How to Buy a Laser Pointer – A Guideline on How to Buy The Right Laser For You
The different types of lasers
Color
Lasers are now available in red (632nm), green (532nm), blue (473nm), orange (594nm) and infrared (808nm to 1064nm). The color of the laser determines the visibility of the laser, the attractiveness of the beam and the price. The color of the laser does not determine the power of the laser.
Power
The power level of lasers is measured in mW which is an abbreviation for milliwatts. The available powers range from less than one mW to over 400mW. Power is one of the key factors in determining the possible application of a laser and the price of a laser. Power also determines the danger of a laser.
Size
The size of lasers can range from the size of a small AAA battery to the size of a base ball bat. The two most common sizes for lasers are pen sized laser pointers that are small enough to fit in your pocket and larger hand sized portable lasers.
On/off Switch
Lasers can come with two types of switches, momentary off/on pressure switch and a standard click off/on switch. The type of switch determines whether the laser can be used hands free or not. A large number of applications require are not possible with lasers that are not hands free.
Safety features
Safety features can range from none to an elaborate range of keys, dongles, lens shutters and time delay.
Which laser should you get?
This depends entirely on what you want the laser for and your budget.
Presentations
Blue and green lasers are best for presentations with blue being the most impressive and also the most expensive. One very important point with buying a presentation lasers is power. Never buy a laser with more than 5-10mW power because of the danger to your audience and your self.
Laser pointers are best with a convenient size and no need for hands free operation.
Astronomy
Green lasers are the only color that should be considered for astronomy. Required power varies depending on the number of people you’ll be with. As a general guideline, the more people you are with, the stronger the power of the laser. Generally a 15mW to 35mW will be more than adequate. For pointing by hand a laser pointer is ideal. For mounting on a telescope, a hands free medium sized laser is best.
Burning
For common burning applications such as lighting matches, cutting electrical tape and popping balloons, 95-125mW in power is more than enough. If money is less of an issue and you want to be able to light cigarettes, burn clothing and melt plastic, you would need at least 150-200mW in power.
Color is not an issue because the only high powered lasers available are green.
Out door pointing
To have a beam point that is clearly visible in direct sunlight at long distances, at least 55mW in power is advisable. For applications such as alignment, a laser with an on/off switch and efficient heat sink would be ideal
Non lethal deterrent
For maximum effect and impact, at least 200mW in power would be ideal. The higher power would allow the laser to deter people faster at longer ranges. In a tactical environment, portability is also an issue and smaller lasers such as the 5mW to 50mW KiwiLasers are Ideal.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
How Are Laser Pointers Produced?
Raw Materials
A laser diode is less complicated than many types of consumer electronic equipment. It consists of a laser diode, a circuit board, a case, optics, and a case. Some of the electrical components on the circuit board and the laser diode are made of semiconductor materials, metals, and ceramics. The semiconductor materials include compounds (materials made of more than one pure element) made of aluminum, gallium, arsenic, phosphorus, indium, and similar elements. These compounds are used in a variety of semiconductor products. Semiconductors also contain metals such as aluminum, gold, and tantalum.
The circuit board is typically made of a resin (plastic) such as epoxy with glass fibers in it to strengthen it. Electricity is conducted to the various components on the circuit board with lines of metal such as aluminum and copper. Individual components placed on the circuit board include diodes, the laser diode, capacitors, and resistors. Semiconductor parts, such as the diodes are encapsulated in plastic with metal leads that are connected to metal pads on the circuit board with solder (a metal alloy traditionally made of tin and lead, but now containing less lead and other metals as substitutes). Non-semiconductor parts, such as resistors and capacitors, are made of a variety of metals, plastics, and ceramics (including glass).
The collimating optics can be glass, but less expensive acrylic plastics are used in most laser pointers. The case can be made of any material, such as metal, plastic, or even wood. It contains metal (usually brass) contacts for the batteries.
