GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

LASER

MODULE - 5

QUESTION BANK

1 Question:  Differentiate between spontaneous and stimulated emissions.

Solution:

2 Question:  What is LASER? Discuss basic phenomena involve in producing laser light?

Solution:

LASER stands for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”.

L = Light

A = Amplification (by)

S = Stimulated

E = Emission (of)

R = Radiation

Theodore H. Maiman of the Hughes Research Laboratory, California, was the first scientist who experimentally demonstrated laser by flashing light through a ruby crystal in 1960. But the basic idea behind the development of laser was given by the great scientist “Albert Einstein” in his 1917.

Let us discuss Einstein’s theory of interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter. He proposed that electromagnetic radiation interacts with matter in following three steps.

• Stimulated  Absorption
• Spontaneous Emission
• Stimulated Emission

Stimulated  Absorption:

Let E1 and E2 be the energies of ground and excited states of an atom. Suppose, if a photon of energy hν= E1− E2 interacts with an atom present in the ground state, the atom gets excitation form ground state E1 to excited state E2. This process is called stimulated absorption. Stimulated absorption rate depends upon the number of atoms available in the lowest energy state as well as the energy density photons.

Stimulated absorption rate ∝ Number of atoms in the ground state

∝   Density of photons Spontaneous emission

Spontaneous Emission:

Let E1 and E2   be the energies of ground and excited states of an atom. Suppose, if a photon of energy hν= E1− E2 interacts with an atom present in the ground state, the atom gets excitation form ground stateE1 to excited state E2. The excited atom does not stay in a long time in the excited state. The excited atom gets de-excitation after its life time by emitting a photon of energy hν= E1− E2. This process is called spontaneous emission. Also Spontaneous means by its own. Here excited atom comes to ground state by its own so it is named as spontaneous emission.

The spontaneous emission rate depends up on the number of atoms present in the excited state.

Spontaneous emission ∝   rate number of atoms in the excited state

Stimulated Emission:

This phenomena is responsible for producing laser light. Let E1and E2 be the energies of ground and excited states of an atom. Suppose, if a photon of energy hν= E1− E2 interacts with an atom present in the ground state, the atom gets excitation form ground stateE1 to excited state E2. Let, a photon of energy hν= E1− E2 interacts with the excited atom with in their life time; the atom gets de-excitation to ground state by emitting of another photon. These photons have same phase and it follows coherence. This phenomenon is called stimulated emission.

Stimulated emission rate depends upon the number of atoms available in the excited state as well as the energy density of photons.

Stimulated emission rate ∝ number of atoms in the excited state

∝ Density of photons

3 Question:  Calculate the wavelength of radiation emitted by an LED made up of a semiconducting material with band gap energy 2.8eV.

Solution:

E = hc/ʎ
Therefore, ʎ = hc/E
ʎ = 4430.8 Å.

4 Question:  Calculate the number of photons, from green light of mercury (ʎ = 4961 Å), required to do one joule of work.

Solution:

E = hc/ʎ
E = 4.006×10-19 Joules
Number of photons required = (1 Joule)/(4.006×10-19)
N = 2.4961×1018/m3.

5 Question:  Discuss Properties of Laser ?

Solution:

• Laser is a powerful source of light having extraordinary properties which are not found in the normal light sources like tungsten lamps, mercury lamps etc.
• The unique property of laser is that its light waves travel very long distances with e very little divergence. Whereas conventional source of light can travel very short distances only.
• A high degree of directionality and monochromatic is also associated with these laser light beams. Therefore, in a laser beam the light waves not only are in the same phase but also have the same colour throughout their journey.
• The beam of the ordinary light spreads out very quickly. On the other hand, the laser beam is highly collimated and spreads very little.
• The spread of laser light on the surface of the moon has been found to be only about 3 km across. Hypothetically, if ordinary light was able to travel to the so moon, its beam would have fanned out to such an extent leading to a diameter of the light on the moon as much as 40, 000 km.
• Another remarkable feature of laser is the concentration of its energy to extremely high intensities, the intensity remaining almost constant over long distances because of low divergence.
• If a laser beam with a power of a few megawatts is focused by a lens at a spot with a diameter of 1/1000th of a centimeter. the beam intensity increases to a few hundred billion watts per sq. Cm. This concentrated energy is so intense that it easily ionizes the atmospheric air to create sparks. When the beam focused from a high power laser, even the hardest material like diamond can be melted in a fraction of a second.

