Article | REF: R6280 V1

Lasers: principles, applications and energy measurements

Authors: Costel SUBRAN, Jean SAGAUT, Sophie LAPOINTE

Publication date: December 10, 2009

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2. Laser beam properties

Although made up of ordinary photons, the laser beam possesses properties that are inaccessible to traditional light sources.

2.1 Directivity

The cavity is narrow and elongated, and only photons propagating exactly along the cavity axis benefit from amplification greater than losses: the laser beam is therefore totally directional. In fact, its divergence is very often close to the limit imposed by diffraction.

A laser beam can :

  • propagate over long distances while remaining collimated;

  • be focused at a point whose dimensions are limited by diffraction.

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Laser beam properties