Design
The design of the laser pointer depends on the electrical requirements of the laser diode, the desired lifetime of the power supply, and the drive to produce smaller consumer products. The smallest laser pointers are less than two inches in length, but some laser pointers are designed to look like pens. The longer laser pointers can hold AAA or AA batteries, which provide a longer lasting power supply than the watch batteries used in the shorter laser pointers. Most laser pointers use two or three batteries.
The ManufacturingProcess
The red laser pointer is the most common laser pointer. Other laser pointers use different laser diode assemblies, but are produced in a similar fashion, so the red laser pointer manufacturing process and diagram are used in this article.
The laser diode
The laser diode is produced in a semiconductor fab (a factory where semiconductor materials are produced in very clean and carefully controlled conditions). The substrate is the base material on which other materials will be deposited. A wafer of the substrate is produced, cleaned, and prepared. Then it goes through several steps where layers of material are deposited on it. Some of these layers are only several atoms thick. These layers can be conductive (metals such as aluminum and gold) or semiconductors (as described above). These layers can also be altered by exposure to other chemicals. After all materials are added to the wafer, it is diced (cut apart, usually into rectangular sections) into individual diodes. The diodes are tested either on the wafer or after separation, and nonfunctioning ones are scrapped (thrown away). Working laser diodes are then packaged in a plastic container with metal leads for electrical connection.
The circuit board
The circuit board contains the circuitry that makes the laser pointer function. It contains the switch, the laser diode, and the components of the control circuitry, typically a photodiode, diodes, resistors, and capacitors. These parts are placed on the circuit board, sometimes with an adhesive, and then are soldered in place. Soldering is a process where two metal objects are placed in contact and solder is melted around them so that when it cools, it surrounds both of them and holds them together. Solder is used instead of glue because it sticks to metal and because it conducts heat and electricity.
The collimating optics
The collimating optics in a laser pointer consist of a single lens that focuses the cone of light exiting the laser diode into a narrower beam that produces a narrower spot over a longer distance. Plastic lenses are injection molded, a process wherein molten plastic is forced into a mold. The plastic cools and solidifies, then the mold is pulled apart and the lens is removed. It is ground and polished to a smooth surface so that the light from the laser diode will not bounce off of imperfections on the surface.
The laser diode assembly
The laser diode and the collimating optics are put together with a plastic holder to form the laser diode assembly. Most laser diode assemblies have a metal spring attached at the back. This spring makes contact with the batteries in the laser diode and is part of the circuit that draws electricity from the batteries.
Case construction and finalassembly
The case is a tube with space for the laser diode assembly and the batteries. The laser diode assembly is pushed or screwed into one end of the case. The interior of the case is made of brass or has a brass strip (glued or riveted in place) running down the battery space. The battery space end piece also has an exposed brass area or is made of brass. When this end piece is pushed or screwed into the case, it contacts the other side of the batteries to complete the electrical circuit that allows electricity to flow from the batteries to the laser diode assembly.
The case also has a switch button (a piece of plastic sticking through a hole cut in the side of the case) that must be pushed and held for the laser pointer to work. When this button is pushed, the switch on the circuit board closes, electricity flows from the batteries to the laser pointer assembly, and the laser pointer produces a beam of light.
After the laser pointer is assembled and tested, a safety label is added. This label describes the rating of the laser in terms of power output, notes which regulations govern its use, and warns the user to avoid direct eye exposure.
Quality Control
A semiconductor manufacturer uses highly controlled processes that have been developed in laboratories and then transferred to the fabrication facility. Laser diodes are tested to make sure that they work after fabrication as well. Each other component is also tested to make sure that it works. Most manufacturing facilities will randomly test their products and use statistical control methods to provide quality products.
When the laser diode assembly or the laser pointer is finally assembled it will be powered and tested with a light detecting device, such as a photodiode, to measure its power output. Laser pointers are Type IIIA laser devices and must produce 5 mW (milliwatt, one thousandth of a watt) of power or less for the United States market. Laser pointers for the European market are typically Class II laser devices and must produce less than 1 mW. These restrictions are for safety purposes.
