![Autocollimator](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzODMiIGhlaWdodD0iMTQ4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzgzIDE0OCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Currently there are a great number of materials available for use in the optical components.
![Concave Convex Lens](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMTEiIGhlaWdodD0iMTM2IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzExIDEzNiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Mostly the laser is not used by itself but rather, it is combined with a number of accessories and used as part of larger system.
![Electrical Excitation](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzNjEiIGhlaWdodD0iMTY3IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzYxIDE2NyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
There are four essential or basic components of laser, may be listed as:Active medium, Excitation mechanism, Feedback mechanism, Output coupler.
![Helium Neon Laser](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTY4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjAwIDE2OCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
He-Ne stands for Helium-Neon. The He-Ne laser active medium consists of two gases which do not interact form a molecule.
![Energy Level Diagram for Laser](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMTkiIGhlaWdodD0iMTM5IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzE5IDEzOSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
The first working laser was built in 1960 by Maiman, using a ruby crystal and so called the Ruby laser.
![Gallium Arsenide Laser](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI1MTUiIGhlaWdodD0iMzQwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNTE1IDM0MCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
The gallium Arsenide laser is designed in such a way that a piece of N-type Gallium Arsenide material is taken and a layer
![Semiconductor Laser Construction](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzNTciIGhlaWdodD0iMTM3IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzU3IDEzNyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
The semiconductor laser is very small in size and appearance. It is similar to a transistor and has the operation like LED but the output beam has the characteristics of laser light
![Solid State Laser Construction](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzOTIiIGhlaWdodD0iMTQ2IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzkyIDE0NiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
The lasers having the solid material as an active medium is called the solid state lasers. Generally there are two classes of solid state lasers.
![Continuous Wave Laser](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIyODkiIGhlaWdodD0iMTEwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMjg5IDExMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
From design point of view we can say that output of all lasers is not constant. Different types of applications require different types of lasers.
![Lasing Process Step 1](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIyNzIiIGhlaWdodD0iOTAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyNzIgOTAiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSIxMDAlIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwMCUiIHN0eWxlPSJmaWxsOiNjZmQ0ZGI7ZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5OiAwLjE7Ii8+PC9zdmc+)
The actual process that occurs during the production of a beam of laser light is known as lasing process.
The word LASER stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.
![Inverse Square Law](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzNTAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTUwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzUwIDE1MCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
The inverse square law is common law of physics related to light discussion. The inverse square law states that
![Aperture Excitation Cavity Resonator](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI1MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMzAwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNTAwIDMwMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
There are following methods of cavity resonator excitation. Loop Excitation, Probe Excitation, Aperture Excitation
![Dye Laser Construction](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzNzUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTYzIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMzc1IDE2MyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
The Dye Laser is a Liquid Laser. Liquid lasers are those lasers which uses liquid as an active medium.
![Development of Microwave Communication](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI1MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjMwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNTAwIDIzMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Microwave is a kind of electromagnetic wave. In a broad sense, the microwave frequency range is from 300 MHz to 300 GHz.