Search
Related Links

 

 

Informative Articles

Integrating Soul and Science
"Spirit is beyond the void of space. This realm, beyond the void, is not an empty nothingness; it is the womb of creation. -- Nature goes to the same place to create a galaxy of stars, a cluster of nebulas, a rain forest, a human body, or a...

"The Importance of Emotional Intelligence"
REPRINT GUIDELINES =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= You are free to publish the following article in it's entirety in your eZine or on your website. Our only condition is that you MUST keep the information about the...

The Nature of Anger
Many of us have some very definite ideas about anger. We see anger as destructive and hurtful. We consider it to be an inappropriate response. We equate anger with violence. In short, we feel that anger is simply wrong, and that when we...

The Sky & The Earth
In Quran Allah says, “It is He who hath created for you all things that are on the earth; Moreover, his design comprehended the heavens, for he gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of Allah things he hath perfect knowledge [2:29]...

The Special Secret of Intuition
The limbic system Nerve impulses were known to relay feelings and emotions - whether they be the feel of silk, or the flush of shame. Sensors, or nerve endings reported on feelings from tissues all over the body. These included sharp pain, burning...

 
Lasers - The New Mythical Gift Of Fire

Copyright 2005 by Doug Smith

In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus gave the gift of fire
to Humanity. It provided warmth, light, and energy. Whether
or not you believe that myth, humanity has learned to
concentrate that light into beams of unimaginable power:

Lasers.

What does that word make you think of first? Science fiction
ray guns? A secret agent strapped to a table while a metal-
melting beam of light inches toward him? Or maybe the master
thief throwing dust in the air to reveal a deadly maze of red
laser beams guarding the treasure?

Those are all popular but outdated images of the laser. Today,
lasers vanquish different foes such as unwanted hair, vision
correction, and even tumors.

How is a beam of light able to delicately reshape the surface
of the eye, yet still be able to cut steel?

LASER is an acronym for "Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation." In this definition radiation doesn't
refer to nuclear radiation, but to electromagnetic radiation.
The electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves,
infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, and X-rays.
Some light wavelengths are visible, and other are not unless
special equipment is used (e.g., infrared cameras, night-vision
goggles).

Lasers operate by concentrating the strength of various forms
of light. The strengthened beam is an almost perfectly straight
beam, called a coherent beam. "Coherent" means that almost all
of the light energy (photons) are traveling in the same direction.
The laser light energy stays focused on a smaller area with
greater power.

Compare this to an incoherent light source such as a light bulb,
which emits photons in many directions and at many wavelengths.
This is the job of a bulb, because we want visible energy spread
out as much as possible.

A


flashlight also uses a light bulb, but also contains a curved
mirror to approximate a more coherent beam. The light from the
strongest commercial spotlight (essentially a giant flashlight)
will disperse in the atmosphere after a relatively short distance.
A laser beam can be bounced off the moon!

A closer analogy to a laser is a magnifying glass. Remember as
a child how you got the sun's rays to focus on a tiny spot that
got hot enough to burn? That's similar to what a laser does,
unless you moved the magnifying glass. Then the focus was lost
and the sunlight was no longer concentrated. Because the laser
employs a coherent beam, that essentially means it stays focused
no matter the distance! Think of it link an infinite magnifying
glass.

Lasers can perform a multitude of different tasks at different
power levels. Specific light wavelengths and beam strengths
can be achieved by altering the light source, power source,
and even the color of the light. This extreme versatility
allows both the shaping of a delicate cornea and the cutting
of industrial steel.

The laser in your CD player won't cut steel, but neither
can the industrial laser reshape your eye without destroying
it. Matching the right laser power to the right job enables
us to safely harness this useful new fire.

This article may be freely copied and published as long as
no content is changed except line length to fit your
publication. The author's hyperlinks must remain active
and clickable, or be made active.

About the Author

Get Free Laser Hair Removal Facts, Answers, and Articles for
Both Men and Women. Learn How To Tell If You're A Candidate
For Laser Hair Removal, How It Works, What The Side Effects
Are, And How It Compares To Other Hair Removal Methods. Visit
Hair Removal Answers

 

Science/AAAS | Scientific research, news and career information
International weekly science journal, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
www.sciencemag.org
 
Science/AAAS | Table of Contents: 1 December 2006; 314 (5804)
This Week in Science: Editor summaries of this week's papers. Science 1 December 2006: 1349. ... 2006 American Association for the Advancement of Science. ...
www.sciencemag.org
 
Science.gov : FirstGov for Science - Government Science Portal
Science.gov is a gateway to government science information provided by US Government science agencies, including research and development results.
www.science.gov
 
ScienceDaily: Your source for the latest research news and science ...
ScienceDaily -- the Internet's premier online science magazine and science news web site -- brings you the latest discoveries in science, health & medicine, ...
www.sciencedaily.com
 
Science News - New York Times
Find breaking news, science news & multimedia on biology, space, the environment, health, NASA, weather, drugs, heart disease, cancer, AIDS, mental health ...
www.nytimes.com
 
Science News Online
Weekly magazine offers featured articles from the current issue along with special online-only features. Includes photo collection, archives, ...
www.sciencenews.org
 
Science in the Yahoo! Directory
Explore the fields of astronomy, biology, geology, mathematics, and physics and all of their related disciplines with resources designed for professionals, ...
dir.yahoo.com
 
Open Directory - Science
Agriculture (2454); Anomalies and Alternative Science (525); Astronomy (4208); Biology (20593); Chemistry (4852); Computer Science@ (2358) ...
dmoz.org
 
BBC - Science & Nature
The best of BBC Science and Nature, from TV and radio, to the web and beyond. Take a tour from the smallest atoms, to the largest whales and the most ...
www.bbc.co.uk
 
Science - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sciences versus Science: the plural of the term is often used but is difficult to ... Science education is also a very vibrant field of study and research. ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Popular Science
Monthly magazine about current science and technology.
www.popsci.com
 
Science/AAAS | ScienceNOW: The Latest News Headlines from the ...
AAAS web magazine. Some free sample stories, subscription required for full text.
sciencenow.sciencemag.org
 
ScienceCareers.org | Science Jobs, Funding, Meetings, and Advice ...
Searchable database of jobs, sorted by field specialty. Can post resume and curriculum vitae. Includes tips for improving the workplace for employers and ...
sciencecareers.sciencemag.org
 
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Research news, issue papers. Educational programs, science policy (US and international).
www.aaas.org
 
NASA - Science@NASA
News and features about NASA research, aimed at the general public. Includes sections on astronomy, space science, beyond rocketry, living in space, ...
science.nasa.gov
 
Science NetLinks: Resources for Teaching Science
Resources for K-12 science educators.
www.sciencenetlinks.com
 
Cool Science for Curious Kids
Fun and interactive site to help kids appreciate science. Why are snakes like lizards, and monkeys like moose? Find out here.
www.hhmi.org
 
Welcome to the Science Museum
London museum and library of science. Exhibitions cover all areas of science and technology. Includes online exhibits and a learning area.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
 
New Scientist - International News, Ideas, Innovation
Weekly science and technology news magazine, considered by some to be the world's best, with diverse subject matter. Articles from current issue and ...
www.newscientist.com
 
CNN.com - Science and Space
Offers news stories related environmental issues, archeology, astronomy, technology, geology and other science topics.
www.cnn.com