6 Question:  Derive Einstein’s coefficient A and B ?

Solution:

The distribution of atoms in the two energy levels will change by absorption or emission of radiation. Einstein introduced three empirical coefficients to quantify the change of population of the two levels. Let N1 be the number of atoms per unit volume with energy E1 and N2 be the number of atoms per unit volume with energy E2. Let ‘n’ be the number of photons per unit volume at frequency ‘υ’ such that hυ= E1− E2.

Then, the energy density of photons ρ(υ) = nhυ

When these photons interact with atoms, both upward (absorption) and downward (emission) transition occurs.

At the equilibrium the upward transitions must be equal downward transitions.

Upward Transition

Stimulated absorption rate depends upon the number of atoms available in the lowest energy state as well as the energy density photons.

We have seen above that

Stimulated absorption rate ∝  N1 i.e. Number of atoms in the ground state

∝ ρ(υ) i.e. Density of photons spontaneous emission

Stimulated absorption rate = B12N1ρ(υ)………(1)

Where B12 is the Einstein coefficient of stimulated absorption.

Downward transition

The spontaneous emission rate depends up on the number of atoms present in the excited state.

Spontaneous emission rate ∝   N2 i.e. number of atoms in the excited state

Spontaneous emission rate = A21N2 ………(2)

Where A21 is the Einstein coefficient of spontaneous emission.

Stimulated emission rate depends upon the number of atoms available in the excited state as well as the energy density of photons.

Stimulated emission rate ∝ N2 i.e. number of atoms in the excited state

∝ ρ(υ) i.e. Density of photons

Stimulated emission rate = B21N2ρ(υ)………(3)

If the system is in equilibrium the upward transitions must be equal downward transitions.

Upward transitions = downward transitions

B12N1ρ(υ) = A21N2 + B21N2ρ(υ)………(4)

B12N1ρ(υ) - B21N2ρ(υ) = A21N2

(B12N1- B21N2) ρ(υ) = A21N2

ρ(υ) =………(5)

Divide with B21N2 in numerator and denominator in right side of the above equation,

ρ(υ) =  =  ………(6)

ρ(υ) =  = =………(7)

We know from Maxwell Boltzmann distribution law

= ………(8)

And also from Planck’s law, the radiation density

ρ(υ)  = ………(9)

Comparing the two equations (7) and (9)

=    and =1………(10)

The above relations referred to as Einstein relations.

From the above equation for non degenerate energy levels the stimulated emission rate is equal to the stimulated absorption rate at the equilibrium condition.

= ………(11)

7 Question:  What is the relationship between B21 and B12?
a) B12 > B21
b) B12 < B21
c) B12 = B21
d) No specific relation
 

Solution:

C is the correct answer.
B21 is the coefficient for the stimulated emission while B12 is the coefficient for stimulated absorption. Both the processes are mutually reverse processes and their probabilities are equal. Therefore, B12 = B21.

8 Question:  How laser light get amplify by population inversion ?

Solution:

Population inversion

Definition

The number of atoms present in the excited state or higher energy state is greater than the number of atoms present in the ground state or lower energy state is called population inversion.

Population inversion as name suggests that this is inverted phenomena. In general lower energy level is more populated that means it have more number of atoms in lower energy level as compared to higher energy level. But by pumping we will obtain a state when the number of atoms present in the higher energy state is greater than the number of atoms present in lower energy state.

Let us consider two level energy system of energies E1 and E2 as shown in figure.

Let N1 and N2 be the populations that means number of atoms per unit volume of energy levels E1 and E2 respectively.

According to Boltzmann’s distribution the population of an energy level E, at temperature T is given by

Ni=N0

Where N0 is the population of the lower level or ground state and k is the Boltzmann’s constant.

From the above relation, the population of energy levels E1 and E2  are

N1=N0

N2=N0

At ordinary conditions N1 >N2 i.e., the population in the ground or lower state is always greater than the population in the excited or higher states. The stage of making, population of higher energy level is greater than the population of lower energy level is called population inversion i.e. N1 < N2

When population inversion method is used to enforce more and more atoms to give up photons. This initiates a chain reaction and releasing massive amount of energy.

