Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
laser
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
laser components: cutaway view first laser first gas laser
Discover how a laser beam emits light
three-level laser four-level laser laser laser cavity
Using lasers to detect structural damage in metal objects
laser scanner
For Students
laser scanner
laser summary
Quizzes
Yellow transportation sign with ASAP (as soon as possible) on violet color sky background. (acronyms)
Figure Out the Acronyms ASAP Vocabulary Quiz
Discover
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)
The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church
NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.
10 Great Sports Rivalries
Ahura Mazda - relief of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda at the ancient ruins of Persepolis in Iran. Also known as Ormazd Zoroastrianism,
Which Religion Is the Oldest?
Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.
Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement
Flags of the countries of the world (flagpoles).
How Many Countries Are There in the World?

laser: Facts & Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/laser
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Laser Tech May Have Discovered a New Color Never Before Seen by Human Eye • Apr. 22, 2025, 12:27 PM ET (Discover Magazine)

Facts

Also Known As light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation

Photos and Videos

laser components: cutaway view
first laser
first gas laser
three-level laser
four-level laser
laser
laser cavity
laser scanner
the laser scanning method employed in compact disc players
fibre optic cable
Discover how a laser beam emits light
Using lasers to detect structural damage in metal objects
What happens inside a CD player?
How scientists use lasers to learn about the universe
See how to break the “cosmic speed limit” of light by using a laser
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

Nikolay Basov
Nikolay Basov
Soviet physicist
Charles Hard Townes
Charles Hard Townes
American physicist
Gérard Mourou
French physicist
Donna Strickland
Canadian physicist
Gordon Gould
American physicist
CCD
Willard Boyle
Canadian-American physicist
Arthur Schawlow
Arthur L. Schawlow
American physicist
Nicolaas Bloembergen
American physicist
Theodore H. Maiman
American physicist

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Yellow transportation sign with ASAP (as soon as possible) on violet color sky background. (acronyms)
Figure Out the Acronyms ASAP Vocabulary Quiz