Byproducts/Waste
Laser pointers contain metals, plastics, and electronic parts. Each of those industries has specific waste byproducts (solvents, halocarbon gases, lead, chemicals), but laser pointer assembly has no specific wastes until the laser pointer is disposed of. A laser pointer contains small amounts of hazardous materials, such as lead and some toxic semiconductors. Like other electronic assemblies, it may be safer for the environment in the long term to recycle the components, though this is expensive and there are few programs in place to recycle or reuse electronics. This may change in the future.
The Future
Red laser pointers are the least expensive and most common today. Green laser pointers have more complicated laser diode assemblies and cost hundreds of dollars. Blue and violet laser pointers will be available soon at a higher price. Newer laser diode types come down in price as production volumes increase in order to keep up with demand, and as production processes improve. Laws that restrict laser pointer use may counteract this trend by causing a drop in demand as laser pointers are banned from public places.
A laser diode is less complicated than many types of consumer electronic equipment. It consists of a laser diode, a circuit board, a case, optics, and a case. Some of the electrical components on the circuit board and the laser diode are made of semiconductor materials, metals, and ceramics. The semiconductor materials include compounds (materials made of more than one pure element) made of aluminum, gallium, arsenic, phosphorus, indium, and similar elements. These compounds are used in a variety of semiconductor products. Semiconductors also contain metals such as aluminum, gold, and tantalum.
The circuit board is typically made of a resin (plastic) such as epoxy with glass fibers in it to strengthen it. Electricity is conducted to the various components on the circuit board with lines of metal such as aluminum and copper. Individual components placed on the circuit board include diodes, the laser diode, capacitors, and resistors. Semiconductor parts, such as the diodes are encapsulated in plastic with metal leads that are connected to metal pads on the circuit board with solder (a metal alloy traditionally made of tin and lead, but now containing less lead and other metals as substitutes). Non-semiconductor parts, such as resistors and capacitors, are made of a variety of metals, plastics, and ceramics (including glass).
The collimating optics can be glass, but less expensive acrylic plastics are used in most laser pointers. The case can be made of any material, such as metal, plastic, or even wood. It contains metal (usually brass) contacts for the batteries.
Design
The design of the laser pointer depends on the electrical requirements of the laser diode, the desired lifetime of the power supply, and the drive to produce smaller consumer products. The smallest laser pointers are less than two inches in length, but some laser pointers are designed to look like pens. The longer laser pointers can hold AAA or AA batteries, which provide a longer lasting power supply than the watch batteries used in the shorter laser pointers. Most laser pointers use two or three batteries.
The ManufacturingProcess
The red laser pointer is the most common laser pointer. Other laser pointers use different laser diode assemblies, but are produced in a similar fashion, so the red laser pointer manufacturing process and diagram are used in this article.
The laser diode
The laser diode is produced in a semiconductor fab (a factory where semiconductor materials are produced in very clean and carefully controlled conditions). The substrate is the base material on which other materials will be deposited. A wafer of the substrate is produced, cleaned, and prepared. Then it goes through several steps where layers of material are deposited on it. Some of these layers are only several atoms thick. These layers can be conductive (metals such as aluminum and gold) or semiconductors (as described above). These layers can also be altered by exposure to other chemicals. After all materials are added to the wafer, it is diced (cut apart, usually into rectangular sections) into individual diodes. The diodes are tested either on the wafer or after separation, and nonfunctioning ones are scrapped (thrown away). Working laser diodes are then packaged in a plastic container with metal leads for electrical connection.
The circuit board
The circuit board contains the circuitry that makes the laser pointer function. It contains the switch, the laser diode, and the components of the control circuitry, typically a photodiode, diodes, resistors, and capacitors. These parts are placed on the circuit board, sometimes with an adhesive, and then are soldered in place. Soldering is a process where two metal objects are placed in contact and solder is melted around them so that when it cools, it surrounds both of them and holds them together. Solder is used instead of glue because it sticks to metal and because it conducts heat and electricity.
The collimating optics
The collimating optics in a laser pointer consist of a single lens that focuses the cone of light exiting the laser diode into a narrower beam that produces a narrower spot over a longer distance. Plastic lenses are injection molded, a process wherein molten plastic is forced into a mold. The plastic cools and solidifies, then the mold is pulled apart and the lens is removed. It is ground and polished to a smooth surface so that the light from the laser diode will not bounce off of imperfections on the surface.