This results in rapid build-up of energy of emitting one particular wavelength traveling coherently in fixed direction. This process is called amplification by stimulated emission using population inversion.

This population inversion situation is essential for a laser action. For any stimulated emission, It is necessary that the upper energy level or meta stable state should have a long life time, i.e., the atoms should pause at the meta stable state for more time than at the lower level.

9 Question:  What is Pumping? Discuss various type of pumping mechanisms?

Solution:

For laser action, pumping mechanism (exciting with external source) maintain a higher population of atoms in the upper energy level relative to that in the lower level.

A system in which population inversion is achieved is called as an active system. The method of raising the particles from lower energy state to higher energy state is called pumping.

The process of achieving of population inversion is called pumping.

This can be done by number of ways.

The most commonly used pumping methods are

1. Optical pumping
2. Electrical discharge pumping
3. Chemical pumping
4. Thermal Pumping
5. Injection current pumping
6. Inelastic Atom-Atom Collisions

Optical pumping As the name suggests, in this method, light is used to supply energy to the laser medium. Optical pumping is used in solid laser. Xenon flash tubes are used for optical pumping. Since these materials have very broad band absorption, sufficient amount of energy is absorbed from the emission band of flash lamp and population inversion is created. So xenon flash lamp is used to produce more electrons in the higher energy level of the laser medium.

Examples of optically pumped lasers are ruby, Nd: YAG Laser(Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet).

Electrical discharge pumping Electrical discharge pumping is used in gas lasers. Since gas lasers have very narrow absorption band pumping then any flash lamp is not possible. Electric discharge refers to flow of electrons or electric current through a gas, liquid or solid.

In this method of pumping, electric discharge acts as the pump source or energy source. A high voltage electric discharge (flow of electrons, electric charge, or electric current) is passed through the laser medium or gas. The intense electric field accelerates the electrons to high speeds and they collide with neutral atoms in the gas. As a result, the electrons in the lower energy state gains sufficient energy from external electrons and jumps into the higher energy state

 Examples of Electrical discharge pumped lasers are He-Ne laser, CO2 laser, argon-ion laser etc.

Chemical pumping Chemical reaction may also result in excitation and hence creation of population inversion in few systems.

 If an atom or a molecule is produced through some chemical reaction and remains in an excited state at the time of production, then it can be used for pumping. The hydrogen fluoride molecule is produced in an excited state when hydrogen and fluorine gas chemically combine. The number of produced excited atoms or molecules is greater than the number of normal state atoms or molecules. Thus, population inversion is achieved.

Examples H2 + F2 → 2HF, in this chemical reaction, hydrogen (H2) and fluorine (F2) molecules are chemically combined to produce hydrogen fluoride molecule (2HF) in an excited state.

Thermal Pumping: Sometimes we can achieve population inversion by heating the laser medium. In thermal pumping, heat acts as the pump source or energy source. In this method, population inversion is achieved by supplying heat into the laser medium.

When heat energy is supplied to the laser medium, the lower energy state electrons gains sufficient energy and jumps into the higher energy level.

The process of achieving population inversion in thermal pumping is almost similar to the optical pumping or electric discharge method, except that in this method heat is used as pump source instead of light or electric discharge.

Injection current pumping In semiconductors, injection of current through the junction results in creates of population inversion among the minority charge carriers.

Examples of such systems are InP and GaAs.

Inelastic Atom-Atom Collisions: Like the electric discharge method, here also a high voltage electric discharge acts as a pump source. However, in this method, a combination of two types of gases, say X and Y are used. The excited state of gas X is represented as X+ whereas gas Y is represented as Y+. Both X and Y gases have the same excited states (X+ and Y+).

When high voltage electric discharge passes through a laser medium having two types of gases X and Y, the lower energy state electrons in gas X will move to the excited state X+ similarly the lower energy state electrons in gas Y moves to the excited state Y+.

