Laser Use

Laser cutting

Laser cutting is a technology that allows metals and some non metallic materials to be cut with extreme precision.  The system can cut complex geometry, simplifying complicated tasks and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications. Laser cutting is the highest application area of lasers in the world.

Laser welding

Laser beam welding (LBW) is a fusion joining process that uses the high energy laser beam to melt, resulting in a bond between parts. Laser beam welding can be successfully used to join many metals to themselves as well as to dissimilar metals. Laser welding can almost always offer a cost advantage over EB (Electron Beam) in both tooling and production pricing. The process is frequently used in high volume applications, such as in the automotive industry. It is the second most application area of lasers in the world.

Laser Soldering

The laser beam is precisely directed to the desired contact point. The incident beam is primarily absorbed by the solder, leading to fast and non-destructive soldering of the contact. The very short heating and cooling times give rise to a fine-grained structure of the inter-metallic bond. This precise and contact-free process results in optimal quality of the soldered bond.

Laser cladding

Laser cladding forming technology is one of the most suitable technique to remanufacture parts because of its excellent performance, such as outstanding mechanical behavior, small heat effected zone, high repair efficiency, little post processing. In this method, powdered or wire material melted and depositing on a coat part.

Laser Hardening

The advantages of laser hardening are highest level of process safety ,reproducibility and increased working life due to wear. Costs related to refinishing work is reduced or eliminated entirely. Laser hardening is a surface hardening process. It is used exclusively on ferrous materials suitable for hardening including, steels and cast iron with a carbon content of more than 0.2 percent.Multi KW lasers and robotic systems are used in automotive industry.

Laser marking

The mechanism of laser marking is to irradiate with a localized high-energy radiation source (laser). The  radiant energy is then absorbed by the material and converted to thermal energy. The thermal energy induces reactions to occur in the material. Laser marking is used in computer equipment, automotive products, Electronics components, Electrical Switchgear, Medical Implants, Surgical instruments, Communication Equipments and light shows etc.

Laser forming

The technique for laser forming is very similar to that for laser surface heat treatment and involves scanning a defocused beam over the surface of the sheet metal to be formed. Moving the laser beam along a straight line without interruption causes the sheet to bend along the line of motion.

Laser cleaning

Laser cleaning technique is a highly selective, residue free, reliable, low disposal cost, precise and industrially proven method of removing layers of corrosion, pollution, unwanted paint and other surface coatings. Most process uses short pulses that heat the dirt, which expands and comes away from the surface. The common uses are tool & mold cleaning, paint removal, polymer stripping, oxide removal, surface pre- and post-Treatment.

Laser Rangefinder

The device uses laser beams and measures a distance by sending hundreds of laser pulse to an object and measuring the traveling time taken by the pulse to be reflected off from the object and returned to the instrument.

Laser rangefinders are widely used in 3D modeling, military instruments, high-precision scanning, sports (such as golf, hunting, archery etc.), measuring horizontal, vertical & slope distance and computer vision-related fields.

Barcode readers

The way laser barcode reader works is that a laser spot is scanned across the bar code symbol that is to be read.Since barcodes are usually printed on white surface a part of that light is reflected back to a receiver. That light is translated into a voltage by a photovoltaic cell, and that voltage corresponds to a particular type of product in the store. It is then cross reference to a database and extracts the information.

Laser engraving

Laser engraving is a technique use laser rays to engrave or mark any object. It is an abrasion-free, contact-free process and effects are clean, fine details and permanent. Wood, plastic, acrylic, glass, ceramic, cloth, leather, marble, melamine, paper, rubber, fiberglass, circuit board, stainless steel etc can be laser engrave. Many industries like textile, woodworking, medical part marking, aerospace, specialty advertising, games & toys, jewelry, industrial marking, awards & recognition, personalized pens, crafts   use laser engraving technique.  

Laser pointers

A laser pointer is a device that uses battery power and emits low-powered laser beam, intended to shine something with a small bright spot of colored light.

