Everything Science Grade 12

16.5 CHAPTER 16. OPTICAL PHENOMENA; PROPERTIES OF MATTER

Material Type Wavelength Uses

Helium–Neon gas 632,8 nm scientific research,

holography

Argon ion gas 488,0 nm medicine

Carbon dioxide gas 10,6 μm industry (cutting,

welding), surgery

Helium–Cadmium vapour 325 nm printing, scientific re-

search

Ruby solid–state 694,3nm holography

Neodymium YAG (Yt-

trium Aluminium Gar-

net)

solid–state 1,064 μm industry, surgery, re-

search

Titanium–Sapphire solid–state 650–1100 nm research

Laser diode semiconductor 375–1080 nm telecommunications,

industry, printing, CD

players, laser pointers

Table 16.3: A selectionof different lasers. The laser material and general type of each
laser is given, along withtypical wavelengths of the laser light they create.Examples of
real-world applications are also given. All these materials allow a population inversion
to be set up.

A simple laser ESCHP

A laser consists of a number of different partsthat work together to create the laser
beam. Figure 16.10 shows the different partsof the laser, while Figure 16.11 shows
how they create the laser beam.

Source

Energy

External

Laser Beam

Laser Medium

Optical Cavity

Full Mirror Partially−Silvered

Mirror

Figure 16.10: Diagram of a laser showing the main components.