What is a Laser?

“Laser” is an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” Laser light is monochromatic (having only one wavelength) and polarized.

Challenges: Temperature drift can affect the frequency of a laser, as changes in temperature can alter the physical properties of the laser components. Therefore, more expensive lasers have control circuits to ensure frequency stability.

Lasers are monochromatic, but it is still important to keep in mind, for example, in lens design, that the wavelength of cheaper lasers can slightly change with temperature.

The magnitude of these shifts can be around 0.3-0.5 nm per degree Celsius.

As the temperature increases, the power of the laser decreases.