Green laser pointers are useful astronomical tool. Much higher power lasers are used by professional astronomers on large telescopes.  Hand held laser pointers are mostly used in children toys, academics and professional lectures. Some manufacturers have adapted it into holographic lenses to project various images.

Laser accelerometers

This is a device uses linear laser in a solid housing consists of a proof mass and supported by two or more photodiode sensors. The main advantages of laser accelerometer are wide measuring range, wide bandwidth and high resolution.  This technology is used in seismic measurement, determination of building vibration, industrial robot navigation, aerospace vehicle guidance and navigation.

Holographic laser display

Holographic laser light shows can split a single Solid State (DPSS) laser beam by passing the beam through a passive diffractive holographic optical element, which in turn passes through a circular periodicity electromechanical spinning wheel. This spinning disk splits the laser beam into over 1 million individual beams. Diffractive holographic optical elements work by breaking up the incoming wave of light which recombine to form numerous new light waves. This process turns the conventional ‘laser pattern’ into a random and seamless laser show, each new laser beam is scattered and dispersed over large area.

 

 

Holograms are recorded using a flash of light that illuminates a scene and then imprints on a recording medium, much in the way a photograph is recorded. In addition, however, part of the light beam must be shone directly onto the recording medium – this second light beam is known as the reference beam. A hologram requires a laser as the sole light source. Lasers can be precisely controlled and have a fixed wavelength, unlike sunlight or light from conventional sources, which contain many different wavelengths. To prevent external light from interfering, holograms are usually taken in darkness, or in low level light of a different color from the laser light used in making the hologram.

Holography requires a specific exposure time (just like photography), which can be controlled using a shutter, or by electronically timing the laser.

Laser printers

Gas and diode lasers play a key role in manufacturing high resolution printing plates and in image scanning equipment.

Laser light switch

Diode lasers are used as a light switch in industry, with a laser beam and a receiver which will switch on or off when the beam is interrupted, and because a laser can keep the light intensity over larger distances than a normal light, and is more precise than a normal light it can be used for product detection in automated production.

Laser Camera System

3D laser scanners for accurate 3D measurement.

Laser Camera System (LCS) is short-range, high precision auto synchronous triangulation scanner — or more simply, a very sensitive, highly accurate 3D scanner. Using a laser to measure the distance between itself and a variety of points on a target, the LCS is able to re-create an exact three-dimensional replica of the area it has scanned.

 

 3D laser scanning technology is part of the space vision system that astronauts use to control the Canadarm on the International Space Station. The laser scanning technology was also used to scan the surface of space shuttles to make sure there was no damage that could affect their safe return to Earth.

 

Researchers have used laser scanners to create high resolution digital records of important works of art such as paintings. Working with restoration experts in France, scientists scanned Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, creating a high-resolution virtual model of the painting. The scans were used to document and precisely measure the painting, and to study its surface features and state of conservation.

 

Laser lighting display

A laser lighting display or laser light show involves the use of laser light to entertain an audience. A laser light show may consist only of projected laser beams set to music, or may accompany another form of entertainment, typically a dance concert or other musical performance.

Laser alignment

Laser alignment is an essential component of a viable maintenance strategy for rotating machines. In isolation each strategy can help to reduce unexpected machine failure but taken together they form the hub of a proactive maintenance strategy that will not only identify incipient problems but allows extending machine operating life considerably.

Additive manufacturing

Laser based additive manufacturing is accomplished by directing a high power laser at a substrate to create a melt pool. Material is then added to the melt pool. The added material enlarges the melt pool and adds to the part. To create the desired geometry, the laser is rastered across the substrate while material is continuously added.

Laser surgery is surgery using a laser (instead of a scalpel) to cut tissue. Examples include the use of a laser scalpel in otherwise conventional surgery, and soft tissue laser surgery, in which the laser beam vaporizes soft tissue with high water content. Laser resurfacing is a technique in which molecular bonds of a material are dissolved by a laser.

Endovenous laser treatment (ELT) is a minimally invasive ultrasound-guided technique used for treating varicose veins using laser energy commonly performed by an interventional radiologist or vascular surgeon.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a medical and veterinary treatment that uses low-level lasers or light-emitting diodes to alter cellular function.

