The discovery of the laser principle

LASER is an acronym for:

L ight

A mplification by

S timulated

E mission of

R adiation

Laser therefore is light reinforcement through stimulated radiation. The underlying principle of the laser goes back to a discovery of Albert Einstein in the year 1917, which was technically converted however only into the year 1960.

Einstein discovered at that time the so-called stimulated emission basis for the structure of a outstanding source of light and with it also a source of energy. Technically, this discovery was for the first time converted in the sixties. A ruby crystal served as laser medium.

Today, one distinguishes, according to the medium that is used in a laser for the light emission, between solid material lasers, gas lasers, semiconductor-/diode lasers and electron lasers.

Structure and characteristics of laser light

Light consists of energy units - the photons. A photon is sent out if electrons in the atomic hull fall back from a stimulated level, i.e. high and unstable one into an energy-poorer stable level.

Laser light distinguishes itself above all through following characteristics:

Monochromasy

The photons possess a specific energy level and identical wave lengths (color) according to present atom. By alteration of the medium (atom), the wavelength can be influenced.

Monophasic

This is the most important attribute of the laser light, beside the identical size of the photons and the color. The individual waves move in the same "phase", therefore agree timewise in their distraction.

Coherence

The light waves move parallel without scattering.