Laser technology is used in almost every scope of life, from the
miniscule lasers in CD players to the lasers used to scan
groceries in the checkout line to the massive lasers in
aeronautics design. The discovery of laser technology and the
subsequent building of ever-improving lasers have benefited the
human race tremendously, particularly through medical advances.
Medical lasers cause medical procedures to be quicker, better,
and easier than their traditional counterparts. The only
drawback is increased cost.
In 1917, Albert Einstein was the first person to suggest the
basics of what would become lasers, by discussing the theory of
Stimulated Emission, which is a type of electron transition in
which a photon is emitted from an atom causing a chain reaction
with other atoms to repeat the action. In fact, the word laser
is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulation
Emission of Radiation. Charles Townes, an American physicist,
further developed the idea with microwave (invisible) light in
the mid- to late-50's and Theodore Maiman built the first
working optical (visible) light laser in 1960. Improvements and
variations on hundreds of kinds of lasers continue to be made
since the 1960s. Those involved in quantum mechanics have been
studying some form of lasers, either in theory or in reality,
since the 1920s. Uses for laser technology are widespread and
are included in such important fields as medical/surgery,
communications, design, manufacturing/industry, and research.
Medical/Surgery
The advancement of medical lasers has vastly improved the ease
and success of surgery. The cost, however, is greater than that
of other treatments, though scarring is much less with lasers
and lasers work much more quickly than older surgical options.
Incisions are more precise and easier to control. Some medical
areas in which lasers have deeply refined treatment options are
in laser eye surgery, oncology, neurosurgery, cardiology,
dermatology, veterinary surgery, and dental surgery.
Communications Televisions, telephones/ cellular phones, and
computer systems all benefit from the use of lasers. Lasers are
able to carry the huge amounts of channels and frequencies
required by these high-tech devices. Lasers have proven the best
communication device to have in the space age.
Design
Lasers have transformed the world of design by making it
possible for designers to perform with precision that was
previously unavailable. Lasers are used to design digital and
three-dimensional objects with much more ease and accuracy
through scanning, cutting, copying, and digital archiving. From
designing a building to designing landscape, lasers prove to be
the best option for fast and easy design.
Manufacturing/Industry
Lasers have improved the manufacturer's ability to produce
tenfold. For example, with a laser cutter, a clothing
manufacturer can have fabric patterns cut much more quickly and
more accurately in no time. A jeweler has much more precision on
his side when employing lasers to work on fine gems. Airplane
designers can construct an aircraft much more efficiently and
with greater results using laser technology.
Research
The use of lasers in research enables scientists to uncover much
more detail and detect very slight movement when studying
matter. The lasers can be tailored to only respond to certain
colors or movements and, in that way, they provide much more
specialized work in research environments.
The world of laser technology is always expanding by producing
new applications and ways to benefit people. The dependence that
the modern culture has on lasers is amazing considering that it
was not prevalent until the past forty years.
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