2010: A Laser Odyssey Short presentation about lasers by the Université Laval OSA and SPIE Student...
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Transcript of 2010: A Laser Odyssey Short presentation about lasers by the Université Laval OSA and SPIE Student...
2010: A Laser Odyssey
Short presentation about lasers
by the Université Laval OSA and SPIE Student Chapters
In everyday life, lasers have many uses
• Laser hair removal
• Laser pointers
• CD/DVD players
• Barcode readers
• Micro-fabrication
• Medical treatments
In nature, there are different kinds of waves
• Water waves • Sound waves• Light waves (electromagnetic
waves)
A laser emits photons of the same color, travelling in the same direction
Directional and monochromatic light
Lasers consist of a gain medium, a resonant cavity and a pumping system
Gain mediumMaterial in which photons are produced
Pumping systemSystem that provoques the emission of radiation
Resonant cavity (2 mirrors)Cavity in which the light rays bounce back and forth and are amplified
There are many different kinds of gain media
Crystal Gas Optical fiber
The gain medium, in which the light rays are produced, could be:
The resonant cavity consists of two mirrors
One mirror reflects all light
And all this happens at the speed of light:1 080 000 000 km/h!
The other one reflects partially
The mirrors are placed at each end of the gain
medium
May 16th, 2010: 50th anniversary of the invention of thefirst laser by Theodore
Maiman
First laser: Ruby laser built by Maiman
Maiman and the 1st working laser
Publicity photo