Red laser science fair project?

[WretchedMerc]

I need an idea on a science fair project that deals with red lasers, or any cool science fair project for that matter.:thinking:

 

[HIMNL9]

What kind of idea ?

Interferometry ? ..... telemetry ? ..... data transmission ? ..... perimetral safety ? ..... wavelenght measurement using resonant cavities ? ..... CNC etching ? ..... holography ? ..... building a homemade He-Ne laser ? ..... speed measurement ? .....

As "science fair projects", the things in which you can use a laser are almost countless ..... maybe if you give some more details .....

 

[awlego]

Maybe talk about color balancing and apparent brightness and build a 7 color RGV build.

 

[WretchedMerc]

Im kind of new to building and things im more into buying but if you could give me a plan it would be much appreciated :thanks:

 

[WretchedMerc]

also I just ordered a red 200 mw and i would like to incorporate that into my project any ideas? i dont know much about building or all the other stuff you talked about
I have to say im a noob

 

[WretchedMerc]

BUMP Anyone have a good science fair project?

 

[HIMNL9]

I'm assuming you need it for school experiments and for make some sort of relation / report, right ?

Then ..... as awlego said ..... maybe the more easy and intriguing experiment, if for a demonstration, is chromatic variance due to mixing different wavelenghts .....

Get also a 30mW green module (at least ..... better if also a BR like a cheap PHR), make a base with some alignment supports and dichros, or a PBS and a dichro if you want to use also a BR, and make a multicolor unit ..... then you can use it for a demo (placing variable current drivers with potentiometers on a panel), and make a relation about the color mixing and the different colors that can be obtained ..... and at the end you can also use a prism at the output for demonstrate that the beams, also if appear as a single beam of different color from the original ones, is still composed from 3 different wavelenghts that can be separated again .....

As idea, is the more simple that come to me in mind (if your project involves optical phisic) ..... others are possible, but not so easy, if you really want to do a good job.

 

[ossumguywill]

Here's an idea- I don't really know how laser light works through optics very much, but maybe you could do something where you shoot the laser into a prism, and the beam will end up somewhere else. Mark this position, then change the beam color (like to a green) and put the laser in the same place and see where it ends up. If I get it correctly, the beams will fall in different places due to refracting differently. You could also get a blu-ray and make a kind of scale that would allow you to find wavelength by looking where the beam fell.

will

 

[HIMNL9]

^ Spectrometry

But be sure to use a fixed point for the prism and the beam, cause it's valid only if the different beams have the same identical path and angles, when they enter in the prism

 

[ossumguywill]

^ Spectrometry

But be sure to use a fixed point for the prism and the beam, cause it's valid only if the different beams have the same identical path and angles, when they enter in the prism

Yeah, it might be a problem if the lasers had different exit angles or heights. Maybe you could shoot the lasers through a thin straw so as to get them lined up correctly.

will

 

[Deleted member 8382]

and they will for sure. If you can project against a wall that is far enough it will work well I guess.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

A DG might work better.

Hmike

 

[awlego]

I'm assuming you need it for school experiments and for make some sort of relation / report, right ?

Then ..... as awlego said ..... maybe the more easy and intriguing experiment, if for a demonstration, is chromatic variance due to mixing different wavelenghts .....

Get also a 30mW green module (at least ..... better if also a BR like a cheap PHR), make a base with some alignment supports and dichros, or a PBS and a dichro if you want to use also a BR, and make a multicolor unit ..... then you can use it for a demo (placing variable current drivers with potentiometers on a panel), and make a relation about the color mixing and the different colors that can be obtained ..... and at the end you can also use a prism at the output for demonstrate that the beams, also if appear as a single beam of different color from the original ones, is still composed from 3 different wavelenghts that can be separated again .....

As idea, is the more simple that come to me in mind (if your project involves optical phisic) ..... others are possible, but not so easy, if you really want to do a good job.

Im kind of new to building and things im more into buying but if you could give me a plan it would be much appreciated

Here are some REALLY helpful pages on what would need to be done:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f42/diy-homemade-laser-diode-driver-26339.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/tutorial-build-tips-7-color-laser-using-white-fusion-kit-sightfx-41942.html

You will need a blu-ray and a green laser if you wish to do the combining, to stay "cheap" I would recommend a 30mW green and a PHR. You can then build a couple LM317 drives in order to control the output of each.

I highly recommend buying from Modwerx:
Laser components : Modwerx Shop

You'll need the PHR sled as well as a green module. The PHR sled will have the blu-ray diode and the optics needed for combining. The green modules that are sold as >10mW are often overpowered and should work for what you're doing.

-Awlego

 

[HIMNL9]

Also, considering that the project is planned for "public" demonstration (i suppose, as usual school science fair projects), is better to work with low powers, or at jeast low enough to be the less dangerous possible ..... so, if decide for a color mixing experiment, maybe using a 5mW green or similar, a PHR drived at low power for match the green, and a corrispondent red (btw, for low powers like these ones, also the red diode of the PHR can be used )

They are enough for demonstrate, on a screen or with some smoke, the changes in the beam, and safe enough in case of some random reflex

 

[zxn474l]

just show the power of laser light's inphase power to incondecent light scattered light power then light a match through a glass jar or use flash paper for a visual effect!

 

[WretchedMerc]

Thanks for all the ideas but I am going to measure the effects of laser radiation on brine shrimp!