Initially, during electric discharge, the lower energy state electrons in gas X or atom X gets excited to X+ due to continuous collision with electrons. The excited state electrons in gas X+ now collide with the lower energy state electrons in gas Y. As a result, the lower energy state electrons in gas Y gains sufficient energy and jump into the excited state Y+. This method is used in the Helium–Neon (He-Ne) laser.

10 Question:  Discuss construction, working and application of Solid-State Laser?

Or

Discuss construction, working and application of Ruby Laser?

Or

Discuss three level laser ?

Solution:

Ruby laser

Ruby laser is a three level solid state laser and was constructed by Maiman in 1960. Ruby laser is one of the few solid-state lasers that produce visible light. It emits deep red light of wavelength 694.3 nm.

Construction

A ruby laser consists of three important elements: laser medium, the pump source and the optical resonator.

Laser Medium

Ruby (Al2O3+Cr2O3) is a crystal of Aluminium oxide, in which 0.05% of Al+3 ions are replaced by the Cr+3 ions. The colour of the rod is pink. The active medium or laser medium in the ruby rod is Cr+3 ions. In ruby laser 4cm length and 5mm diameter rod is generally used. The ruby has good thermal properties.

The pump source

The ruby rod is surrounded by xenon flash tube, which provides the pumping light to excite the chromium ions in to upper energy levels. The ruby rod was surrounded by a helical xenon flash lamp.

We know that population inversion is required to achieve laser emission. Population inversion is the process of achieving the greater population of higher energy state than the lower energy state. In order to achieve population inversion, we need to supply energy to the laser medium i.e. to ruby crystal.

Xenon flash tube emits thousands joules of energy in few milliseconds, but only a        part of that energy is utilized by the chromium ions while the rest energy heats up the apparatus. A cooling arrangement is provided to keep the experimental set up at normal temperatures.

Optical resonator

Both the ends of the rods are highly polished and made strictly parallel. The ends are silvered in such a way, one becomes partially reflected the laser beam was emitted through that end and the other end fully reflected to reflect all the rays of light striking it.

Working of ruby laser:

Consider a ruby laser medium consisting of three energy levels E1, E2, E3 with N number of electrons.

We assume that the energy levels will be E1 < E2 < E3. The energy level E1 is known as ground state or lower energy state, the energy level E2 is known as metastable state, and the energy level E3 is known as pump state.

Let us assume that initially most of the electrons are in the lower energy state (E1) and only a tiny number of electrons are in the excited states (E2 and E3).

The energy level diagram of chromium ions is shown in figure. The chromium ions get excitation into higher energy levels by absorbing of 5500Å of wavelength radiation. The excited chromium ions stay in the level E3 for short interval of time (10-8 to 10-9 Sec). After their life time most of the chromium ions are de-excited from E3 to E1 and a few chromium ions are de-excited from E3 to E2.

The transition between E3 and E2 is non-radioactive transition i.e. the chromium ions gives their energy to the lattice in the form of heat. In the Meta stable state the life time of chromium ions is 10-3 sec. The life time of chromium ions in the Meta stable state is 105 times greater than the life time of chromium ions in higher state.

Due to the continuous working of flash lamp, the chromium ions are excited to higher state E3 and returned to E2 level. After few milliseconds the level E2 is more populated than the level E1 and hence the desired population inversion is achieved. The state of population inversion is not a stable one. The process of spontaneous transition is very high. When the excited chromium ion passes spontaneously from E3 to E2it emits one photon of wave length 6943 Å. The photon reflects back and forth by the silver ends and until it stimulates an excited chromium ion in E2 state and it to emit fresh photon in phase with the earlier photon. The process is repeated again and again until the laser beam intensity is reached to a sufficient value. When the photon beam becomes sufficient intense, it emerges through the partially silvered end of the rod. The wave length 6943 Å is in the red region of the visible spectrum.

Draw backs of ruby laser

• The laser requires high pumping power 
• The efficiency of ruby laser is very small
• It is a pulse laser

 Application of ruby laser

• Ruby lasers are in optical photography
• Ruby lasers can be used for measurement of plasma properties such as electron density and temperature.
• Ruby lasers are used to remove the melanin of the skin.
• Ruby laser can be used for recording of holograms.

11 Question:  Discuss construction, working and application of gas Laser?

Or

Discuss construction, working and application of He-Ne Laser?

Or

Discuss four level laser ?