The laser diode assembly
The laser diode and the collimating optics are put together with a plastic holder to form the laser diode assembly. Most laser diode assemblies have a metal spring attached at the back. This spring makes contact with the batteries in the laser diode and is part of the circuit that draws electricity from the batteries.
Case construction and finalassembly
The case is a tube with space for the laser diode assembly and the batteries. The laser diode assembly is pushed or screwed into one end of the case. The interior of the case is made of brass or has a brass strip (glued or riveted in place) running down the battery space. The battery space end piece also has an exposed brass area or is made of brass. When this end piece is pushed or screwed into the case, it contacts the other side of the batteries to complete the electrical circuit that allows electricity to flow from the batteries to the laser diode assembly.
The case also has a switch button (a piece of plastic sticking through a hole cut in the side of the case) that must be pushed and held for the laser pointer to work. When this button is pushed, the switch on the circuit board closes, electricity flows from the batteries to the laser pointer assembly, and the laser pointer produces a beam of light.
After the laser pointer is assembled and tested, a safety label is added. This label describes the rating of the laser in terms of power output, notes which regulations govern its use, and warns the user to avoid direct eye exposure.
Quality Control
A semiconductor manufacturer uses highly controlled processes that have been developed in laboratories and then transferred to the fabrication facility. Laser diodes are tested to make sure that they work after fabrication as well. Each other component is also tested to make sure that it works. Most manufacturing facilities will randomly test their products and use statistical control methods to provide quality products.
When the laser diode assembly or the laser pointer is finally assembled it will be powered and tested with a light detecting device, such as a photodiode, to measure its power output. Laser pointers are Type IIIA laser devices and must produce 5 mW (milliwatt, one thousandth of a watt) of power or less for the United States market. Laser pointers for the European market are typically Class II laser devices and must produce less than 1 mW. These restrictions are for safety purposes.
Byproducts/Waste
Laser pointers contain metals, plastics, and electronic parts. Each of those industries has specific waste byproducts (solvents, halocarbon gases, lead, chemicals), but laser pointer assembly has no specific wastes until the laser pointer is disposed of. A laser pointer contains small amounts of hazardous materials, such as lead and some toxic semiconductors. Like other electronic assemblies, it may be safer for the environment in the long term to recycle the components, though this is expensive and there are few programs in place to recycle or reuse electronics. This may change in the future.
The Future
Red laser pointers are the least expensive and most common today. Green laser pointers have more complicated laser diode assemblies and cost hundreds of dollars. Blue and violet laser pointers will be available soon at a higher price. Newer laser diode types come down in price as production volumes increase in order to keep up with demand, and as production processes improve. Laws that restrict laser pointer use may counteract this trend by causing a drop in demand as laser pointers are banned from public places.
What Is A Laser Pointer?
Background
The laser pointer is a low cost portable laser that can be carried in the hand. It is designed for use during presentations to point out areas of the slide or picture being presented, replacing a hand held wooden stick or extendable metal pointer. It is superior over older pointers because it can be used from several hundred feet away in a darkened area and because it produces a bright spot of light precisely where the user desires. It has also caught on as an all-purpose pointing tool and has become so commonplace that laws have been passed to restrict its use.
History
Technically, the word laser is an acronym that stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,” but the term has become so commonly used that it is no longer capitalized. The radiation is the light that is emitted from the laser; this light can be visible or invisible to the human eye. Technically, only some lasers use light amplification, but the name laser is still used for a device that produces monochromatic (all one color or wavelength), coherent (the light waves are similar enough to move in one direction) radiation.
All lasers have a lasing medium, a source of energy, and a resonator. The lasing medium is a material that can be pumped (energized) by an energy source (such as light or electricity) to a higher energy state. After being pumped, the lasing medium can release that energy as monochromatic radiation. The resonator is an area that allows the released energy to build up before being released. A basic resonator is a pair of mirrors at either end of the lasing medium. One mirror is completely reflective so that all light striking it reflects back into the lasing medium; the other is partially reflective so that some of the light striking it reflects back into the lasing medium and some of the light passes through it to exit the laser. The pair of mirrors causes the light to reflect back-and-forth through the lasing medium and align itself in one direction, which produces the coherency of the light.
