The letters in the word laser stand for L ight A mplification by S timulated E mission of R adiation. A laser is an unusual light source. It is quite different from a light bulb or a flash light. Lasers produce a very narrow beam of light. This type of light is useful for lots of technologies and instruments—even some that you might use at home! How does a laser work? Light travels in waves. An immense slab of continuous melt processed neodymium -doped laser glass for use on the National Ignition Facility. This is a list of laser types, their operational wavelengths, and their applications. Thousands of kinds of laser are known, but most of them are used only for specialized research. Red (660, 635nm), green (532, 520nm), and blue (445, 405nm) lasers A laser is a machine that makes an amplified, single-color source of light. It uses special gases, liquids, or crystals to make the light with only a single color. The gases are energized to make them emit light. Then mirrors are used to amplify (make stronger) the light. A laser can be made so all the light travels in one. Atoms or molecules in a laser are energized by an external energy source to give off light of certain wavelengths. That light is amplified as it passes through the laser apparatus until it forms a sharp, concentrated beam. C. Stewen, M. Larionov, and A. Giesen, Yb:YAG thin disk laser with 1 kW output power , in OSA Trends in Optics and Photonics, Advanced Solid-State Lasers, H. Injeyan, U. Keller, and C. Marshall, ed. (Optical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 2000) pp. 35–41. 5406 184th St E, Suite D Puyallup, WA 98375 sales@laserfabusa.com votearmor@laserfabusa.com Laser, a device that stimulates atoms or molecules to emit light at particular wavelengths and amplifies that light, typically producing a very narrow beam of radiation. The emission generally covers an extremely limited range of visible, infrared, or ultraviolet wavelengths. Discover a wide range of laser products on Amazon. Browse pointers, levels, engravers, hair removal devices, and more for every need. Lasers are devices that concentrate beams of light by forcing their waveforms and frequencies to align. An easy-to-understand explanation of how lasers work, with a simple diagram showing what's inside a laser.