Laser Pin

Laser Pin

High Power Laser Pointer & Portable Laser Applications

"A solution looking for a problem" - Charles H. Townes on the application of lasers.

Since lasers were developed, they have had numerous applications in a number of diverse fields. Listed here are just some of the application for high power laser pointers and portable lasers.

Astronomy

With a brilliant beam stretching for miles into the night sky, high power green and red laser pointers are excellent tools for astronomy. Easy and quick identification and pin pointing stars and other celestial bodies. No need for difficulties, frustration or wasted time pointing with your finger or trying to explain. A laser pointer can be used to identify and pinpoint any object in just a few seconds.

High power portable lasers can also be mounted on telescopes as a visual indicator of where the telescope is pointing. Portable laser is also ideal for mounting on GOTO mounts/telescopes to help direct other people with telescopes and binoculars to an object. With no duty cycle, an on/off switch and very durable construction, a portable laser can be both conveniently and easily mounted on almost any make of telescope and used by hand.

Red light is scattered less by the atmosphere than green light because red light has a longer wave length making green lasers more visible and suitable for astronomy. The light from green lasers also has the advantage of being the wavelength that our eyes are most sensitive to.

Most cheap low powered laser pointers are not effective to be used in astronomy. The beam from these lasers is too weak and easily obscured by ambient light, smog and fog. The beams from high power laser pointers will easily be visible at night in the worst of conditions with the higher powered models even being visible during the day. Perfect for dawn and dusk astronomy.

Photography

Lasers are visually stunning and are used to create very impressive and dynamic photographs. When a camera is used on extended exposure, a high power laser pointer can be used to draw, make pictures and create marvelous visual effects. The proliferation of laser photographs online is a testament to the popularity of lasers and photography.

Lasers and photography is not just limited to lasers pointers and hobbyists. Specialist lasers with short powerful pulses make high speed photography with exposure time of several trillionth of a second possible.

Aiming devices

As a sports person out for some target practice or a soldier on the battlefield, high power laser pointers can help you improve your aim and accuracy. With a range well in excess of 10 miles at night, laser pointers will give you the ability to line up any target in visual range. Even in broad daylight, the green laser dot will be a visible aiming point that can greatly improve accuracy.

Construction/Alignment

On construction and building sites, high power laser pointers and portable lasers are ideal for engineers and site mangers to point out details and features. The laser beam dot is clearly visible in all conditions allowing the quick and efficient identification of features on a site. Effectively saving money through the reduction of wasted time and minimizing errors.

Laser pointers are also used for aligning objects over long distances. High power laser pointers are commonly used by both road construction crews and ground keepers at major sporting venues, world wide.

Avian dispersal

Farmers, airport ground controllers, pet owners and naturalists all use portable lasers as a non lethal method of avian dispersal. Lasers have been instrumental in the reduction of bird strike rates and in effective avian predator management for a number of protected bird species.

Both laser pointers and portable lasers are used by farmers from various countries to supplement their avian dispersal programs. By using our lasers, farmers have been able greatly reduce their cost (rifle or ammunition costs) with zero impact on wildlife and still adhere to local laws for wildlife protection.

Laser shows & entertainment

No rave or dance venue now is complete with out a laser show. The same can be said for any major out door event with the Asian games, Commonwealth games, Afro-Asian games and Olympic games being classic examples.

Both high power laser pointers and portable lasers can also be used with basic optics to create similar light shows on a smaller scale. The shows you can do with lasers range in complexity from a simple star diffraction grating to a more elaborate set ups with galvanometers and dichroic mirrors.

Medical

Lasers in medicine have a wide range of applications range from vision correction and surgery to wound cauterization and the acceleration of soft tissue healing. In brief, the lasers used in are divided into two categories, high power green lasers (3000mW to 10000mW) and low power red and infrared lasers (1mW to 500mW).

High powered lasers are used to cut through tissue and seal/cauterize wounds where as low level lasers are used to treat injuries and promote healing. Though not designed medical use and not to be used with out medical approval, high power laser pointers and portable lasers and infrared laser pointers do in both theory and practice have medical applications.

Non lethal deterrent

Laser pointers and portable lasers are now commonly used by law enforcement agencies and armed forces around the world as a highly effective method of non lethal deterrent. The beam from these lasers can temporarily overwhelm a hostiles visual senses and cause severe disorientation, effectively neutralizing them without resulting in permanent eye damage or the use of force.

Military applications for laser pointers range from painting targets and directing troop movements to warning potential hostiles. Portable lasers are also used by the military to how to warn/deter suspicious or aggressively driven vehicles that approach checkpoints or convoy operations with out using potentially lethal force.

High power laser pointer has been used by a number of coalition force members in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Being durable, field portable and with a beam that can span the largest battlefield, well built high power laser pointers are ideal for the role of non lethal deterrent.

Experiments

Lasers can provide you with hours of fun conducting experiments that provide insights into light, optics, electronics, energy and lots more. Much more beneficial and enjoyable a boring class room or stale text book.

Experiments can range in complexity from some as simple as popping a balloon (heat conduction and reflectivity) to as complicated as bending light (wave propagation).

Camping/Hiking

Laser pointers and portable lasers are great aids for camping and hiking. There is nothing worse than being stuck out in the middle of the bush during the wind and rain and with wet matches and not being able to light a fire. High powered lasers are great for lighting fires. Lasers with a beam that is visible for miles can also be used to signal for help in the event that you are lost or need aid.

Lasers can also provide adequate illumination at night that unlike a normal torch, will not ruin your night vision. High power laser pointer are so light and small, you can hike with them in your pockets and not even notice the weight. The larger laser portable lasers weigh the same as a small flashlight and can easily fit in your back pack. It's also strong enough to survive the heaviest pounding and roughest trail.

Having Fun

There is nothing like having the coolest high tech gadget with a lethal sky spanning beam to impress your friends. Just imagine the look on their faces when you start popping balloons and lighting matches. Not to mention the attention you'll get when you use your laser outside at night projecting a bright green/red/blue light that goes for miles. High power laser pointers and portable lasers are definitely not toys but they are a lot of fun.

Article is courtesy of Dragonlasers - No 1 lasers, laser pointer and green laser online store

About the Author

Frank is from Dragonlasers at http://www.dragonlasers.com

Why doesnt someone build one portable unit capable of GPS nav, Radar/Laser detection, Satellite Radio, etc etc

I'm just curious why someone doesn't build a one unit does it all. We can't have 4 devices in our windshields. Why don't the major manufactures like Valentine 1 or Escort, Tom tom or Garmin, and XM or Siruis, get together and build one unit you can take from car to car that does all of this plus has a media player for all the video and audio formatas and tons of on board storage. I can envision a GPS Nav screen that uses Valentines ability to point in the direction of an incoming radar signal and even pin point the location of multiple radar/laser sources on the map including remembering where false signals occur using gps technology escort has. Then combine this with a ipod style media player, an competent GPS nav with GPRS updates like the new Dash express.. I mean it would be the end all of all car accesories. They could make a portable and in dash version depending on the customers desires. Wouldn't this be killer?

But for someone who wants only a few of them it would be way too expensive. I wouldn't be surprised to see devices with more and more capabilities though as consumers seem to be buying in car technology.

500mw green laser pointer lights a cigarette great burning power.