Lasers
I am very interested in the development and use of lasers. I first became interested after I saw the movie Star Wars. Curious if lasers were ever used in the real world, I began studying their origins. I did research at the library and found that a pulse laser is basically a device used for storing energy and then releasing it all at once to give an intense beam of light. Also, the word laser is an acronym for “Light Amplification by means of Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” The different types of lasers are: solid state, gas, semiconductors, or liquid.
The first pulse laser was invented in 1960 by Theodore Maiman. It contained a ruby crystal and produced a short flash of light. His pulse laser has been improved and can now produce light ten million times the intensity of sunlight.
In recent years, the laser has been used for many important tasks. In construction, the laser beam can be used for precise alignment in the building of tunnels and pipelines. Laser beams can also be used to measure distance and speed. For example, the Apollo astronauts used a laser beam and a special mirror to accurately measure the distance from the earth to the moon.
New uses for lasers are currently being developed in the medical world. Eye surgery and skin cancer treatment are performed with lasers. Also, lasers are beginning to replace radio waves in communication. Laser beams can carry many more channels of information than radio waves.
I now understand that laser beams are more than weapons in science fiction movies. Laser beams are instruments of the future. Research should continue to develop new and improved uses for the laser beam.
