What kind of laser person are you?

[NightExplorer96]

Had the idea of making a poll to see how everyone sees themselves when it comes to lasers.

Edit: Voted Beginner for myself!

 

[trencheel303]

beginner ...?
voted.

 

[SilverFire]

Oh gosh, what does that make me?

 

[ARG]

Voted for advanced, though I'm more in between Intermediate/Advanced. Don't know a lot about lasers outside of the ones commonly seen by the hobbyist.

 

[upaa27]

Know mainly about all our diode related lasers (diode pumped fibers, dpss, semiconductor, etc)

Gas lasers im a complete newb

 

[Mattronium]

I said Intermediate. I know what I consider the basics, but I don't know ALL the intricate workings of most laser types.

 

[Things]

I know a bit ... but I can't even remember the last time I touched a laser. Where's that option?

 

[NightExplorer96]

I know a bit ... but I can't even remember the last time I touched a laser. Where's that option?

I'll add a special "Things" option haha

Edit: Don't think I can add a poll.

-Alex

 

[upaa27]

I'll add a special "Things" option haha

Edit: Don't think I can add a poll.

-Alex

Ask a mod.

ARG is on this thread and is now a mod.

 

[ARG]

Done

 

[Ears and Eggs]

I'd put myself as intermediate. I have been here for a long time but have always been more into the photography and general awesomeness of lasers as opposed to the technical side so never really went to advanced.

 

[Sigurthr]

Advanced. While I think my extensive knowledge is a bit excessive for Advanced, it's not where I would be comfortably stating Expert. I think Bloom, UK, and a few others are in similar positions. The higher tiers are a bit vague for this poll since no one knows EVERYTHING about ALL lasers. Well, except for Dr Sam. I think he'd fit in fine there.

 

[bloompyle]

Erm.. Everything about everything?

I'd say advanced. I've held my own in a university lab, as long as they keep the equations out of the topic. Gas is the one realm that I can really talk for days, though I am by far nowhere near "expert".

Hell ... I almost feel boastful claiming "advanced".

Though there's the added benefit of starting with gas I'd say. On a fundamental level, all lasers are the same. There's a pump source, whether electrical, light, heat, etc. There's a gain medium excited by this source. Again, whether that's gas, a crystalline lattice doped with some rare earth metal, or a semiconductor. Then there are mirrors to create the cavity, gathering the output light, allowing it to resonate and "gain", and releasing a percentage of this light in a coherent beam.

On a basic level, they're all the same. Pump, gain medium, mirrors. The great thing about gas is that you can, with ease, manipulate the cavity to do whatever you want. I say "with ease" as in it is very easy to change something. Not that it's easy to change from one working system, to another, it's just easy to make changes. Making the right changes is the challenge.

So I guess, yes, I'd say advanced. Though again, I do not want to sound boastful or anything. I still have TONS to learn. If anything, the past week and unaligned 532nm cavity in front of me can attest to that. As can anyone I have skyped with over the same period.

On the bright side, I can now identify 1064nm over 808nm ... Soo ... there's that.

 

[upaa27]

My extent of knowledge of lasers comes from rpphotrics, lpf, asking you guys things I was unsure of, a bit of experience, and some lecture books.

One I am reading now is called Laser Physics by Peter W. Milonni and Joseph H. Eberly

Pick it up it is a good read if you love lasers. (although I am not too big of a fan of the math)

 

[mortuus]

something between beginner and Intermediate i guess, i dont plan on building my own lasers and that so i doubt i extend my knowledge that much, i know the basics etc for now which is enough for me to have fun.

 

[lazeristasUVISIR]

Can not call myself an expert as don't know about many things about lasers [excimer LOL], though deal professionally with lasers every workday