Related Terms to laser and laser related systems

I noticed that often new members (and some chinese sellers ) are confused by abbreviations such as mW meaning milliwatts and not megawatts, so I'd like this thread to contain the info on these abbreviations and also what they really mean such as mAh (milliamps per hour)

here's what I know and please feel free to add to this list since I am kinda a newbie myself and don't know everything that should be listed.

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mW = milliwatts NOTE: It does not mean Megawatts
MW = MegaWatts NOTE: 1 MW =1,000 KW = 1,000,000 watts = 1,000,000,000 milliwatts
mAh = milliamps per hour NOTE: Battery capacity rated for one hour use before a need for recharge.
nm = nanometers NOTE: This is how wavelengths are designated. 532nm means that the length of a single wave of that light is 532nm long. It also determines the color of the laser (IsaacT and Crazyspaz)
1MW = 1,000,000 Watts
1µm = 1000nm
mA ≠ mAh NOTE: ≠ means does not equal
1A = 1000mA
1V = 1000mV (Sigurthr and The Lightning Stalker)
DPSS = Diode pumped solid state. Also known as DPSSL or diode pumped solid state laser. (Pi R Squared)
OPSL = Optical Pumped Semiconductor laser
VECSEL = Vertical Extended Cavity Surface Emitting laser
OC = Output Coupler
HR = High Reflector (lazerman121)

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That's all I can think of at the moment so please post your info and I'll add it to this post. :thanks: guys

nm: nanometers. This is how wavelengths are designated. 532nm means that the length of a single wave of that light is 532nm long.

nm=nanometer

Its been asked before. Seriously.

Edit: ha, isaac beat me to it by a few seconds

IsaacT said:

nm: nanometers. This is how wavelengths are designated. 532nm means that the length of a single wave of that light is 532nm long.

Click to expand...

Ah I can't believe I forgot about that one XD thanks Isaac and crazyspaz!

VisibleGreen said:

MW = MegaWatts NOTE: 1 MW = 1000 watts = 1,000,000 milliwatts

Click to expand...

Almost. 1000 Watts is a Kilowatt. 1000 Kilowatts is a MegaWatt.
1,000 mW = 1W.
1,000,000 mW = 1kW.
1,000,000,000 mW = 1MW.

1MW = 1,000,000 Watts
1µm = 1000nm
mA ≠ mAh
1A = 1000mA
1V = 1000mV (see a pat urn here?)

whoops my bad, fixing now

DPSS, Diode pumped solid state. Also known as DPSSL or diode pumped solid state laser.

Alan

updated OP, thanks Pi

OH man This is good this either needs to be a sticky or added to a sticky.

Here are a few more advanced terms.
OPSL -----Optical Pumped Semiconductor laser
VECSEL --- Vertical Extended Cavity Surface Emitting laser
OC----- Output Coupler
HR ---- High Reflector

:thanks: lazerman121
I should have made the title "Abbreviations for newbies"