How Does Laser Interaction Impact Air?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the effects of laser interaction with air, exploring whether lasers impact the air they travel through and the mechanisms involved in such interactions. The scope includes theoretical considerations and technical explanations related to high-energy lasers and their behavior in atmospheric conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that high-energy lasers can ionize the air around them, leading to various effects, while average laser beams may have negligible impact.
  • One participant clarifies that a laser is a light-emitting device and not simply a "laser beam" in a colloquial sense.
  • A participant describes the phenomenon of filamentation in high-power, short-pulse lasers, detailing the balance between nonlinear Kerr self-focusing and plasma generation, which affects the propagation of the laser beam.
  • Another participant finds humor in the description of lasers, particularly the phrase "lasers go pew pew," indicating a lighter tone in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the impact of lasers on air, with some asserting significant effects for high-energy lasers and others suggesting minimal impact for average lasers. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the extent and nature of these interactions.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of "high-energy" versus "average" lasers and the specific conditions under which the described phenomena occur.

linda123
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Does laser traveling through air affect the air it travels through?
 
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High energy lasers will ionize the air around them and do all sorts of funny things. The average laser beam will do nothing. "Laser" does not travel through air, because "laser" is a light emitting machine, not a "lasers go pew pew" ray.
 
A laser with a sufficiently short pulse duration and sufficiently high power will undergo what is known as filamentation, which is actually a dynamic balance between two opposing mechanisms - nonlinear Kerr self-focusing, which is the phenomenon whereby the local refractive index is dependent on irradiance. This essentially turns the air into a weak lens, causing the laser beam to converge (hence the term self-focusing). The opposing effect is plasma generation - which also turns the air into a weak lens, albeit a diverging one.

The combined effect of these two phenomena is a laser beam that does not spread out as it propagates (however it is not a soliton). This is especially handy for LIDAR type applications.

Claude.
 
dst said:
High energy lasers will ionize the air around them and do all sorts of funny things. The average laser beam will do nothing. "Laser" does not travel through air, because "laser" is a light emitting machine, not a "lasers go pew pew" ray.



All i got to say is that is the funniest quote i have ever heard. "pew pew" LOL. thanks for the comic releif
 

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