Lasers as an energy source

[towuzzi]

if lasers produce so much power why can't we use it as an energy source

 

[Abhilash H N]

Well to get a laser beam you have to supply energy right? If laser is used as an energy source you are getting nothing but the same energy you had supplied, practically lesser perhaps...

 

[DennisN]

if lasers produce so much power why can't we use it as an energy source

Here are schematics of three laser devices; red laser pointer, green laser pointer and a Helium–neon laser. Where are the energy sources (power supplies) in the pictures?

Helium–neon laser:
http://www.olympusconfocal.com/java/henelasers/henelasersfigure1.jpg [Broken]

 

[towuzzi]

some can produce terawatts of power so where do they get all that energy to feed into the laser

 

[DrClaude]

some can produce terawatts of power so where do they get all that energy to feed into the laser

Power is not energy. Terawatt lasers produce very short pulses.

As others have pointed out, lasers are not a source of energy. The consume more energy than what comes out in the form of light.

 

[DennisN]

some can produce terawatts of power so where do they get all that energy to feed into the laser

The pulses are very short (short duration), which means high power (power = energy/time, see Power).

See also:

• MPA-XL Femtosecond Terawatt Ti:sapphire Laser System ([STRIKE]see p.3 for system specifications[/STRIKE])
  
• The Art of Amplification: A Desktop-Size 10 Terawatt Laser (ScienceDaily)

Edit: I replaced and striked out a link to a pdf document which did not work.