• Question: How powerful are the lasers?

    Asked by Susie to Ashley on 12 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by Pritpal.
    • Photo: Ashley Hughes

      Ashley Hughes answered on 12 Nov 2015:

      Hey,

      We have several lasers in our lab with many different powers. These lasers are really powerful, I’m not sure if you are after numbers but as an anecdote – if I focus the laser onto a patch of air with a lens I can make a plasma. I t has also set several pieces of cardbord on fire by mistake.

      They are also rather dangerous so special eye protection must be worn, if not any stray light would blind you instantly by burning a ‘hole’ in your retina, this would be especially bad if you was wearing contact lenses as these would melt to your eye! Fun eh! So yes, eye protection is important.

      I’m also told the same laser we use for experiments, when configured differently is used at the Toyota factory nearby for welding, though I’m not 100% sure if the person meant that or if it was lost in translation.

Comments