• Question: How do you make lasers

    Asked by hand1avos to Viviene DC, Jemma K, holliewright, Agnes on 22 Sep 2025.
    • Photo: Hollie Wright

      Hollie Wright answered on 22 Sep 2025:

      To make a laser, you need a special material called a “gain” material. When light travels through a gain material, it becomes more powerful. We place the gain material in between two mirrors so that light bounces back and forth between the mirrors, repeatedly traveling through the gain material, becoming stronger and stronger. Once the light becomes strong enough, you have a laser!

Comments

  • Photo: Martin McMahon

    Martin McMahon commented on :

    A really cool thing about lasers is that there are now so many different types of “gain materials”. These include Rubys, gases like CO2, fibre optic cables, and semi-conductor chips. This means there are so many types of lasers, and so many uses. In my line of work, we use lasers for 3D printing.