3 ms·
If this is true, how do laser cutters work? The focused beam can melt through steel, but surely the temperature of the gain medium is much lower than the meltin
by jplee 8y ago
If this is true, how do laser cutters work? The focused beam can melt through steel, but surely the temperature of the gain medium is much lower than the melting point of steel?
But the thermodynamics argument seems like it makes sense too...
- landryraccoon 8y agoLasers have negative temperature. The light emitted from the sun is nothing like laser light. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_temperature#Lasers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_temperature#Lasers
- whatshisface 8y agoLike the other commenter said, lasers are not black-body emitters. They "pump" light out and are very far from equilibrium.