Although we may hear about lasers and perhaps may use them in our jobs from time to time, there is still a lot of confusion about the subject. There are many questions that people may ask about lasers, from what is a high power diode laser all the way to the difference between an ultrafast laser and one that would be considered "normal". In order for you to understand some of the basics of lasers, I've decided to answer some of the more common questions on the subject.

Perhaps one of the most common questions is what actually is a laser? Laser is an acronym that stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. This really helps you to grasp what a laser is, when you understand its various components. The beam of light which is projected from the laser is amplified to a greater extent using stimulated radiation from the device.

You might be surprised with exactly how many uses there are for lasers. Some of you may be familiar with the laser pointers that are used during presentations but it can also be used in almost any industry to provide a greater degree of accuracy. For example, the construction industry regularly uses lasers to keep things level or to measure distances accurately. Doctors also use lasers in surgery and other procedures to acquire a greater level of accuracy as well. Even some of the products that you may have at your home, such as DVD players and CD players make regular use of the laser to give you the audio and visual effects from those devices. The more you look at what the laser has to offer, the more surprised you may be as to where it is used.

One of the subjects that is often brought up when it comes to using lasers is wavelength. This is something that tends to confuse a lot of people because they equate light with something that is visible to our eyes. In reality, however, light needs to be in a certain wavelength in order for it to be visible to us. Volumes could be written on wavelength and how it affects, not only the light that we see but the colors that we see within the light. It would be worth you taking some time to review this information in more detail.

Another question that is fairly common has to do with the safety of lasers and if they cause cancer because of the radiation. This really depends upon the type of laser that is being used. Generally speaking, you are not in any danger when it comes to laser light although you would not want to have it shine directly in your eyes. There are other types of radiation which are much more harmful than laser radiation, such as microwaves or radio waves. Those are the types of radiation which can cause problems.

I'm sure that you have many other questions about lasers which would require some additional research on your part. Just understanding the basics about the laser and what it is able to do can certainly provide you with a greater respect for what they have offered to mankind.