Can the element used to produce a laser be opaque like uranium?

Question

and if a radioactive element like urainium could be used would it's radioactive properties be present in the laser beam?

Answer 1

This is not possible.

Generally, for a solid state laser, the medium will consist of a glass or crystalline host material to which is added a dopant such as neodymium, chromium, erbium, or other ions. Many of the common dopants are rare earth elements.

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Answer 2

Keep in mind that there are generally two types of radiation:

Ionizing radiation, which is the type of stuff one normally calls radiation (alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and neutrons), and is emitted from uranium and the fission byproducts.

Non-ionizing radiation, which includes things like light and radio waves, and is generally not harmful.

A laser typically produces non-ionizing radiation (like light, although at different frequencies depending on the materials being used) from electrons being excited and then dropping back down to normal states.

If you want to shoot out ionizing radiation, there are things like neutron guns. However, these typically use a neutron emitter, and shielding so that the radiation only goes in the desired direction.

Also, keep in mind that uranium is a pretty weakly radiative source, meaning the decay is fairly slow (low levels of radiation from pure uranium) and it emits an alpha particle that is easily blocked. However, the fission byproducts of uranium are highly radioactive (very high levels of radiation) and produce a large variety of types of radiation.