The theory used to produce lasers was published in 1958 by researchers at Bell Labs. The first laser, built in 1960 at Hughes Aircraft, used a piece of ruby for a lasing medium, light for an energy source, and mirrors to produce a resonator. The semiconductor laser was invented in 1962. It used a semiconductor material, similar to the materials used in transistors and integrated circuits for a lasing medium. It also used direct current (DC) electricity, the current produced by batteries, for an energy source. It still used resonator mirrors. The first semiconductor lasers produced non-visible infrared radiation. Current semiconductor lasers can also produce visible light, with red being the least expensive type of semiconductor laser and green, blue, and violet being increasingly more expensive. Semiconductor lasers used in laser pointers are also known as diode lasers, because they are a type of semiconductor diode. A diode passes electricity easily in one direction; light emitting diodes and laser diodes produce light when electricity passes through them. Semiconductor electronics have become less expensive to produce since the late 1950s. They have also become smaller and require less energy. They became inexpensive enough to be used in consumer electronic devices such as laser pointers in the 1980s. Current laser diodes are the size of a blood cell. They produce light that is less collimated (moving all in one direction) than most lasers because the shortness of the resonator space. Because of this, they need some sort of external optics (lenses) to focus the light into a tighter beam. Laser diodes, like many semiconductor devices, are delicate and need to be protected from the environment and from power surges. Power control circuitry, which usually includes a photodiode (a diode that produces electricity when light strikes it) to monitor the output of the laser diode, prevents the diode from receiving too much or too little power. The diode is protected from the environment by a plastic case so that is resembles most other semiconductor devices that are used on circuit boards.
The first laser pointers cost hundreds of dollars, but the demand and improved methods of fabrication have resulted in a price below five dollars for the most inexpensive types. There are also several items which incorporate laser pointers, or at least the components, such as laser sights for guns and projectors with built-in laser pointers.
The laser pointer is a low cost portable laser that can be carried in the hand. It is designed for use during presentations to point out areas of the slide or picture being presented, replacing a hand held wooden stick or extendable metal pointer. It is superior over older pointers because it can be used from several hundred feet away in a darkened area and because it produces a bright spot of light precisely where the user desires. It has also caught on as an all-purpose pointing tool and has become so commonplace that laws have been passed to restrict its use.
History
Technically, the word laser is an acronym that stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,” but the term has become so commonly used that it is no longer capitalized. The radiation is the light that is emitted from the laser; this light can be visible or invisible to the human eye. Technically, only some lasers use light amplification, but the name laser is still used for a device that produces monochromatic (all one color or wavelength), coherent (the light waves are similar enough to move in one direction) radiation.
All lasers have a lasing medium, a source of energy, and a resonator. The lasing medium is a material that can be pumped (energized) by an energy source (such as light or electricity) to a higher energy state. After being pumped, the lasing medium can release that energy as monochromatic radiation. The resonator is an area that allows the released energy to build up before being released. A basic resonator is a pair of mirrors at either end of the lasing medium. One mirror is completely reflective so that all light striking it reflects back into the lasing medium; the other is partially reflective so that some of the light striking it reflects back into the lasing medium and some of the light passes through it to exit the laser. The pair of mirrors causes the light to reflect back-and-forth through the lasing medium and align itself in one direction, which produces the coherency of the light.
