Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Background and General Applications

  • Chapter
Laser Material Processing

Abstract

The basic laser consists of two mirrors which are placed parallel to each other to form an optical oscillator, that is, a chamber in which light travelling down the optic axis between the mirrors would oscillate back and forth between the mirrors forever, if not prevented by some mechanism such as absorption. Between the mirrors is an active medium which is capable of amplifying the light oscillations by the mechanism of stimulated emission (the process after which the laser is named — Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation). We will return to this process in a moment. There is also some system for pumping the active medium so that it has the energy to become active. This is usually a DC or RF power supply, for gas lasers such as CO2, excimer and He/Ne lasers, or a focused pulse of light for the Nd-YAG laser. It may, however, be a chemical reaction, as with the iodine laser. The optical arrangement is shown in Figures 1.la,b,c. One of the two mirrors is partially transparent to allow some of the oscillating power to emerge as the operating beam. The other mirror is totally reflecting, to the best that can be achieved (99.999% or some such figure). This mirror is also usually curved to reduce the diffraction losses of the oscillating power and to make it possible to align both the mirrors without undue difficulty — this would be the case if both mirrors were flat. The design of the laser cavity hinges on the length of the cavity and the shape of these mirrors, including any others in a folded system.

To have begun is half the job: be bold and be sensible Horace 65–68 BC Epistles I ii 40

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Kogelnik H. and Li T. Laser beams and resonators. Appl. Phys. 5(10) (1996), 1550.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Einstein A. Deutsche Physikalische Gessellschaft, Verhandlungen 18 (1916), 318–323.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wintner E. Semiconductor lasers. Handbook of the Eurolaser Academy vol. 1, ed D. Schuöcker, Chapman and Hall, 1998, ch. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Crafer R.C. and Oakley P.J. Laser Processing in Manufacturing. Chapman and Hall, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hall D.R. and Baker H.J. Diffusion cooled large surface area CO2/CO lasers. Proc. SPIE: Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers 2505, 1994, pp. 12–19.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gitin M. and Reingrube J. Diode pumped solid state lasers show a bright future. Industrial Laser Rev. December (1995), 8–10.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hill P. Fibre laser hits 2kW record mark. Opto & Laser Europe (OLE) July/August (2002), 9.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hecht J. Gallium arsenide lasers offer an array of options. Laser Focus World July (1993), 83–92.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Duley W.W. UV Lasers Effects and Applications in Material Science. Cambridge University Press, 1996.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Hewett J. Opto & Laser Europe May (2002), 41–43.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kelly J. Beam guides machines through complex curves. Opto & Laser Europe 24 (1995), 21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Steinmetz C.R. Laser interferometry operates at submicron level. Laser Focus World July (1990), 93–98.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Morrison D.C. Laser technology enlists the anti-drug campaign. Lasers and Optronics May (1990), 31–32.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Waggoner J. SDIO says laser radar works. Photonics Spectra July (1990), 18.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nordstrom R.J. and Berg L.J. Coherent laser radar: techniques and applications. Lasers and Optronics June (1990), 51–56.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Arnt W. Laser ranging keeps cars apart. Photonics Spectra July (1990), 133–134.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Dance B. Lasers analyse combustion products. Laser Focus World July (1990), 40.

    Google Scholar 

  18. LIDAR calibrates maps of pollution over Athens. Opto & Laser Europe July (1995), 20–22.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Reunert M.K. Fibre optic gyroscopes: principles and applications. Sensors August (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Martinelli V. Fibre optic gyroscopes help Tokyo drivers navigate. Photonics Spectra January (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Carts Y.A. Media lab develops holographic video. Laser Focus World May (1990), 95.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Butters J.N. Speckle interferometry and other technologies. Proc. 1st Int. Conf. on Lasers in Manufacturing (LIM1), Brighton, November 1983, pp. 149–160.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Speckle technique tracks blood flow inside brain. Opto & Laser Europe August (2001), 14.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Cowdery E. Keeping an eye out for bad marks. Material World June (2002), 31–32.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Tsufura L. Barcode scanning: on going evolution and development. Lasers and Optronics July (1995), 25–27.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Laser paint assists in search and rescue. Photonics Design and Applications Handbook. Laurin Publ. Co., Pittsfield, MA, USA, 1996, pp. H515.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hirleman D. Lasers — the non-destructive answer to dust investigation. Materials World June (2002), 30.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Hogan H. Laser system detects explosives remotely. Photonics Spectra April (2002), 35; Applied Optics December (2001), 6677–6681.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Higgins T.V. Optical storage lights the multi-media future. Laser Focus World September (1995), 103–111.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Matthews S.J. Back to basics: semi conductor lasers. Laser Focus World January (2002), 56; and May (2002), 145–158.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lenth B. Optical storage: a growth mass market for lasers. Laser Focus World December (1994), 87–91.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Higgins T.V. Light speeds communications. Laser Focus World August (1995), 67–74.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Anscombe N. Defending the skies: the airborne laser. Optics & Laser Europe May (2002), 33–34.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Photonics Spectra October (2002), 38–40.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Petty H.R. and Krevsky B. Survey of laser applications in biomedicine. Lasers and Optronics April (1990), 63–79.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kincade K. New treatment may bring better night’s sleep. Medical Laser Report 7(6) (1993), 1.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Opto & Laser Europe July (2001), 13.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Speser P. Laser based flow cytometry advances diagnostic pathology. Laser Focus World July (1990), 21.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Bell J. Simple sources compete in new cancer therapies. Optics & Laser Europe (1995), 15–16.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Van der Bergh H. Optics engineers help to optimise phototherapy. Optics & Laser Europe December (1995), 18–20.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Lewis R. With lasers you can operate on cells. Photonics Spectra July (1990), 74–78.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Tomography beats micron resolution. Opto & Laser Europe November (2002), 15; Optics Lett. 27 (2002) 1800.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Jiang H. Tomography captures bone damage. Opto math & Laser Europe May (2001), 19.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Hatcher M. Vulcan upgrade: power to the people. Opto & Laser Europe May (2002), 30–31.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Kincade K. and Anderson S.G. Review and forecast of markets: part I non diode lasers. Laser Focus World January (2002), 81–105.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Steele R.V. Review and forecast of markets: part II diode lasers. Laser Focus World February (2002), 61–79.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Data from Mayer Optical Consultants.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. William M. Steen PhD, MA, CEng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Steen, W.M. (2003). Background and General Applications. In: Laser Material Processing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3752-8_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3752-8_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-698-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3752-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation