• Question: what is the difference between a gas laser and a chemical laser/

    Asked by irishdancer99 to Mike, Tim, Tom on 5 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      A laser usually has a pair of mirrors with a gain material between them. You put energy into the gain material, and it amplifies light to make the laser beam.

      In a gas laser, the gain material is a mixture of gases (e.g. Helium and Neon in a HeNe laser). Energy is pumped into the gas mixture with an electrical discharge.
      In a chemical laser, the gain material is a mixture of different chemicals and the energy is pumped in through the chemical reaction of those materials.

    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      Gas lasers are usually more stable and don’t break as much too

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