Scare story; do what you can to prevent my mistakes.
It took 5 years' worth of laser experiments, but I finally managed to do myself in. Not with a 100W yag, or a 50W laserscope, but rather, with a divergent 445 diode. Here's what not to repeat:
In one of our research labs' basements there is a long (30 meter) hallway, terminated with a glass door. At night the place is abandoned and locked, making it a somewhat-ideal area to focus a laser. That is, unless one forgets about the glass door.
In short, my photons traveled 30 meters, struck the glass and about 10% ricocheted back. This led to about 300 mW of coherent light forming a 6" rectangle right above me, which I did not notice until standing up and taking off my glasses.
I have a nice scotoma in my mid-peripheral vision now, to serve as a lifelong reminder of laser safety. Do your best, as hobbyists, to not become complacent around these machines.
It took 5 years' worth of laser experiments, but I finally managed to do myself in. Not with a 100W yag, or a 50W laserscope, but rather, with a divergent 445 diode. Here's what not to repeat:
In one of our research labs' basements there is a long (30 meter) hallway, terminated with a glass door. At night the place is abandoned and locked, making it a somewhat-ideal area to focus a laser. That is, unless one forgets about the glass door.
In short, my photons traveled 30 meters, struck the glass and about 10% ricocheted back. This led to about 300 mW of coherent light forming a 6" rectangle right above me, which I did not notice until standing up and taking off my glasses.
I have a nice scotoma in my mid-peripheral vision now, to serve as a lifelong reminder of laser safety. Do your best, as hobbyists, to not become complacent around these machines.
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