Lasers are ubiquitous in modern technology. Many of us are familiar with handheld laser pointers, but lasers are also essential in supermarket barcode scanners, high-precision industrial manufacturing, and advanced medical procedures.

The word LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Unlike ordinary light sources, laser light possesses three distinct physical properties: it is monochromatic (a single wavelength), coherent (waves are in phase), and collimated (travels in a narrow, parallel beam).

Watch the video to explore the quantum mechanics of population inversion, stimulated emission, and how laser beams are produced.