23.3. Lasers http://www.ck12.org
- laser:A device that emits highly amplified and coherent radiation of one or more discrete frequencies
- stimulated emission:The emission of electromagnetic radiation in the form of photons of a given frequency,
triggered by photons of the same frequency. - coherent light:Coherentlight are light waves that are “in phase” with one another.
- monochromatic:Monochromatic light is light of a single frequency.
Human understanding of atomic structure and behavior has changed over time, but the current quantum mechanical
model of the atom still retains many similarities to the initial concept spoken of by the early Greeks. Much of our
current understanding is the result of detailed study of atomic spectra, the unique series of colored lines associated
with each element.