Laser devices use light to store, transfer, or print images and text; they are also used in a wide range of other applications, including surgery and weaponry. The coherent radiation of the laser gives it special strength. The laser (Light...

A device that uses radiating properties of atoms or molecules to generate light of one or more discrete wavelengths. All waves are polarized, aligned and matching in phase. Lasing action can occur from ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths. The eye and,...

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It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. This adage says volumes about the early development of the laser. During World War II, U.S. military and civilian scientists searched frantically for improved radar. While these researchers met...

A laser is an electronic-optical device that produces coherent radiation. The term "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.[1][2] A typical laser emits light in a narrow, low-divergence beam and with a...

People who shine laser pointers at airplanes could face up to five years in prison under legislation approved Tuesday by the House.The use of cheap, hand-held laser pens "presents an imminent threat to aviation security and passenger safety," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers,...

The days of peeling pesky stickers off apples and tomatoes may soon be over. A Georgia company is seeking federal approval for a laser that etches indelible but edible labels onto the skins of fruits and vegetables.The laser device could tag onions, cucumbers, kiwis, pears...

The U.S. Navy, facing growing threats from improvised explosive devices, is about to deploy new technology that for the first time will allow it to use airborne lasers to search for mines in coastal and oceanic waters.Gary A. Humes, the Navy's mine warfare program manager,...

Some people call them floaters. Eye doctors call them "vitreous opacities."Emily Flynn called hers "a little fuzzball," and she flew halfway around the world to have it removed.After more than 100 pinpoint zaps from a laser beam during a half-hour visit to a northern Virginia...

A history and overview of the laser, a device that produces amplified coherent light. The laser's many practical uses in today's society range from CD players, scanners, and printers to surgical instruments and military missile defense.