The theory used to produce lasers was published in 1958 by researchers at Bell Labs. The first laser, built in 1960 at Hughes Aircraft, used a piece of ruby for a lasing medium, light for an energy source, and mirrors to produce a resonator. The semiconductor laser was invented in 1962. It used a semiconductor material, similar to the materials used in transistors and integrated circuits for a lasing medium. It also used direct current (DC) electricity, the current produced by batteries, for an energy source. It still used resonator mirrors. The first semiconductor lasers produced non-visible infrared radiation. Current semiconductor lasers can also produce visible light, with red being the least expensive type of semiconductor laser and green, blue, and violet being increasingly more expensive. Semiconductor lasers used in laser pointers are also known as diode lasers, because they are a type of semiconductor diode. A diode passes electricity easily in one direction; light emitting diodes and laser diodes produce light when electricity passes through them. Semiconductor electronics have become less expensive to produce since the late 1950s. They have also become smaller and require less energy. They became inexpensive enough to be used in consumer electronic devices such as laser pointers in the 1980s. Current laser diodes are the size of a blood cell. They produce light that is less collimated (moving all in one direction) than most lasers because the shortness of the resonator space. Because of this, they need some sort of external optics (lenses) to focus the light into a tighter beam. Laser diodes, like many semiconductor devices, are delicate and need to be protected from the environment and from power surges. Power control circuitry, which usually includes a photodiode (a diode that produces electricity when light strikes it) to monitor the output of the laser diode, prevents the diode from receiving too much or too little power. The diode is protected from the environment by a plastic case so that is resembles most other semiconductor devices that are used on circuit boards.
The first laser pointers cost hundreds of dollars, but the demand and improved methods of fabrication have resulted in a price below five dollars for the most inexpensive types. There are also several items which incorporate laser pointers, or at least the components, such as laser sights for guns and projectors with built-in laser pointers.
Imagine, You are trapped in the bush and Survival People are out looking for you so far having no luck, You forgot the bulky in the way chemical flairs, You are trapped.
Imagine , you are in the same situation but with a 200mW KiwiLaser Green Laser which is easy to carry, use and pack, the survival people would have almost no trouble finding you.
A High powered laser pointer ie. more than 100mW Should be part of EVERY survival kit.
Lasers have many uses in the wild I will list some.
1 .Lighting fires
2.As a safe and more reliable alternative to flairs
3. As a Hunting aid ie. blind the prey
3. Help Sterilize waste (with a 200mW laser or over) The Bacteria would be subject to intense light and heat so allot of them would just die.
So you can see The Usefulness of a 100mW KiwiLaser Laser or even better a 200mW KiwiLaser Laser.
Imagine , you are in the same situation but with a 200mW KiwiLaser Green Laser which is easy to carry, use and pack, the survival people would have almost no trouble finding you.
A High powered laser pointer ie. more than 100mW Should be part of EVERY survival kit.
Lasers have many uses in the wild I will list some.
1 .Lighting fires
2.As a safe and more reliable alternative to flairs
3. As a Hunting aid ie. blind the prey
3. Help Sterilize waste (with a 200mW laser or over) The Bacteria would be subject to intense light and heat so allot of them would just die.
So you can see The Usefulness of a 100mW KiwiLaser Laser or even better a 200mW KiwiLaser Laser.
Lasers And Astronomy
With a green laser that seems to touch the stars, you can point out celestial
objects to the naked eye.
Our high-powered handheld lasers are the right choice for perfect instruments for
astronomy Peoples and scientists .
One of the most common and dramatic uses of a high-power Astronomy laser
is to direct attention to objects in the night sky.
As an instructor, scientist or an amateur astronomer set yourself and your
presentations apart with the power delivered by Beamq Lasers.
Even our least powerful laser casts a strong green beam that is dramatically
visible in the night sky.
At KiwiLaser we carry both red and
green laser pointers which easily be used in the field of astronomy.
Our class IIIB laser pointer is awesome for this.
Green lasers are the most widely used laser for astronomy purposes since it is the
most visible color to the naked eye.
Some of our models can even be seen in daylight hours and can cut through fog, smoke and in
the most humid weather conditions.
This intense beam light instantly identifies objects in the night sky.
objects to the naked eye.
Our high-powered handheld lasers are the right choice for perfect instruments for
astronomy Peoples and scientists .
One of the most common and dramatic uses of a high-power Astronomy laser
is to direct attention to objects in the night sky.
As an instructor, scientist or an amateur astronomer set yourself and your
presentations apart with the power delivered by Beamq Lasers.
