Thursday, April 18, 2013

LASER diode

Laser is of prime importance in Optical memories, Fiber optic communications, Military applications, Surgical procedures, CD players, Printers etc. Various forms of lasers like Gallium Arsenide laser, Helium Neon laser, Carbon dioxide laser etc are used in various applications. CD players use laser technology to read the optically recorded data in the form o fBits and Pits on the CD.

Laser is a narrow beam of Photonsemitted by specially made laser diodes. Laser diode is similar to an ordinary LED, but it generates a beam ofhigh intensity light. A laser is a device in which a number of atoms vibrate to produce a beam of radiation in which all the waves havesingle wavelength and are in Phasewith each other.

Monochromatic Laser

PS2501-1 MAX706CPA MC10131L LXT907PC H11L1 LM1117MPX-3.3 LT1372CS8 MT8816AP MT8952BE MC34063A LM393DT INA2134UA MAX213ECAI LXT915QC MAX232 ISPLSI1032E-70LT
laser beam
Laser light is Monochromatic and can be focused as a pencil beamThe beam of a typical laser has 4×0.6mm widening at a distance of 15 meters. Like an LED, laser diode converts electrical energy into light energy.
laser gun

How it Works?

The most common laser diode generates semiconductor or injection laser. In these lasers, a population of Inversion Electrons is produced by applying a voltage across its p-n junction. Laser beam is then available from the semiconductor region. The p-n junction of laser diode has polished ends so that, theemitted photons reflect back and forth and creates more electron-hole pairs. The photons thus generated will be in phase with the previous photons. This will give a Pencil Beam and all the photons in the beam are Coherent and in phase.
laser emission

Applications of Laser

Laser diodes can be switched on and off at frequencies as high as1GHz, making them ideal in Telecommunication applications. Since laser generates heat on hitting the body tissue, it is an ideal solution to heal sensitive parts like Retina of Eye and brain. Laser can be used topinpointthe lesions so that nearby tissues are not affected as in the case of surgery.
Laser Diode
A Word of Caution
Laser is a high intensity penetrating beam and is extremely dangerouswhen focused on to the Eye. Low cost Laser pointers are now available in the market and some people handle them carelessly and may even give to children to play with.A Laser pointer with output power higher than 5 mW is harmful. Take utmost care while handling laser diodes. Always take precautionary measures while trouble shooting CD players, Laser printers etc.

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