Laser technology is already used in a wide range of industrial and private purposes, providing effective alternatives to existing applications.
Laser-guided, fibreglass technology, for instance, forms the backbone of the telecommunications industry.
Lasers are also used to mark expiration dates on products. In addition, scanners, barcode readers, CD players and remote controls all rely on laser technology.
These applications, however, only require low-power lasers, incapable of having any effect on the target surface. Much more power is needed to cut, weld or process metal surfaces using lasers.
Cutting metal is the most important application for high-performance lasers. It ensures extremely precise results and high cutting speeds.
Lasers basically convert an external energy source (an electrical current, a beam from a flashlight or a laser diode) to light in the narrow wavelength spectrum.
This can be achieved in a number of different ways. The laser can either use a gas medium (gas laser), for example or solid medium (solid-state laser). CO2 lasers are often used in industrial applications.
This type of gas laser requires special laser gases to generate a beam. Linde produces a laser gas mixture comprising 60-85 % helium, 13-55 % nitrogen and 1-9 % carbon dioxide specifically for CO2 lasers. However, the exact mixture varies, depending on the type of laser and the manufacturer.
Some lasers also require small amounts of other gases such as oxygen, hydrogen or xenon.
At a glance |
| Name: | Laser technology |
| Country: | Global |
| Segment: | Applications |
| More information: | Laser gases |
