by 
The Curious Bag
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In 2010, the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the invention of the laser. The purity and precision of its light has improved the quality of scientific research and made possible advances in entertainment, medicine and industry.
Description
Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Bright light stimulates materials such as ruby or neon inside the laser's mirrored tube. The material produces its own light, which comes out of one end of the tube and has very specific properties.
Monochromatic
Most light sources, like the sun or electric lamps, give off many mixed colors at the same time. We see this as white light. A laser's light has a single, pure color. This is called monochromatic light.
Coherence
Since other light sources have many colors, their light wave patterns are random and jumbled. All the light coming from a laser emerges as a single wave. This property is called coherence.
Collimated
The light coming from a laser is collimated, traveling in straight, parallel lines. It spreads out very slowly, staying tightly concentrated over long distances.
Power
Lasers come in a wide range of power levels. Most, like keychain laser pointers, are under 5 milliwatts. Industrial lasers used for cutting steel run about 3 to 100 kilowatts.
Source:
Laserfest: 50th Anniversary of the Laser
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