- from Atoms
In some ways, laser light is like all other light. It comes from atoms’ electrons giving off light energy as they jump back toward the nucleus. But in other ways, laser light is very different.
It’s one specific color of light. The color is determined by the light’s energy. Lower-energy lasers are red. Higher-energy lasers may be blue or violet. Some laser light can’t even be seen by the human eye. Laser light also has a tight beam that’s strong and focused. Ordinary light, like from a flashlight, is spread out and weak by comparison.
One rule, however, is true for all lasers: Don’t look right at a laser. Some give off a light brighter than the Sun’s! Others give off heat that can burn skin and set clothes on fire. Most lasers aren’t toys. Lasers are used in many ways, from supermarket scanners to eye surgery. Some say lasers will change our lives as much as computers have.