Advantages and disadvantages of Laser light communication
Laser technology has revolutionized various industries, from healthcare to manufacturing, by offering precision, speed, and versatility in applications ranging from cutting and engraving to medical treatments and communication. Lasers work by focusing light energy into a coherent beam, enabling highly accurate processes. However, despite its numerous benefits, laser technology also presents certain drawbacks, including safety concerns and high initial costs. This guide examines the advantages and disadvantages of laser technology to provide a balanced view of its impact across different sectors.
What is laser?
The Laser term stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
It is very intense beam of light or infrared radiation.
It has following characteristics or properties.
• Monochromatic i.e. consisting of one wavelength.
This means laser can be focused into smaller area for longer distances without
any reduction in the power intensity of the laser beam.
• Coherent i.e. all parts are in phase.
It means laser emits coherent light. Hence it is possible to use laser
in cutting and lithography.
• Collimated i.e. all parts travel in one and same direction.
It means laser follow narrow path over greater distances.

Types of lasers
There are various types of lasers, classified based on their medium, wavelength and applications.
Following are some common types of lasers suitable for specific uses in industry, medicine, research
and telecommunications.
1. Solid-State Lasers: These lasers use a solid material (usually a crystal or glass) as the gain medium.
They are commonly used in industrial applications, medical devices, and laser pointers. Examples include following.
• Ruby Laser: One of the first lasers, emitting red light at 694 nm.
• Nd Laser (Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet): Versatile and widely used for cutting, welding, and medical procedures, typically emitting near-infrared light at 1064 nm.
2. Gas Lasers: Gas lasers utilize a gas or a mixture of gases as the gain medium. They are often used in telecommunications,
holography, and laser printing. Common examples include following.
• Helium-Neon (He-Ne) Laser: Produces a continuous red beam at 632.8 nm, used in bar code scanners and laser pointers.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser: Emits infrared light at 10.6 μm and is widely used in cutting and engraving materials.
3. Semiconductor Lasers: Also known as laser diodes, these lasers use a semiconductor as the gain medium. They are compact, efficient, and commonly found in consumer electronics, such as CD/DVD players and laser printers. They typically emit light in the visible or near-infrared spectrum.
4. Fiber Lasers: These lasers use optical fibers doped with rare earth elements (like ytterbium, neodymium, or erbium) as the gain medium. Fiber lasers are known for their efficiency, beam quality, and versatility in various applications, including telecommunications and materials processing.
5. Dye Lasers: These lasers use organic dye solutions as the gain medium and can emit a wide range of wavelengths, making them suitable for spectroscopy and research applications. They are often tunable, allowing for wavelength adjustments.
6. Excimer Lasers: Utilizing a mixture of reactive gases, excimer lasers emit ultraviolet light. They are primarily used in medical applications, such as LASIK eye surgery, and in lithography for semiconductor manufacturing.
7. Chemical Lasers: These lasers generate energy through chemical reactions. They are often high-powered and used in military applications, such as missile defense systems. An example is the hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser.
8. Free Electron Lasers (FELs): These lasers use a beam of electrons passing through a magnetic field to generate light across a broad range of wavelengths, from microwave to X-ray. They are mainly used in research facilities and medical applications.
Advantages of Laser
Following are some of the notable advantages of Laser light.
1. It has high information carrying capacity and hence is used in communication domain for transmission of
information at extremely high data transfer rates over long distances.
Hence it is ideal for high speed data transmission in space and terrestrial applications where fiber optics aren’t feasible.
2. It is free from electro-magnetic interference. This phenomenon is used
in optical wireless communication through free space for telecommunication as well as
computer networking.
3. It has very minimum signal leakage.
4. Laser based fiber optic cables are very light in weight and
hence are used in fiber optic communication system.
5. It is less damaging compare to X-rays and hence
widely used in medical field for treatment of cancers.
It is used to burn small tumors on eye surface and also on tissue surface.
6. High intensity and low divergence of laser is used for
knocking down the enemy tank with accurate range determination.
For this purpose neodymium and carbon dioxide laser types are used.
Laser range finder is also used in several defence areas for medium range upto 10 Km.
7. Single laser beam can be focused in areas smaller than 1 micro diameter.
One square micro area is needed to store 1 bit of data.
This helps in storing 100 million data in one square cm.
Due to this fact, laser is being used in laser CDs and DVDs for data storage
in the form of audio, video, documents etc.
Disadvantages of Laser
Following are some of the disadvantages of Laser in communication and medical domain.
1. It is expensive and hence more expenditure to the patients requiring laser based treatments.
2. It is costly to maintain and hence more cost to doctors and hospital management.
3. Increases complexity and duration of the treatment based on laser devices or equipments.
4. Lasers can not be used in many commonly performed dental procedures
e.g. to fill cavities between teeth etc.
5. Laser beam is very delicate to handle in cutting process.
The slight mistake in adjusting distance and temperature may lead to burning or
discoloring of the metals. Moreover it requires higher power during the cutting process.
6. It is harmful to human beings and often burns them during contacts.
7. Laser communication is highly sensitive to environmental conditions like fog, rain, and dust, which can disrupt the signal and reduce reliability in outdoor applications.
Conclusion
In summary, laser technology is a powerful tool that enhances precision and efficiency in numerous applications, contributing significantly to advancements in various fields. However, the potential disadvantages, such as safety risks and costs, must not be overlooked. By understanding both the benefits and challenges, organizations can harness laser technology effectively while mitigating associated risks.
➨Refer Laser basics and types >> and advantages and disadvantages of semiconductor laser >>.
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