Uses of Laser
When lasers were invented in 1960, they were called “a solution
looking for a problem". Since then they have become ubiquitous, finding
utility in thousands of highly varied applications in every section of modern
society, including Consumer electronics, information technology, science,
medicine, industry, law enforcement, entertainment, and the military.
1. Commercial
Use:
The first application 9 daily lives of the general population was
the supermarket barcode
scanner, introduced in 1974. The laserdisc player, introduced in 1978, was the
first successful COTISUI product to include a laser, but the compact disc
player was the first successful laser equipped device to become truly common in
consumer’s homes, beginning in 1982, followed shortly by laser printers.
2.
Industrial Use:
In industry, lasers are used for cutting steel and other metals
and for inscribing patterns (such as the letters on computer keyboards).
Laser welding has found wide applications in industry. In
electronic and microelectronics lasers are used for precision welding. As this
type of welding is contact-less, the impurities can be considerably reduced. It
also allows welding in inaccessible region. It can be used to weld two
dissimilar metals. In cutting
and drilling of holes the lasers are used. CO2 lasers are used extensively in
industry.
3. Military
Use:
Laser range finding
technique has many military applications.
It can exactly determine the range of the target. It can also be used for
target identification.
4. Medicines:
Lasers used in medicine are used for internal surgery and cosmetic
applications. Lasers are being used to study Cellular metabolism and
photochemical reactions of macro molecular level in biochemistry. The most
successful and widely used application of laser in medicine is in eye Surgery.
Laser is mainly used in the treatment of retinas. In the treatment of cancer
and Tumours, removal of dental caries and in the treatment of fractured bones
laser technology is widely used.
Laser surgery is a non-contact process, it is a sterile surgery.
It can be said that it is bloodless surgery, since the beam not only cuts but
also welds simultaneously. It is very fast and painless Surgery.
5. Distance
and Velocity Measurements:
Distances can be measured accurately using laser light. The usual
method to measure the distance of an object is to measure the time taken to
reach the object.
Portable velocity meters have been constructed mainly for the use
of traffic police. The speed of the moving car can be detected by Doppler
Effect. The basic idea is to use laser as a source similar to that of radar
equipment in police cars.
6. Laser
Induced Fusion:
Intense research is being carried out by using laser for
thermonuclear fusion processes. Many countries have taken up research programme
in laser fusion. It will be harnessed for peaceful use and clean nuclear power
plants for electricity production will be set up.
7. Optical
Communication:
Visible light has been used for communication purposes. Simple
systems such as signal fires, fire works, reflecting mirrors and signaling
lamps in railways are examples of such communications. However due to long
distances, rain, fog dust and other atmospheric disturbances these signals can
not be observed.
Light with its high frequency compared to microwave or radio
frequency is a good carrier source for communication purposes. Optical fibers
are used along with lasers in communication
System.
8.
Environmental Studies:
Lasers are increasingly used in pollution control and monitoring
the environment. Lasers can be used for remote sensing of the pollutants
without collecting the samples. The basic technique is to send a beam of light
into the atmosphere and to study the scattered or reflected light or the transmitted light.
9.
Holography:
Holography is a powerful technique that produces three dimensional
pictures. Dennis Gabor, in 1940 proposed a method of recording three
dimensional pictures which is now called Holography.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon