• Question: What is the importance of substances, such as helium neon, in the production of light beams?

    Asked by ngovani1 to Graham on 17 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Graham Wiggins

      Graham Wiggins answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      Hi,
      Helium Neon is 2 gasses, and is a type of gas mixture used in some lasers. The gas mixture is used in the laser cavity ( it’s guts ) to provide the photons that help make the laser beam ( the photons don’t “leave” they just change energy levels – ask you teacher about electron orbits, and see how you use “population inversion” in a laser cavity – sorry Teacher ! – youtube clip here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48WkYbkhJO4
      shows the basics of how lasers work )
      The elements used, ( we use neodynium trapped in glass discs ) make the laser work, without them the laser would be less powerfull. Our special glass is used in the amplifier stages, so a little different from your Helium neon laser.
      The elements also affect the Colour, or wavelength of the laser beam.
      You’ll see the lasers named after the materials used, your helium neon laser may be known as a “he-ne”, our laser is known as a “nd:glass” laser. ( which is 2 solids – yours uses 2 gasses, there are other types that use different methods, eg liquids, or a solid+ a gas, depends on what you want the laser to do. )
      hope that helps,

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