• Question: How many different types of LASERS are there?

    Asked by pineapple2000 to Tim, Mike on 2 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Lots and lots.
      Lasers are usually named by the material that is used to make the light. Each different material makes a different colour of laser light, so it’s an easy way to describe the laser accurately.

      Broadly speaking, there are three types:
      + Solid State lasers, where the laser material is a solid crystal or glass.
      + Gas lasers where the laser material is a gas.
      + Semiconductor lasers, where the laser material is a semiconductor chip (a little bit like a computer chip, but a different material). This type is probably the most common since it’s what the laser in CD players is made from.

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