laser

Also known as light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, lasers

thumb|upright=1.5|A telescope in the Very Large Telescope system producing four orange [[laser guide stars |alt=A telescope emitting four orange laser beams]]

AI overview

A laser is a device that produces an intense, focused beam of light by stimulating atoms or molecules to emit radiation in a coherent way. Lasers matter because they have practical applications across many fields—in this case, they're being used as guide stars to help telescopes see more clearly through the atmosphere.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Research

440,102 papers

Laser safety: the need for protocols.ReviewCutis · 2020Daggett C, Daggett A, McBurney E et al.DOI: 10.12788/cutis.0025
Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery.ReviewActas dermo-sifiliograficas · 2018Alegre-Sánchez A, Jiménez-Gómez N, Boixeda PDOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2018.07.008
Laser safety, warnings, and limits in retrograde intrarenal surgery.ReviewActas urologicas espanolas · 2024Corrales M, Panthier F, Solano C et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.acuroe.2023.06.009
Laser in dermatology.ReviewClinical techniques in small animal practice · 2006Boord MDOI: 10.1053/j.ctsap.2006.05.007
Laser Technology Advancements in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy.ReviewCurrent urology reports · 2024Dalton DC, Shelton TM, Rivera MDOI: 10.1007/s11934-024-01197-6
Laser in psoriasis.ReviewGiornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia · 2009Fernández-Guarino M, Jaén P
Thulium fiber laser in endourology: current clinical evidence.ReviewCurrent opinion in urology · 2023Enikeev D, Herrmann TRW, Taratkin M et al.DOI: 10.1097/MOU.0000000000001057
Laser-assisted lipolysis: a review.ReviewDermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] · 2012Fakhouri TM, El Tal AK, Abrou AE et al.DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02168.x

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Wikidata facts

Official name: lumplifortigo per stimulita emisio de radiado
Image: RGB Laser.jpg

Show 3 more facts

Commons category: Lasers
time of discovery or invention: 1960-05-16
Stack Exchange tag: physics.stackexchange.com/tags/laser

Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

~67 min read

Article

42 sections

Contents

Terminology
Fundamentals
Design
Laser physics
Stimulated emission
Gain medium and cavity
The light emitted
Quantum vs. classical emission processes
Modes of operation
Continuous-wave operation
Pulsed operation
Q-switching
Mode locking
Pulsed pumping
History
Foundations
Maser
Recent innovations
Types and operating principles
Gas lasers
Chemical lasers
Excimer lasers
Solid-state lasers
Fiber lasers
Photonic crystal lasers
Semiconductor lasers
Dye lasers
Free-electron lasers
Exotic media
Natural lasers
Uses
In medicine
As weapons
Hobbies
Examples by power
Safety
See also
References
Further reading
Books
Periodicals
External links

thumb|upright=1.5|A telescope in the Very Large Telescope system producing four orange [[laser guide stars |alt=A telescope emitting four orange laser beams]]

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word laser originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. The first laser was built in 1960 by Theodore Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories, based on theoretical work by Charles H. Townes and Arthur Leonard Schawlow and the optical amplifier patented by Gordon Gould.