Laser is an internationally recognised term, and is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The laser principle works both in the visible wavelength range and in the two adjacent invisible UV and IR wavelength ranges. But why do we need lasers?
A laser can be used wherever a strong, highly concentrated, very straight and extremely sharp-focussed light beam is required. For example, a laser beam scans the grooves on a CD. Even barcodes on items in the supermarket are usually scanned at the till using a laser beam. Depending on the way it is reflected, the computer in the till knows which barcode and therefore which item is being scanned. Furthermore, lasers are now used in marine research. Laser beams are sent underwater and researchers observe the way they change to find out information about the substances present in the water. All this would not be possible with normal light.
But lasers can of course also be used in cutting applications.