Even our least powerful laser casts a strong green beam that is dramatically
visible in the night sky.
At KiwiLaser we carry both red and
green laser pointers which easily be used in the field of astronomy.
Our class IIIB laser pointer is awesome for this.
Green lasers are the most widely used laser for astronomy purposes since it is the
most visible color to the naked eye.
Some of our models can even be seen in daylight hours and can cut through fog, smoke and in
the most humid weather conditions.
This intense beam light instantly identifies objects in the night sky.
Visual Laser Beam
You look at your laser as it is lasing in the dark and you see a Wonderful Beam coming out of it. This is a phenomenon of Raleigh Scattering, a process that makes the sky blue and Which creates the laser beam. First we will look at The best colors to make a beam then at the basics of Raleigh Scattering.
Well Firstly Your Red laser will have to be Pretty strong to make any Visible Beam Red does not scatter much ( this also means more of the light will be delivered the target) so there is little beam.
Green lasers Produce a Very nice Beam For 2 Reasons
1. Green Light Scatters alot
2. The Eye is very sensitive to green so even a faint beam would be visible.
Blue and Violet lasers scatter the light alot but the eye is not as sensitive to the colors.
Secondly Raleigh Scattering is just light being bent by the gasses in the air.
Well Firstly Your Red laser will have to be Pretty strong to make any Visible Beam Red does not scatter much ( this also means more of the light will be delivered the target) so there is little beam.
Green lasers Produce a Very nice Beam For 2 Reasons
1. Green Light Scatters alot
2. The Eye is very sensitive to green so even a faint beam would be visible.
Blue and Violet lasers scatter the light alot but the eye is not as sensitive to the colors.
Secondly Raleigh Scattering is just light being bent by the gasses in the air.
General Laser Safety
Lasers are Very Dangerous in the wrong or foolish hands, Especially to the eyes.
As I explained in the “The Power Of Lasers” Article a 1mW laser is 167 times more intense than the midday sun, Even Short Exposures to a 1mW Beam can cause severe eye injury,Injury can also occur from a distance Because the beam is tightly collimated. At higher power levels the risk grows exponentially a short less than a second exposure to 50-90mW laser can cause Almost Irreparable eye damage, and a direct hit from a 100mW or over for any period of time is almost certainly going to blind someone, Even from a distance.
These lasers then Become Weapons and Could bring Aircraft down if the Dummy With the 150mW laser got a direct hit.
How can We prevent Damage to our eyes from a direct or indirect laser radiation.
First of all DO NOT shine a laser at another persons face
Secondly NO NOT shine a laser at someone through a mirror or a reflective surface.
Thirdly DO NOT shine a laser randomly outside or at Cars or Bikes or trucks or People
And DO NOT EVER EVER shine a laser at a Plane.
Also When Working With IIIb lasers or over Wear appropriate safety gear and Make sure Observers are also protected, take note of reflective surfaces and Do NOT let some one who is unaware of the dangers of lasers Use A powerful laser.
As I explained in the “The Power Of Lasers” Article a 1mW laser is 167 times more intense than the midday sun, Even Short Exposures to a 1mW Beam can cause severe eye injury,Injury can also occur from a distance Because the beam is tightly collimated. At higher power levels the risk grows exponentially a short less than a second exposure to 50-90mW laser can cause Almost Irreparable eye damage, and a direct hit from a 100mW or over for any period of time is almost certainly going to blind someone, Even from a distance.
These lasers then Become Weapons and Could bring Aircraft down if the Dummy With the 150mW laser got a direct hit.
How can We prevent Damage to our eyes from a direct or indirect laser radiation.
First of all DO NOT shine a laser at another persons face
Secondly NO NOT shine a laser at someone through a mirror or a reflective surface.
Thirdly DO NOT shine a laser randomly outside or at Cars or Bikes or trucks or People
And DO NOT EVER EVER shine a laser at a Plane.
Also When Working With IIIb lasers or over Wear appropriate safety gear and Make sure Observers are also protected, take note of reflective surfaces and Do NOT let some one who is unaware of the dangers of lasers Use A powerful laser.
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