Solution:

He-Ne Laser

The first He-Ne gas laser was fabricated in 1961 by Ali Javan, Bennett and Herriott at Bell Telephone Laboratories. others. Helium-Neon laser is a type of gas laser in which a mixture of helium and neon gas is used as a gain medium. Helium-Neon laser is also known as He-Ne laser. The helium-neon laser was the first continuous wave laser ever constructed. The helium-neon laser operates at a wavelength of 632.8 nanometres (nm), in the red portion of the visible spectrum.

Ruby laser is a pulse laser, even it have high intense output. For continuous laser beam gas lasers are used. Using gas lasers, we can achieve highly coherence, high directionality and high monochromacity beam. The output power of the gas laser is generally in few milliwatts.

Construction

The helium-neon laser consists of three essential components:

• Pump source (high voltage power supply)
• Gain medium (laser glass tube or discharge glass tube)
• Resonating cavity

Pump source

The gain medium of a helium-neon laser is made up of the mixture of helium and neon gas contained in a glass tube at low pressure. In He-Ne gas laser, the He and Ne gases are taken in the ratio 10:1 in the discharge tube.

Gain medium

In He-Ne laser 80cm length and 1cm diameter discharge is generally used. The out power of these lasers depends on the length of the discharge tube and pressure of the gas mixture. Therefore, in order to achieve population inversion, we need to pump electrons from lower energy state of the helium. In He-Ne laser, neon atoms are the active centres and have energy levels suitable for laser transitions while helium atoms help in exciting neon atoms.

Resonating cavity

Two reflecting mirrors are fixed on either ends of the discharge tube, in that, one is partially reflecting and the other is fully reflecting. The fully silvered mirror will completely reflect the light whereas the partially silvered mirror will reflect most part of the light but allows some part of the light to produce the laser beam.

Working

When the electric discharge is passing through the gas mixture, the electrons accelerated towards the positive electrode. During their passage, they collide with He atoms and excite them into higher levels. 23s1 and 21s0 form ground state of He atom. In higher levels 23s1 and 21s0, the life time of He atoms is more. So there is a maximum possibility of energy transfer between He and Ne atoms through atomic collisions. When He atoms present in the levels 23s1 and 21s0  collide with Ne atoms present ground state, the Ne atoms gets excitation into higher levels 4s and 5s.

Due to the continuous excitation of Ne atoms, we can achieve the population inversion between the higher levels 4s and 5s  and lower levels 3p and 4p. The various transitions 5s to 4p, 4s to 3p and 5s to 3p leads to the emission of wavelengths  3.93μm, 1.51μm and 6328 Å or 632.8μm.

The first two corresponding to the infrared region while the last wavelength is corresponding to the visible region. The Ne atoms present in the 4s level are de-excited into 3s level, by spontaneously emitting a photon of around wavelength 6000 Å. When a narrow discharge tube is used, the Ne atoms present in the level 3s collide with the walls of the tube and get de-excited to ground state energy level.

Advantages of helium-neon laser

• Helium-neon laser emits laser light in the visible portion of the spectrum.
• High stability
• Low cost
• Operates without damage at higher temperatures

Disadvantages of helium-neon laser

• Low efficiency
• Low gain
• Helium-neon lasers are limited to low power tasks

Applications of helium-neon lasers

• Helium-neon lasers are used in industries.
• Helium-neon lasers are used in scientific instruments.
• Helium-neon lasers are used in the college laboratories.

12 Question:  Discuss Properties Of Laser Beams?

Solution:

The laser light exhibits some peculiar properties than compare with the convectional light. Those are

1. Highly monochromatic

2. Highly coherence

3. Highly directionality

4. Highly intense

5. Laser Speckles

1. Highly monochromatic

Monochromatic light means a light containing a single colour or wavelength. The photons emitted from ordinary light sources have different energies, frequencies, wavelengths, or colours. Ordinary light is a mixture of waves having different frequencies or wavelengths. The light waves of laser have single wavelength or colour.

Therefore, laser light covers a very narrow range of frequencies or wavelengths.

Hence The laser light is more monochromatic than that of a convectional light source. This may be due to the stimulated characteristic of laser light. The band width of convectional monochromatic light source is 1000 Å. But the band width of ordinary light source is 10 Å. For high sensitive laser source is 10-8 Å.

