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How a Laser Works

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Published on Jun 5, 2012

Bill shows how the three key characteristics of laser light - single wavelength, narrow beam, and high intensity - are made. He explains the operation of a ruby laser - the first laser ever made - showing how electronic transitions create stimulated emission to give coherent light, and then how the ends of the ruby cavity create a narrow wavelength highly collimated beam. You can learn more about laser in the EngineerGuy team's new book Eight Amazing Engineering Stories http://www.engineerguy.com/elements

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Uploader Comments (engineerguyvideo)

  • howtoletsplayccrs

    howtoletsplayccrs 3 months ago

    How can you cut a ruby to be so perfect? sounds like it would be pretty hard >_<

    · 2

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  • engineerguyvideo

    engineerguyvideo 3 months ago

    That is a synthetic ruby. Their used in manufacturing processes ... they are very cheap.

    · 19

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    in reply to howtoletsplayccrs (Show the comment)
  • Elis Jones

    Elis Jones 3 months ago

    *they're, I've lost a little bit of confidence in you now :/

    ·

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    in reply to engineerguyvideo (Show the comment)
  • engineerguyvideo

    engineerguyvideo 3 months ago

    I will try to regain it with future videos.

    · 34

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    in reply to Elis Jones (Show the comment)
  • Nicholas Ziech

    Nicholas Ziech 3 months ago

    They're* used in manufacturing processes- get it together Bill!

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    in reply to engineerguyvideo (Show the comment)
  • engineerguyvideo

    engineerguyvideo 3 months ago

    Thank you Mr. Ziech ... you editorial skills (& you in general) are missed back here. Breaking in new team at 5:00 p.m. today.

    · 20

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    in reply to Nicholas Ziech (Show the comment)

All Comments (362)

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  • unvergebeneid

    unvergebeneid 14 hours ago

    If a small hole in the mirror allows rays to eventually escape, doesn't the same amount of light also escape around the edge of the mirrors? And isn't that a bad idea when a very strong laser basically fires at its own internals?

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  • FuzzleLand

    FuzzleLand 1 day ago

    Ruby Rod?....CORBAN DALLAS! Tell my man, are you nervous in the service?

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  • wheeles7

    wheeles7 1 month ago

    Hey, you're an engineer not an English major...I understand.

    · 3

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    in reply to engineerguyvideo (Show the comment)
  • norevelation

    norevelation 1 month ago

    Welcome to the internet, Bill... very unforgiving when it comes to proper spelling and grammar... I truly enjoy your rebuttals tho!

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    in reply to engineerguyvideo (Show the comment)
  • lookatvidz69

    lookatvidz69 1 month ago

    Make more videos please

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  • Der Thundercraker

    Der Thundercraker 1 month ago

    what?

    ·

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  • Dorkus89Malorkus

    Dorkus89Malorkus 1 month ago

    Don't tell me it's freaking sharks with freaking laser beams attached to their freaking heads....

    FIRE THE LASER!

    Yes I just watched Austin Powers.

    ·

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  • QuixotonicOfficial

    QuixotonicOfficial 1 month ago

    I was bored and searched lasers to find samples for a song. Instead, I learned something. THANKS!

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  • Chris Snead

    Chris Snead 2 months ago

    3:26 It's a. it's a, it's a, it's a... laser.

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  • TheMethodRockstar

    TheMethodRockstar 2 months ago

    FIRST!

    

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    in reply to Éric Langlais (Show the comment)
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