Lasik

Laser surgery is commonly used on the eye. Techniques used include LASIK, which is used to correct near and far-sightedness in vision,

Photocoagulation

Laser coagulation or laser photocoagulation surgery is used to treat a number of eye diseases and has become widely used in recent decades. During the procedure, which is usually performed on an outpatient basis, a laser is used to finely cauterize ocular blood vessels to attempt to bring about various therapeutic benefits. A coagulation laser produces light in the visible green wavelength that is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells, in order to seal off bleeding blood vessels.

Laser microtome

The laser microtome is an instrument used for non-contact sectioning of biological tissues or materials. It was developed by the Rowiak GmbH, a spin-off of the Laser Centre, Hannover.

In contrast to mechanically working microtomes, the laser microtome does not require sample preparation techniques such as freezing, dehydration or embedding. It has the ability to slice tissue in its native state. Depending on the material being processed, slice thicknesses of 10 to 100 micrometers are feasible

 

Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal was performed experimentally for about 20 years before it became commercially available in the mid 1990s.^{[citation needed]} One of the first published articles describing laser hair removal was authored by the group at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1998.

The primary principle behind laser hair removal is selective photothermolysis (SPTL), the matching of a specific wavelength of light and pulse duration to obtain optimal effect on a targeted tissue with minimal effect on surrounding tissue. Lasers can cause localized damage by selectively heating dark target matter, melanin, in the area that causes hair growth, the follicle, while not heating the rest of the skin. Light is absorbed by dark objects, so laser energy can be absorbed by dark material in the skin, but with much more speed and intensity. This dark target matter, or chromophore, can be naturally-occurring or artificially introduced.

Tattoo removal

Tattoo removal by laser was performed with continuous-wave lasers initially, and later with Q-switched lasers, which became commercially available in the early 1990s. Today, “laser tattoo removal” usually refers to the non-invasive removal of tattoo pigments using Q-switched lasers. Typically, black and darker colored inks can be removed more completely.

Laser resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is a technique used during laser surgery wherein molecular bonds are disassociate by laser. It is used for the treatment of wrinkles, solar lentigenes, sun damage, scars,  telangiectasias or “spider veins”.

Laser in Tooth Surgery

Another important application of lasers is their usage in tooth therapies. Lasers are commonly used in pulling out a tooth, screw surgery, gum diseases, mouth surgeries, tooth inflammations and problems with chin joint. The general advantages of using laser in tooth surgeries are less bleeding, faster recovery and less aches, so people usually prefer lasers in tooth surgeries. The use of lasers in daily dental practice keeps on growing and new and exciting developments are presently being studied with the expectation of clinical implementation in the next few years.

 

Laser Directed as an energy weapon

At the most fundamental level Directed Energy Weapons share the concept of delivering a large amount of stored energy from the weapon to the target, to produce structural and incendiary damage effects. The fundamental difference is that a Directed Energy Weapon delivers its effect at the speed of light, rather than supersonic or subsonic speeds typical of projectile weapons.

Most contemporary literature lumps together a broad mix of weapons technologies in the Directed Energy Weapon category, including High Energy Laser (HEL) weapons, High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons, particle beam weapons and Laser Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC) weapons.

 

Defensive countermeasures

Defensive countermeasure applications can range from compact, low power infrared countermeasures to high power, airborne laser systems. IR countermeasure systems use lasers to confuse the seeker heads on heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles. High power boost-phase intercept laser systems use a complex system of lasers to find, track and destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). In this type of system a chemical laser, one in which the laser operation is powered by an energetic chemical reaction, is used as the main weapon beam (see Airborne Laser). The Mobile Tactical High-Energy Laser (MTHEL) is another defensive laser system under development; this is envisioned as a field-deployable weapon system able to track incoming artillery projectiles and cruise missiles by radar and destroy them with a powerful deuterium fluoride laser.

The Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)

The THEL is a laser weapon jointly developed by the USand Israel, with the program initiated in 1996. The THEL is to be built in two configurations, the static baseline THEL and relocatable Mobile THEL (MTHEL).

