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ELI5 - Laser

ELI5 - Laser

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 In this episode, Mike and Lisa return to their Explain Like I'm 5 series to explore the origins of lasers. Starting from Einstein's concept of stimulated emission in 1917 to the creation of the first laser by Theodore Maiman in 1960, Mike and Lisa break down complex concepts such as monochromaticity, coherence, and non-divergence, making them accessible to listeners of all ages. They discuss the mechanics of how lasers work, including the roles of gain mediums, mirrors, and the process of stimulated emission. KEY TAKEAWAYS Lasers operate based on the principle of stimulated emission of photons, a concept introduced by Einstein in 1917. The acronym LASER stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation." A typical laser consists of a gain medium (which can be a crystal, gas, or liquid), two mirrors (one fully reflective and one partially reflective), and a power source to stimulate the gain medium. The mirrors help amplify the light by reflecting photons back and forth. For a laser to function effectively, a population inversion must be achieved, where more atoms are in an excited state than in a ground state. This is necessary to ensure that stimulated emission can dominate over spontaneous emission. Different types of lasers exist, including solid-state lasers (like Nd:YAG and ruby lasers), gas lasers (like CO2 lasers), and diode lasers. Each type has unique properties and applications, with diode lasers being particularly versatile due to their ability to generate various wavelengths by combining different semiconductor materials. BEST MOMENTS "LASER means, LASER is an acronym, stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In this case, radiation being light energy." "So wait, why did he invent it? Because he could." "So coherence basically means that all the photons, they're all doing the same thing, they've all got the same wavelength or frequency, they're all moving in the same directions." "If you don't have enough electrons in the right metastable state, then the whole thing will eventually just kind of peter out." "The problem is that some of these drops in energy states will not generate new photons, but they'll generate phonons." ABOUT THE HOSTS Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru. Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring. Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining https://mikemurphyblog.com https://www.dermalasetraining.com This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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