In this blog post, we will take a look at how lasers are changing the world, from automatic doors in everyday life to advanced medical and weapon technologies.
This morning, as I stepped out of my apartment, the automatic door opened smoothly. I had undergone LASIK surgery a few months ago, so I wore sunglasses and headed to school. At that moment, I had an idea. How widely is this laser technology used in our surroundings when treating our eyes? From the sensors of the automatic door to the LASIK equipment used in ophthalmology, the moment when lasers are working in our daily lives is not far away. Even when I stopped by a convenience store to buy a drink, the barcode reader used a laser to quickly process the payment.
When I arrived at school, the professor used a laser pointer to explain the class content during the lecture, and after the class was over, I was able to watch high-definition movies on Blu-ray discs in the library’s multimedia room. Behind the technology in our everyday lives that we take for granted is laser. But lasers are not only used in everyday life. The range of applications is very wide, from laser weapons used by superheroes in movies like Iron Man to industrial lasers and even precision medical devices using lasers.
So, what is a laser? LASER stands for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation,” which literally means “light amplification by stimulated emission.” To understand the principle of this phenomenon, you need to know the structure of atoms and their electron shells. Atoms are composed of the nucleus and electrons that orbit around it, and electrons only exist in shells with a specific energy. When light shines on an electron from the outside, the electron moves to a higher energy level, but because the state is unstable, it eventually returns to its original position and releases energy. The energy released at this time is light, which is the basic principle of a laser.
Light with a specific wavelength becomes stronger as it is reflected in a space surrounded by mirrors, and a laser consisting of only one wavelength is very straight and can emit energy concentrated in a narrow area. Thanks to these characteristics, lasers are used in various fields, from small devices in everyday life to industrial cutting machines and advanced medical equipment. For example, the high precision of lasers is essential when performing LASIK or LASEK surgery in ophthalmology or removing tattoos or moles in dermatology. In addition to medical applications, lasers are also used in various industrial applications, such as cutting steel, welding, and precision measurement.
The applications of lasers do not end there. Recently, lasers have also played an important role in the field of weapons. The US-based Boeing Company has developed a laser weapon called “Silent Strike” that successfully shot down a flying drone in a matter of seconds. This technology brings the laser weapon that we have only seen in movies into reality, and there is a high possibility that it will be further developed in the future. Although it is not a laser that is accompanied by dazzling light and roar like the one in the movie Iron Man, it is effective in silently eliminating targets.
In addition to these frightening uses, lasers are being used in more ways that benefit humans. In the medical field, treatments that attack only cancer cells or use powerful lasers to treat specific areas are already protecting the health of many people. Lasers also play an important role in data storage media. For example, Blu-ray discs can store more data than conventional DVDs, thanks to the short-wavelength blue laser. This technology allows us to watch high-definition movies and other materials faster and more accurately.
As such, lasers are deeply embedded in all areas of our lives, and their applications are expanding. Lasers are one of the important technologies that drive innovation in various fields such as science, medicine, industry, and military, as well as technologies that we encounter in our daily lives. In the future, laser technology will be used in more diverse fields and will change our lives more conveniently and safely. Now, lasers are no longer an imagination in science fiction, but are becoming a core technology that drives innovation in our reality.
