Gaaslaserid

Gaaslaserid, also known as gas lasers, are a type of laser that utilizes a gaseous medium as the active medium. This gas, often a mixture of different elements or compounds, is stimulated to emit coherent light. The process typically involves exciting the gas molecules, often through electrical discharge, to higher energy levels. When these excited molecules return to a lower energy state, they release photons of light. If this process occurs within an optical resonator, it leads to the amplification of light and the generation of a laser beam.

The specific gas used determines the wavelength and properties of the emitted laser light. Common examples include helium-neon (HeNe) lasers, which produce red light, and carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers, which emit infrared radiation. CO2 lasers are particularly powerful and are widely used in industrial applications such as cutting and welding, as well as in medical procedures. Argon-ion lasers produce visible light in blue and green wavelengths and find use in scientific research and medical treatments like ophthalmology.

Gas lasers are known for their stability and relatively long coherence lengths. They can be designed to operate continuously (continuous-wave or CW) or in pulsed modes. Their applications span a broad range, from scientific research and spectroscopy to industrial manufacturing, medical treatments, and even barcode scanning. The ability to tune the wavelength of some gas lasers further enhances their versatility in various scientific and technological fields.