What does a HeNe laser have to do with physics?

Question

This is my first physics class I've ever taken and I'm only halfway through it... maybe this is simple and I'm just missing it, but if anyone knows the answer and can explain it to me, I would be very grateful. =)

Answer 1

A laser is a collimated coherent light source. That makes it ideal for studying the nature of light. Things like refraction, reflection, and diffraction are more easily demonstrated and quantified because of the precision of it's direction and wavelength. A HeNe is simply a common low power inexpensive sort of laser.

Answer 2

Its an element and you do study that in Physics I just got done with that chapter