1. Lasers
By: Ashley Dansby & Rebecca Bryant

2. Preview or Table of
Contents
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Objectives
Introductory
Laser Acronym
How Lasers Work
Properties of Laser
Light
o Monochromatic
o Coherent
o Directional or
Collimated
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Advantages in Certain
Applications
○ Barcode Scanners
○ Communications
○ Surveying
○ Welding and Cutting
○ Lasik Eye Surgery
○ Medical
○ Medical Disadvantages
○ Dentistry
● Demonstration
● Bibliography

3. Objectives
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Describe the Properties of Laser Light
Explain how Laser Light has particular
advantages in certain applications

4. Introductory
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In this lesson we will be talking about the
three properties of laser light and the
advantages of laser light in certain
situations.

5. LASER Acronym
• Light
• Amplification by
• Stimulated
• Emissions of
• Radiation

6. How Does a Laser Work?

7. Laser Light Properties
1. Monochromatic
2. Coherent
3. Directional or Collimated

8. Monochromatic
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One specific wavelength or one specific color
Other light is a combination of many
wavelengths or colors.

9. Coherent
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Organized Photon Emission
Laser light is in phase with space and time.
Unidirectional - all together
Each photon moves in step with the others. All
of the photons have wavefronts that launch in
unison.

10. Directional or Collimated
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Tight, narrow beam of light in a certain direction
from the source.
Parallel light waves
Other lights come from multiple direction from
the source.
o Examples: Light Bulbs, Sun

11. Picture

12. Bar Code Scanners
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Supermarkets and stores use lasers to scan the
barcode to identify the universal product.
The advantage of the laser is that you don’t
have to look each individual item up.

13. Communications
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A significant advantage of lasers is that it is
monochromatic, which allows the pulse shape
to be maintained over a large distance.
With the better pulse, the communication can
be sent at a fast rate without a disruption in the
pulses, this is the advantage.

14. Surveying
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When surveying an area, a fast laser pulse is
sent to a corner reflector at the point to be
measured to get the distance.
Since the laser is directional and
monochromatic, it is an advantage for
surveying.

15. Welding and Cutting
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On auto assembly lines, a carbon dioxide laser
helps with computer controlled welding.
Lasers also make the impossible task of
welding stainless steel handles to copper
cooking pots.

16. LASIK Eye Surgery
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The Surgery is performed by using a laser, and
LASIK surgery correct vision problems.

17. Medical
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Lasers are more precise than scalpels. Tissue
near an incision is protected, since there is little
contact with surrounding skin or other tissue.
The heat produced by lasers sterilizes the
surgery site, thus reducing the risk of infection.
Less operating time may be needed because
the precision of the laser allows for a smaller
incision.

18. Medical (cont)
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Healing time is often shortened; since laser heat seals
blood vessels, there is less bleeding, swelling, or
scarring.
More procedures may be done on an outpatient basis.
Lasers can be used in two ways to treat cancer: by
shrinking or destroying a tumor with heat, or by
activating a chemical.
Lasers may be used with endoscopes, tubes that allow
physicians to see into certain areas of the body, such as
the bladder.

19. Medical Disadvantages
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Relatively few surgeons are trained in laser use.
Laser equipment is expensive and bulky
compared with the usual surgical tools, such as
scalpels.
Strict safety precautions must be observed in
the operating room. (For example, the surgical
team and the patient must use eye protection.)

20. Dentistry
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Sensitivity Is detected On time
Cavities Filling Became Simple
Tooth Whitening
Less And Sometimes No Blood Loss
Effective Treatment Of TMJ dental disorder

21. Demonstration
Plastic Bottle Beam
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Fill up a plastic water bottle with water and add
a sprinkle of cornstarch. Turn down the lights
and turn up the laser, aiming the beam through
the bottle.
Do you see the original beam in the bottle?
Can you find the reflection beam and the passthrough beam?

22. Bibliography
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Wescheler, M. (2000, April 1). How Lasers Work. HowStuffWorks.
Retrieved October 28, 2013, from
http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser.htm
TinyPlanetsBlog. (2010, December 27). TinyPlanetsBlog. Retrieved
October 28, 2013, from http://tinyplanetsblog.com/science/two-cool-laserexperiments-you-can-do-with-your-kids
Nave, R. (n.d.). Laser Applications. Laser Applications. Retrieved October
28, 2013, from http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/optmod/lasapp.html
Kohler, C. (2013, April 30). Top 5 Major Advantages Of Laser Dentistry.
Examiner.com. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from
http://www.examiner.com/article/top-5-major-advantages-of-laser-dentistry
Harris, W., & Fruedenrich, C. (2000, July 10). How Light Works.
HowStuffWorks. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from
http://science.howstuffworks.com/light10.htm