Exploring the Principle, Development, and Applications of Infrared Lasers

Unleashing Creativity: Crafting Unique Jewelry with Our Laser Engravers

CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Principle
 Development
 Application
Conclusion

ABSTRACT

Infrared lasers, as crucial optical devices, play a significant role in modern technology. They find wide-ranging applications in fields such as communication, medicine, and military, while also serving as essential tools in scientific research. Harnessing the power of infrared lasers, Longer has been at the forefront of laser engraving technology for many years.

Introduction

With a rich history of laser research 8 years since 2016, Longer has continuously pushed the boundaries of innovation to develop a diverse range of precision laser engraving machines. From desktop-grade models to industrial-grade solutions, each Longer laser engraver represents the culmination of years of research, development, and expertise.

 

As pioneers in the industry, Longer has introduced numerous groundbreaking products, each meticulously designed to meet the evolving needs of users across various sectors. Whether it's the high-speed engraving capabilities of the Longer RAY5 series or the advanced cutting technology of the Longer Laser B1 series, Longer's laser engraving machines have earned acclaim for their exceptional performance and reliability.

Principle

Stimulated Emission: In infrared lasers, atoms or molecules in the active medium (usually a specific solid, gas, or semiconductor material) are in an excited state. When a photon (i.e., an incident photon) collides and interacts with an atom or molecule in an excited state, they can induce the atom or molecule to retreat from the excited state to the ground state, releasing a photon of the same frequency and phase as the incident photon. This released photon has the same direction, frequency, and phase as the incident photon, a process called stimulated emission of radiation. This forms the amplification of photons, thereby producing laser light.

Optical Resonance: Infrared lasers usually consist of an optical cavity composed of two mirrors. One of the mirrors is fully reflective and the other is partially transparent. Incident light is reflected by the mirror and propagates back and forth within the optical cavity, where it interacts with atoms or molecules in the active medium. Only light that matches the resonant frequency of the optical cavity is amplified, while the rest is filtered out. This process of frequency-selective amplification is called optical resonance. By continuously adjusting the length of the optical cavity or using optical gain media, laser output at specific wavelengths can be achieved.

Development

Early experiments (1960s):
In the 1960s, infrared laser research focused mainly on gas and solid lasers. The earliest infrared lasers used gas as the activation medium, such as carbon oxide lasers and silicon oxide lasers. Although these early lasers made some progress, their applications were limited due to problems such as large size, high energy consumption, and expensive manufacturing costs.

 

The rise of semiconductor lasers (1970s to 1980s):
With the development of semiconductor technology, infrared semiconductor lasers have gradually become a research hotspot. Compared with traditional gas and solid-state lasers, infrared semiconductor lasers have the advantages of small size, high efficiency and low cost. This has led to wider applications of infrared lasers, especially in communications and medicine.

 

Technological progress and application expansion (1990s to present):
With the continuous advancement and innovation of technology, the performance of infrared lasers has been further improved. In the field of communications, infrared lasers have become the core component of optical fiber communication systems, achieving high-speed and high-bandwidth data transmission. In the medical field, infrared lasers are widely used in laser surgery, medical imaging and diagnosis, providing new methods and tools for the treatment and diagnosis of diseases. At the same time, in the military field, infrared lasers play an important role in guidance systems, target identification, and reconnaissance, improving the accuracy and effectiveness of military equipment.