Can Two Lasers Overlap and Create a Single Point of Light?

[tomc]

Is it possible two have two beams of light crossing to give the illusion of a small point of light in the air?

 

[f95toli]

No, you can't "see" a laser beam from the side unless the light is being scattered from something (e.g. dust). Using two lasers won't make a difference.

 

[pallidin]

Is it possible two have two beams of light crossing to give the illusion of a small point of light in the air?

Yes.
Just like what happens when two searchlight beams cross. Something in the air(dust, water particles, etc...) must of course be present.
In any event, at the point of beam intersection, there are more photons available for scattering than from one beam alone.

 

[cjameshuff]

Two lasers intersecting in empty space won't have any effect on each other. Two lasers intersecting in a medium that has certain illumination-dependent properties is a bit more useful.

Something similar is done in at least two different types of 3D displays. One uses two infrared lasers scanning a glass cube doped with a material that fluoresces visibly when illuminated by both simultaneously. Color can be achieved using different lasers to light up different fluorescent dopants. A block of glass big enough to be a useful display would be both massive and extremely expensive, though.
http://www.3dtl.com/page9.php

Another works in air, and instead of using multiple lasers intersecting at a point, uses a single wide beam focused to a point to ionize the air to the point that it glows. This works in open air, but requires dangerously powerful lasers, and doesn't do color. Something similar is used to "etch" 3D shapes inside a block of glass:
http://www.bathsheba.com/crystal/

 

[pmacias]

Yes, it is possible for two lasers to overlap and create a single point of light. This phenomenon is known as interference and it occurs when two or more waves combine to produce a new wave. In the case of lasers, the waves are created by the emission of photons and when they overlap, they can either constructively or destructively interfere with each other.

Constructive interference occurs when the peaks and troughs of the two waves align, resulting in a stronger and brighter combined wave. This can create the illusion of a single point of light where the two beams overlap. Destructive interference, on the other hand, occurs when the peaks and troughs of the two waves cancel each other out, resulting in a dimmer or even no light at all.

The ability to manipulate and control the interference of laser beams is a fundamental principle in many applications, such as holography, optical tweezers, and interferometry. So, while it is possible for two lasers to create a single point of light, it requires precise alignment and control of the beams.