Can anyone explain to me 2 ways to make laser?

Question

Hi, can anyone explain to me 2 different ways to make laser, (like 2 ways how lasers are made). I am not looking to destroy people, I just wanted to know for a science project. Thank you.

Answer 1

Ok, ruby rod laser:' Take a rod of aluminium oxide / chromium oxide (Ruby to you and me), polish both ends incredibly flat.

Now attach a front silvered mirror to one end and a partially silvered mirtror to the other end.

Wrap a VERY powerful helical flash tube (similar to strobe) and energise. If you have everying about right AND a high powered flash tube AND excellent mirrors, you ought to get a ruby lasy for your troubles.


Method 2.

Obtain a glass "straw", around which is another glass cylinder filled with argon at very low pressure. the glass straw is the plasma tube - and has an electrode at each end.

High voltage DC is applied to the electrodes and a Very high voltage "starting zap" is also sent to one electrode and a seperate ignitor electrode. This ionizes the gas and starts the tube running (not unlike a flourescent tube)

At each end of the plama tube are mirrirs - like the ruby laser - one fully silvered and other partially silvered. If the cavity (length) is about right AND the plasma is reasonal strongs AND you have spot on alignment, you might get the thing to lase.

To say that this is a GROSS over simplification is an understatement but you weren't expecting step by step contructional details were you! :)

As for your science project, do some searching with google for DIY nitrogen laser - you might be very pleasantly surprised at how "doable" one of these is for an enthusiastic student with a little bit of care.

Good luck

Oh and google for SAMS LASER FAQ - a HUGE wealth of information for you (Sam Goldwasser)

Mark