The design aim of the THEL systems is to provide a point defense weapon which is capable of engaging and destroying artillery rockets (Katyushas), artillery shells, mortar rounds and low flying aircraft.

 

Disorientation

Some weapons simply use a laser to disorient a person. One such weapon is the Thales Green Laser Optical Warner

Guidance systems (e.g., ring laser gyroscopes)

Laser guidance is a technique of guiding a missile or other projectile or vehicle to a target by means of a laser beam. Some laser guided systems utilize beam riding guidance, but most operate more similarly to semi-active radar homing (SARH). This technique is sometimes called SALH, for Semi-Active Laser Homing. With this technique, a laser is kept pointed at the target and the laser radiation bounces off the target and is scattered in all directions (this is known as “painting the target”, or “laser painting”). The missile, bomb, etc. is launched or dropped somewhere near the target. When it is close enough for some of the reflected laser energy from the target to reach it, a laser seeker detects which direction this energy is coming from and adjusts the projectile trajectory towards the source. While the projectile is in the general area and the laser is kept aimed at the target, the projectile should be guided accurately to the target.

Targeting (Target designator)

Another military use of lasers is as a laser target designator. This is a low-power laser pointer used to indicate a target for a precision-guided munition, typically launched from an aircraft. The guided munition adjusts its flight-path to home in to the laser light reflected by the target, enabling a great precision in aiming. The beam of the laser target designator is set to a pulse rate that matches that set on the guided munition to ensure munitions strike their designated targets and do not follow other laser beams which may be in use in the area. The laser designator can be shined onto the target by an aircraft or nearby infantry. Lasers used for this purpose are usually infrared lasers, so the enemy cannot easily detect the guiding laser light.

 

Firearms (Laser sight )

The laser has in most firearms applications been used as a tool to enhance the targeting of other weapon systems. For example, a laser sight is a small, usually visible-light laser placed on a handgun or a rifle and aligned to emit a beam parallel to the barrel.

 

Eye-targeted lasers

A non-lethal laser weapon was developed by the U.S. Air Force to temporarily impair an adversary’s ability to fire a weapon or to otherwise threaten enemy forces. This unit illuminates an opponent with harmless low-power laser light and can have the effect of dazzling or disorienting the subject or causing him to flee. Several types of dazzlers are now available, and some have been used in combat.

Laser jammer

Laser guns

Laser warning receiver

Spectroscopy

A branch of spectroscopy in which a laser is used as an intense, monochromatic light source; in particular, it includes saturation spectroscopy, as well as the application of laser sources to Raman spectroscopy and other techniques.

Lunar laser ranging

The ongoing Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment measures the distance between the Earth and the Moon using laser ranging. Lasers on Earth are aimed at retroreflectors planted on the moon during the Apollo program and the time delay for the reflected light to return is determined.

Photochemistry

A Branch of chemistry in which reactions are induced or altered by laser light. Lasers have had an immense impact in the field of photochemistry by providing scientists with an intense, polarized and nearly monochromatic source of light.   

Laser cooling

The slowing down of atoms or molecules by the use of a laser whose frequency has been adjusted to remove momentum from the particles. Attosecond lasers deliver X-ray pulses so short that they can freeze frame the motion of an electron orbiting an atom. (An attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second.) Attosecond research could lead to breakthroughs in health care, quantum computing, nanotechnology, environmental science and energy. Attosecond science involves studying things that happen on the scale of atoms and molecules. It’s the science of electrons in atoms, molecules and solids.

 

Nuclear fusion

Unlike fission plants, the process uses lasers to compress atomic nuclei until they join, releasing energy.

Microscopy

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM or LSCM) is a technique for obtaining high-resolution optical images with depth selectivity. The key feature of confocal microscopy is its ability to acquire in-focus images from selected depths, a process known as optical sectioning. Images are acquired point-by-point and reconstructed with a computer, allowing three-dimensional reconstructions of topologically complex objects.

CLSM is widely-used in numerous biological science disciplines, from cell biology and genetics to microbiology and developmental biology.