for coagulating blood vessels, attacking cancer cells and for glaucoma procedures.

Defense Applications

The Department of Defense uses solid state lasers to illuminate targets, destroy mines, and for range finding capabilities on weapons systems.

Dye

Most dye lasers use an organic dye in a liquid solution as the laser medium. There are however some solid state lasers that are also doped with organic dyes. The dye within these lasers is soluble and typically fluorescent. They are highly tunable and can operate within a wide range of wavelengths. Most dye laser applications occur within the confines of laboratory research and are then used in various scientific fields.

Consumer Electronics Applications

Dye lasers are very efficient at optical pulsing. Optical pulsing is used in micro-machining and creating micro-structures and textures in a variety of materials.

Laboratory Research Applications

Research scientists use dye lasers to detect pollutants in liquids and to separate isotopes (like uranium) at the molecular level. They are also used for spectroscopy to study the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter. Dye lasers are also helpful for measuring FLT (fluorescence lifetimes) in biological cell research. 

Astronomy Applications

Because dye lasers are highly tunable, they are perfect for measuring distances large and small. Astronomers use dye lasers for lunar laser ranging to measure the varying distances between the moon and the earth.

Medical and Dental Applications

There are many dermatology applications for dye lasers. They can efficiently remove tattoos, scars, and skin discoloration. Dye lasers can also treat kidney stones and blood vessel disorders. The above mentioned optical pulsing has also been used to stimulate bone formation.

Gas

Gas lasers generate a beam by discharging an electric current through a gas medium. The first gas laser (a Helium-Neon laser) was demonstrated in the very same year as Maiman’s ruby laser. Today a wide range of other gasses are used as laser media such as nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, metal vapors, and more.

Laboratory Research Applications

In research laboratories, gas lasers can perform spectroscopy experiments, detect pollution, monitor environmental conditions, and aim and focus telescopes.  

Industrial Applications

Many industries use gas lasers for cutting, welding, drilling, and laser printing.

Medical and Dental Applications

Gas lasers are perfect for medical sealing procedures that seal off blood vessels, lymph nodes, and nerve endings. They can also destroy harmful tissue like lesions, polyps, and tumors.

Entertainment Applications

Whenever you have watched a laser light show or seen a laser hologram, you are watching gas lasers at work.

Defense Applications

The Department of Defense uses gas lasers for SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) laser weapons systems.

Wavelength vs. Power Output

Laser light is produced when electrons become stimulated, “leap” to a higher energy level, then leap back to their original energy level. When this happens, a photon of light is created. This photon can then stimulate more and more photons in a change reaction of light.

These photons of light make a characteristic pattern as they travel, known as their wavelength. Photons traveling in short wavelengths emit more energy, and photons traveling in longer wavelengths emit less energy. The electromagnetic spectrum shows the wavelength range in which lasers operate.

Within this spectrum, lasers can operate on a wide array of wavelengths and energy levels depending upon the type of laser and how they are being used. Some lasers are even tunable and can be adjusted for necessary wavelength needs.

What Affects Power Output?

The potential power output of a laser depends upon many conditions. The laser medium, the internal configuration of the laser equipment, and the pump current all affect how much power a laser produces. Lasers can emit anywhere from miliwatts to petawatts of power depending upon these factors.

Importance of Laser Cooling

Not all of the power generated by a laser becomes light. Every piece of laser equipment generates a significant amount of what is called waste heat.

Waste Heat

The percentage of waste heat generated varies depending upon the laser. For example if your laser equipment is using 100 watts of power and emitting 45 watts of light, it is generating 55 watts of waste heat. If left unchecked, waste heat can adversely affect your beam quality and accuracy, damage your equipment, and become unsafe to use. Most laser manufacturers will provide information on the percentage of waste heat produced by their equipment. 

Keeping your laser equipment cool through process cooling is an extremely effective way to remove waste heat. Some laser equipment include a fan to use forced air to remove waste heat. Higher powered lasers can be protected with the use of an industrial laser chiller.

North Slope Chillers Laser Cooling Solutions

Here at North Slope Chillers, we specialize in portable and efficient laser cooling chillers. Our chillers are easily installed without disrupting your current system and apply effective and even chilling to your laser equipment. We can protect your valuable equipment, keep operations running, and optimize your laser’s performance. Contact us today to find the perfect laser cooling solution for your needs at 866-826-2993 or [email protected]