2. Highly coherence

Definition:- A predictable correlation of the amplitude and phase at any one point with other point is called coherence.

Two waves are said to be coherent, the waves must have

In case of convectional light, the property of coherence exhibits between a source and its virtual source where as in case of laser the property coherence exists between any two of more light waves.

There are two types of coherence

i)                   Temporal coherence

Ii)                Spatial coherence

Temporal coherence (or longitudinal coherence):-

The predictable correlation of amplitude and phase at one point on the wave train w .r. t another point on the same wave train, then the wave is said to be temporal coherence

To understand this, let us consider two points P1 and P2 on the same wave train, which is continuous as in shown in figure.

Suppose the phase and amplitude at any one point is known, then we can easily calculate the amplitude and phase for any other point on the same wave train by using the wave equation

y= a sin ( (ct-x))

Where ‘a’ is the amplitude of the wave and ‘x’ is the displacement of the wave at any instant of time‘t’.

Spatial coherence (or transverse coherence) The predictable correlation of amplitude and phase at one point on the wave train w. r .t another point on a second wave, then the waves are said to be spatial coherence (or transverse coherence)

3. Highly directionality

The light ray coming ordinary light source travels in all directions, but laser light travels in single direction. For example the light emitted from torch light spreads 1km distance it spreads 1 km distance. But the laser light spreads a few centimetres distance even it travels lacks of kilometre distance.

The directionality of laser beam is expressed in terms of divergence

∆θ =

Where r1 and r2  are the radii of laser bam spots at distances of D1  and D2  respectively from laser source.

4. Highly Intense or Brightness

We know that the intensity of a wave is the energy per unit time flowing through a unit normal area. Laser light is highly intense than the convectional light. An one mill watt He-Ne laser is highly intense than the sun intensity. This is because of coherence and directionality of laser. Suppose when two photons each of amplitude a are in phase with other, then young’s principle of superposition, the resultant amplitude of two photons is 2a and the intensity is 4a2.  Since in laser many number of photons are in phase with each other, the amplitude of the resulting wave becomes na and hence the intensity of laser is proportional to n2a2.  So 1mW He-Ne laser is highly intense than the sun.

In an ordinary light source, the light spreads out uniformly in all directions. If you look at a 100 Watt lamp filament from a distance of 30 cm, the power entering your eye is less than 1/1000 of a watt. If you look laser beam  X(caution: don’t do it at home, direct laser light can damage your eyes)X, then all the power in the laser would enter your eye.  Thus, even a 1 Watt laser would appear many thousand times more intense than 100 Watt ordinary lamp.

5. Laser Speckles

The term speckle refers to a random granular pattern which can be observed  when a highly coherent light beam  is diffusely reflected at a surface with a complicated  structure. This phenomenon results from the interference of different reflected portions of the incident beam with random relative optical phases.

Even minor changes of the conditions, such as of the illuminated spot or the direction of the incident laser beam, can change the detailed shape of a speckle pattern.

When laser light which has been scattered off a rough surface falls on another surface, it forms an "objective speckle pattern". If a photographic plate or another 2-D optical sensor is located within the scattered light field without a lens, a speckle pattern is obtained whose characteristics depend on the geometry of the system and the wavelength of the laser.

13 Question:  What is coherence? 

Solution:

Definition:- A predictable correlation of the amplitude and phase at any one point with other point is called coherence.

Two waves are said to be coherent, the waves must have

In case of convectional light, the property of coherence exhibits between a source and its virtual source where as in case of laser the property coherence exists between any two of more light waves.

There are two types of coherence

i)                   Temporal coherence

Ii)                Spatial coherence

Temporal coherence (or longitudinal coherence):-

The predictable correlation of amplitude and phase at one point on the wave train w .r. t another point on the same wave train, then the wave is said to be temporal coherence

To understand this, let us consider two points P1 and P2 on the same wave train, which is continuous as in shown in figure.

Suppose the phase and amplitude at any one point is known, then we can easily calculate the amplitude and phase for any other point on the same wave train by using the wave equation

y= a sin ( (ct-x))

Where ‘a’ is the amplitude of the wave and ‘x’ is the displacement of the wave at any instant of time‘t’.

