lasers use in electrical engineering

Lasers are a type of electromagnetic radiation that emits light in a very specific direction. They are often used in communication and medical procedures. In electrical engineering, lasers can be used for a variety of purposes, In this tech guide, you will learn about facts about lasers that you need to know!

How Do Lasers Work?

A laser ray is created when electrons in the atoms of optical materials absorb the energy from electrical currents or light. This way, a laser diode emits light that is coherent, which means the waves are in phase. This is how a laser beam can be focused into a very small, intense spot. When this happens, the energy in the laser beam becomes concentrated.

The technology behind lasers has many applications. Lasers are used in cutting and welding, in the medical field for various procedures, and in devices like barcode scanners and CD/DVD players. 

This means that an electrical engineer needs to have a good understanding of how lasers work. Here are facts that will help you better understand lasers and their practical use in electrical engineering.

Lasers produce light through stimulated emission. This means that they use electrons to produce photons, which is how they create the light beam. The photons then bounce off of mirrors and travel through the laser until they reach the output aperture, where they create the beam of light.

Lasers can be either continuous waves or pulsed. Continuous-wave lasers emit a steady stream of light, while pulsed lasers emit pulses of light at regular intervals. Pulsed lasers are often used for welding and cutting because they can concentrate more energy into a small area than continuous-wave lasers.

Lasers are classified by their wavelength. The most common lasers used in electrical engineering are gas lasers, which have a wavelength of between 0.63 and 0.85 micrometers. These lasers are used for cutting and welding because they can be easily focused to create a small spot size.

How Lasers Are Measured?

Lasers are measured in terms of power or energy. The output of a laser is typically measured in watts, while the energy is usually measured in joules. This means that you can calculate the power or energy of a laser by multiplying the voltage by the current. However, it’s important to note that this only provides an estimate of the laser’s actual output. The true power or energy of a laser can vary depending on its wavelength and other factors.

Lasers are also measured in terms of their beam quality. This is determined by three factors: divergence, M², and astigmatism. Divergence measures how well a laser maintains its focus over distance, while M² measures how symmetrical the beam is. Astigmatism measures how much the beam curves as it travels through space. 

By measuring these three factors, engineers can determine how effectively a laser can be used for certain applications. For example, a laser with high beam quality would be ideal for use in a medical setting, while a laser with low beam quality would be better suited for industrial applications.

They Are Used Grouped Into Classes 

There are multiple classes of lasers, and these are the following:

  • Continuous-wave
  • Pulsed
  • Q-switched
  • Mode-locked

Continuous Wave Lasers 

Continuous-wave lasers are the most common type of laser. They emit a steady beam of light that is used for tasks such as pointing and measuring. These lasers are also known as CW or CW lasers.

Pulsed Lasers 

Pulsed lasers emit short bursts of light. They are used in applications such as cutting and welding. Pulsed lasers can be either continuous or discontinuous, meaning they can have gaps between each pulse or emission. 

Q-Switched Lasers 

Q-switched lasers produce very short pulses with high peak power levels. They are used in medical treatments such as tattoo removal and skin resurfacing. 

Mode-Locked Lasers 

Mode-locked lasers emit light in very short pulses with low repetition rates. They are used in applications such as metrology and telecommunications. 

Classes of lasers are important to know about because each type is used for different purposes. Continuous-wave lasers are the most common and versatile, while pulsed lasers are more powerful but have shorter emission times. Q-switched lasers have even shorter pulse duration times making them ideal for medical treatments, and mode-locked lasers have low repetition rates making them good for telecommunications uses.

Another way to classify lasers is by their wavelength. 

Lasers can also be classified by their wavelength, which is the distance between two successive crests of the wave. The most common wavelengths are: 

  • Infrared: 700nm to 1000nm
  • Visible: 400nm to 700nm
  • Ultraviolet: 100nm to 400nm

It is important to understand how each type of laser works and what it is used for. This will help you choose the right laser for your specific needs.

The Role Of Lasers In Electrical Engineering

Lasers have a huge role in many industries from medicine to electrical engineering. When it comes to electrical engineering, lasers are used in a variety of ways. Here are facts to know about lasers and their practical use in electrical engineering:

  • Lasers can be used as an energy source for electrical equipment.
  • They can be used as a means of communication between devices.
  • Lasers can be used to create electrical circuits.
  • Lasers can be used to detect faults in electrical equipment.

Each of these applications is crucial to the proper functioning of electrical systems. By understanding how lasers work and what they can do, engineers can ensure that electrical systems operate safely and efficiently. 

Electrical engineering is one of the most important fields of engineering. It is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of electrical systems. These systems are essential to the proper functioning of our society. Without electrical engineers, we would not have the lights in our homes, the computers we use every day or the cell phones that keep us connected to the world. 

Lasers play a vital role in electrical engineering. By understanding how to use lasers properly, engineers can create electrical systems that are safe and efficient.

Lasers are nowadays used in many industries and have huge purposes in them helping each to further develop. They are made of light waves and can be wider or more focused. They are measured by the power and energy they emit and the measurement unit used for them is Joule. There are multiple ways of classifying them and they have a huge role in electrical engineering which cannot exist nowadays without them!

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