All possible uses for lasers

[drummerdimitri]

Hey guys,

I've always wondered what are all the possible uses of lasers in our life, and since I did not find such a thread, I decided to open one. I can think of quite a few, but seems to me that the list is endless so keep em coming!

Spectroscopy
Alignment
Burning
Pointing
Holography
Fluorescence excitation
Precision cutting
Signaling
Scaring animals away
Voice recording
Healing
Thermal experiments

Please post any possible uses for lasers in our life...

 

[AstroLaser]

Hey guys,

I've always wondered what are all the possible uses of lasers in our life, and since I did not find such a thread, I decided to open one. I can think of quite a few, but seems to me that the list is endless so keep em coming!

Spectroscopy
Alignment
Burning
Pointing
Holography
Fluorescence excitation
Precision cutting
Signaling
Scaring animals away
Voice recording
Healing
Thermal experiments

Please post any possible uses for lasers in our life...

You also can get specific with some of them, for example:

pointing:

use as a pointer in classrooms/lectures, ect.
use as a pointer in astronomy outside at night

they have also used laser beams to measure distance, even from the earth to the moon.

entertainment - laser light shows
DVD burners

I think some planetariums might even use them now

 

[Valid]

There are so many great uses of lasers, I can remember reading an article a few days ago about Google making a car driving all by itself... using lasers.

 

[Kookapeli]

Eye surgery,
Tattoo removal,
Hair Removal
Remote Controlls (T.V's, DVD's, Home Cinima systems etc)
Telecommunications (I think ???)
Blowing up the Death Star

 

[IsaacT]

Making great movie elements!

I mean come, on, without lasers half of the Sci-Fi movies we all know and love would be a bit less exciting

 

[AstroLaser]

Here is a neat use for green lasers I just read about:

(quote)
The advantages of the photoluminescence-based explosive detection method are that it can be remotely applied and that it requires neither time-consuming and expensive machines nor trained dogs. All you do is shine a laser on an object and watch for the photoluminescent "signature" distinctive of explosives. Whether it's an approaching ship, a suitcase, a moving car or a pile of trash half a mile up the road, if you can shine a green laser on it, professor Rolf Hummel at the University of Florida (Gainesville) says he can tell you whether it's an explosive device.
(end quote)

source of the above quote:

Photoluminescent method detects explosives at a distance

 

[00Giorge]

Playing with my cat and dog, all 3 of us are addicted!

 

[Lasers and Masers]

Here is a neat use for green lasers I just read about:

(quote)
The advantages of the photoluminescence-based explosive detection method are that it can be remotely applied and that it requires neither time-consuming and expensive machines nor trained dogs. All you do is shine a laser on an object and watch for the photoluminescent "signature" distinctive of explosives. Whether it's an approaching ship, a suitcase, a moving car or a pile of trash half a mile up the road, if you can shine a green laser on it, professor Rolf Hummel at the University of Florida (Gainesville) says he can tell you whether it's an explosive device.
(end quote)

source of the above quote:

Photoluminescent method detects explosives at a distance

Thats pretty interesting, I just had to read that link hah.

But lets see him point a green laser at some my triiodide

 

[kcorbhv]

at my workplace which is a knitting mill ,every now and again someone says"can you smell something burning" then we all go sniffing around the whole factory looking for the culprit . i thought i can shine my green laser over the machines and the smoke from the blowout be it an electrical motor or anything else can be easily spotted .

 

[drummerdimitri]

I was thinking of another use for lasers and came up with this one: Lasers can be used to approximate cloud (humidity) densities by appearing brighter than the actual beam when it hits something dense.

 

[AstroLaser]

Laser related science articles link:

laser related information

 

[hakzaw1]

the list has no end-
The laser is now considered to be(by some experts) a more significant invention than the lightbulb.:wave:

i agree

new uses are being found ALL the time.
:gun:
sidenote--if you dog becomes obsessive about other things introducing a laser to it is a BAD idea-see the Dog Whisperer.imo:yabbmad:

 

[AstroLaser]

I know holograms was mentioned already, but I had wondered if any type of holograms was possible using laser pointers.

I just found the following web site but have not tried it myself, anyone have any experience with making holograms using laser pointers ?

Here is the web site I mentioned: LASER POINTER / DIODE HOLOGRAPHY

 

[HIMNL9]

Cause none til now posted it (and i was expecting it was said at least from the second post ), i can't resist .....

"popping balloons and lighting matches" .....

(J/K )

 

[Nanolaser]

1. Lasers for Life. :angel:

2. Lasers for Death. :eg:

 

[ZapU]

Here is a neat use for green lasers I just read about:

(quote)
The advantages of the photoluminescence-based explosive detection method are that it can be remotely applied and that it requires neither time-consuming and expensive machines nor trained dogs. All you do is shine a laser on an object and watch for the photoluminescent "signature" distinctive of explosives. Whether it's an approaching ship, a suitcase, a moving car or a pile of trash half a mile up the road, if you can shine a green laser on it, professor Rolf Hummel at the University of Florida (Gainesville) says he can tell you whether it's an explosive device.
(end quote)

source of the above quote:

Photoluminescent method detects explosives at a distance

Not just green. Any laser 325-538nm will work. Break out all those 405's and 445's!