Spatial coherence (or transverse coherence) The predictable correlation of amplitude and phase at one point on the wave train w. r .t another point on a second wave, then the waves are said to be spatial coherence (or transverse coherence)

14 Question:  Discuss Applications Of Lasers In various fields?

Solution:

Applications of lasers because of unique property of laser beam such as coherence, monochromacity, directionality, and high intensity, they are widely used in various fields like

1. Communication

2. Computers

3. Chemistry

4. Photography

5. Industry

6. Medicine

7. Military

8. Scientific Research

1. Communication

In case of optical communication semiconductors laser diodes are used as optical sources and its band width is (1014Hz) is very high compared to the radio and microwave communications.  More channels can be sent simultaneously Signal cannot be tapped as the band width is large, more data can be sent. A laser is highly directional and less divergence, hence it has greater potential use in space crafts and submarine. It is used in optical fiber communications to send information over large distances with low loss. Laser light is used in underwater communication networks. Lasers are used in space communication, radars and satellites.

2. Computers 

In LAN (local area network), data can be transferred from memory storage of one computer to other computer using laser for short time.  Lasers are used in CD-ROMS during recording and reading the data. Lasers are used in computer printers.

3. Chemistry

Lasers are used in molecular structure identification Lasers are also used to accelerate some chemical reactions.  Using lasers, new chemical compounds can be created by breaking bonds between atoms are molecules.

4. Photography

Lasers can be used to get 3-D lens less photography.  Lasers are also used in the construction of holograms.

5. Industry 

Lasers can be used to blast holes in diamonds and hard steel. Lasers are also used as a source of intense heat Carbon dioxide laser is used for cutting drilling of metals and non-metals, such as ceramics plastics glass etc.  High power lasers are used to weld or melt any material.  Lasers are also used to cut teeth in saws and test the quality of fabric. It is used to cut glass and quartz, used in electronic industries for trimming the components of Integrated Circuits (ICs).Lasers are used for heat treatment in the automotive industry. Laser light is used to collect the information about the prefixed prices of various products in shops and business establishments from the bar code printed on the product. Ultraviolet lasers are used in the semiconductor industries for photolithography. Photolithography is the method used for manufacturing printed circuit board (PCB) and microprocessor by using ultraviolet light. It is also  used to drill aerosol nozzles and control orifices within the required precision.

6. Medicine

Pulsed neodymium laser is employed in the treatment of liver cancer.  Argon and carbon dioxide lasers are used in the treat men of liver and lungs.  Lasers used in the treatment of Glaucoma.

Lasers used in endoscopy to scan the inner parts of the stomach.  Lasers used in the elimination of moles and tumors which are developing in the skin tissue and hair removal. It is also used for bloodless surgery.

Lasers are used to destroy kidney stones, in cancer diagnosis and therapy also used for eye lens curvature corrections. Lasers are used to study the internal structure of microorganisms and cells. It is used to create plasma. Lasers are used to remove the caries or decayed portion of the teeth.

7. Military

Lasers can be used as a war weapon. High energy lasers are used to destroy the enemy air-crofts and missiles. Lasers can be used in the detection and ranging likes RADAR. Laser range finders are used to determine the distance to an object. The ring laser gyroscope is used for sensing and measuring very small angle of rotation of the moving objects.

Lasers can be used as a secretive illuminators for reconnaissance during night with high precision.

8. Scientific research

Lasers are used in the field of 3D-photography Lasers used in Recording and reconstruction of hologram. Lasers are employed to create plasma. Lasers are used in Raman spectroscopy to identify the structure of the molecule and to count the number of atoms in a substance. Lasers are used in the Michelson- Morley experiment. A laser beam is used to confirm Doppler shifts in frequency for moving objects. A laser helps in studying the Brownian motion of particles. With the help of a helium-neon laser, it was proved that the velocity of light is same in all directions. Lasers are used to measure the pollutant gases and other contaminants of the atmosphere. Lasers help in determining the rate of rotation of the earth accurately. Lasers are used for detecting earthquakes and underwater nuclear blasts. A gallium arsenide diode laser can be used to setup an invisible fence to protect an area.