What’s in your laser?

Abstract

Every day people work with lasers in manufacturing, operations and maintenance, research and development and entertainment industries. We analyze, we calculate, we detail everything about the beam-the wavelength, the direction it travels, the pulse repetition frequency (PRF), the power output. But, what else is in your laser system? How many other non-beam hazards or functions do we recognize, analyze, evaluate and control?The beam is the most recognized hazard of laser activities; however, it’s only a fraction of the many other hazards or functions that laser users, maintenance personnel and researchers may encounter during laser setup, operation, maintenance and service.This paper explores non-beam aspects of laser systems-some routine, some not so routine.Every day people work with lasers in manufacturing, operations and maintenance, research and development and entertainment industries. We analyze, we calculate, we detail everything about the beam-the wavelength, the direction it travels, the pulse repetition frequency (PRF), the power output. But, what else is in your laser system? How many other non-beam hazards or functions do we recognize, analyze, evaluate and control?The beam is the most recognized hazard of laser activities; however, it’s only a fraction of the many other hazards or functions that laser users, maintenance personnel and researchers may encounter during laser setup, operation, maintenance and service.This paper explores non-beam aspects of laser systems-some routine, some not so routine.