Most dangerous laser type

millirad · Aug 27, 2009

"Q-Switched YAG lasers are responsible for more eye injuries than any other types of laser combined!"

PHTN1400/BATP9401 Laser Systems - Q-Switched Lasers Lab

Laser_Ben · Aug 27, 2009

millirad said:
"Q-Switched YAG lasers are responsible for more eye injuries than any other types of laser combined!"

PHTN1400/BATP9401 Laser Systems - Q-Switched Lasers Lab

The most dangerous types are not cutting lasers or medical lasers, they are research lasers. This is because professors or engineers who work with them get comfortable and start to slack on safety precautions thinking they will be fine.

Doofus · Aug 27, 2009

I would've guessed infrared. Since you don't see the beam or the dot, and it's reflective power.

^ what laser_ben said is true though.

Laser_Ben · Aug 27, 2009

There are a lot of visible wavelengths which also can be produced in powers which can be very dangerous. The most dangerous wavelength, in my opinion, is 355nm-266nm, they are produced easily and have no problem being seen at high powers, however, the UV is very harmful to your eyes and skin.

Doofus · Aug 27, 2009

lol, new meaning behind the phrase "cancer stick"

I'm honestly too new to alternate wavelengths, are those like "barely visible"? I know, I know, I'll start googling, lol.

millirad · Aug 27, 2009

An argon-fluoride laser must be pretty hazardous. It produces a 193nm beam. Can't imagine what that does to the human body. ;-/

Laser_Ben said:
There are a lot of visible wavelengths which also can be produced in powers which can be very dangerous. The most dangerous wavelength, in my opinion, is 355nm-266nm, they are produced easily and have no problem being seen at high powers, however, the UV is very harmful to your eyes and skin.

ZRTMWA · Aug 27, 2009

I would have also thought IR lasers. I remember one Greenies thread where an LPF member looked straight into the module because all they could see was a faint red glow (the crystal had misaligned).

Laser_Ben · Aug 27, 2009

Eximer lasers are usually pretty safe as far as specular reflections go. The beam is absorbed by the air so it will terminate quickly after being exposed to the air.

IR lasers are what I would consider to be the safest non-visable wavelength. They do not have the same problems with causing cell damage due to the wavelength, they are generally in situations where the photon energy is so low that it will not cause serious cell damage. Additionally, they are usually absorbed shallow in the skin.

ElektroFreak · Aug 27, 2009

Laser_Ben said:
IR lasers are what I would consider to be the safest non-visable wavelength. They do not have the same problems with causing cell damage due to the wavelength, they are generally in situations where the photon energy is so low that it will not cause serious cell damage. Additionally, they are usually absorbed shallow in the skin.

Least dangerous to the skin perhaps.. still quite dangerous to retinal tissue, particularly in the near IR range.

ZRTMWA · Aug 27, 2009

Here is a link to the Laser Safety page on wikipedia: Laser safety - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They have this chart about different wavelength's affects on the eye:

Wavelength range (Type) Pathological Effect
180–315 nm=(UV-B, UV-C)=photokeratitis (inflammation of the cornea, equivalent to sunburn)
315–400 nm=(UV-A)=photochemical cataract (clouding of the eye lens)
400–780 nm=(visible)=photochemical damage to the retina, retinal burn
780–1400 nm=(near-IR)=cataract, retinal burn
1.4–3.0μm=(IR)=aqueous flare (protein in the aqueous humour), cataract, corneal burn
3.0 μm–1 mm=corneal burn

It didn't copy so well, I had to do a little editing. You might just want to go to the original page.

sbdwag · Aug 27, 2009

Near IR may be considered less dangerous but for the hobbiest there are special caveats.

1> High power IR diodes are very plentiful and cheap. I just acquired two 2W 808nm 9mm diodes for 35 US

2> You cannot see the beam. And from my personal experience It is very easy to leave your safety goggles laying on the table. If you were burning with a 350mw red you could not stand to look at the burn spot without glasses. But a 2W 808 just generates a white hot spot that appears harmless.

Now I dont know if its harmless but having a intensity a magnitude of order higher makes me very concerned for all of us out there that have these high powered diodes and do not take advantage of the Glasses we purchased expressly to protect ourselves.

The question begs to be ask Are we all a grand experiment in catarack develoment. Or for those of you that are young will you have a increased rate of eye related disorders when you get older. No one will every know this because we are such a disbanded lot of experimenters.

But are we willing to take that risk all for a little fun.

regards
sbdwag

ZRTMWA · Aug 27, 2009

Good point sbdwag. I never thought about looking at a spot you are burning with an IR laser, I just knew that shining the laser in your eye would be dangerous.

Benm · Aug 28, 2009

I think to the hobbyist, those near-IR's (808) are the most dangerous too. Commonly available, dim red even at watts of power, makes accidents more likely.

Looking at the spot from close distance could be a serious hazard here, especially since there isnt a visual trigger that deters you from doing so before damage occurs.

In that respect, greens are the safest of all, provided they dont leak a lot of IR.

Cyparagon · Aug 28, 2009

Laser_Ben said:
The most dangerous types are not cutting lasers or medical lasers, they are research lasers.

I'd say that new uber X-ray laser (the one that created transparent aluminum) would rank pretty high.

sbdwag · Aug 28, 2009

Cyparagon said:
I'd say that new uber X-ray laser (the one that created transparent aluminum) would rank pretty high.

Thats no big deal Scotty gave the formula for that (transparent aluminum) to some big aluminum company in the northwest along time ago. :crackup:

regards
sbdwag

sbdwag · Aug 29, 2009

sbdwag said:
Thats no big deal Scotty gave the formula for that (transparent aluminum) to some big aluminum company in the northwest along time ago. :crackup:

regards
sbdwag

No takers on that one? :na:

Its a joke remember Scotty on Star Trek when they came back in time to capture a whale to bring back to the 24th century. Gees do I have to spell it out?

regards
sbdwag

Most dangerous laser type

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