• Question: what is the most powerful laser that you have used

    Asked by Char to Euan on 13 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Euan Allen

      Euan Allen answered on 13 Jun 2016:

      Hi Char,

      If we say that 0 is a light bulb and 10 is the death star laser, then I would say that the lasers I use normally are around a 7 or an 8.

      Lasers actually have an official safety ranking which is based on how dangerous they are. The laser I use is in the most dangerous which is called a class 3B/4 lasers. These lasers can be really dangerous because they are so powerful that the can make you blind if you get the laser light in your eyes. They can also burn your skin if you put your hand in the beam, and can set things on fire too!

      What’s particularly scary sometimes is that some of our lasers produce a colour that your eye is not sensitive too. So sometimes you can’t even see when the laser is on!

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