2019-09-02 Bloomberg Businessweek

(Martin Jones) #1

42


ByE.TammyKim
PhotographbyDanielShea

Laser


Lasersarebothpotentand
mundane,high-energybeams
thatcanbeusedtooperate
oneyes,precision-cutmetal
forappliances,andscan
barcodesatthecorner
store.“Lightamplification
bystimulatedemissionof
radiation”neatlydescribes
howthetechnologyworks:
Energyis appliedtoa
medium—suchasa crystal
wafer,liquidsolution,or
gas—whoseparticlesbecome
stimulatedandemitlight.
Mirrorscaptureandamplify
thatlightintoanintensebeam.

A dime-sizeYAGcrystalis
mountedona finger-shaped
metaldevicethatkeeps
thecrystalcool.Energyis
pumpedthroughthecrystal
tocreatea powerfullaser.

May contain
or require

Clustersofdiodelasersprovide
energytotheYAGcrystal.
Theseapplyelectricalcurrent
towafersofgalliumarsenide
wrappedin goldwire.

PRODUCT COURTESY TRUMPF LASERS

Thereareasmanytypesoflasers
asthereareusesforthem.TheYAG
lasershownhere—acrystalofyttrium
aluminumgarnet,sprinkledwith
ytterbium(neodymiumis alsooften
used)—emitsinfraredlight,whose
wavelengthis wellsuitedtowelding.

1
H
Hydrogen

2
He
Helium

10
Ne
Neon

6
C
Carbon

7
N
Nitrogen

8
O
Oxygen

9
F
Fluorine

17
Cl
Chlorine

18
Ar
Argon

13
Al
Aluminum

14
Si
Silicon

70
Yb
Ytterbium

60
Nd
Neodymium

79
Au
Gold

33
As
Arsenic

36
Kr
Krypton

31
Ga
Gallium

26
Fe
Iron

29
Cu
Copper

54
Xe
Xenon

39
Y
Yttrium
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