"Star Wars," "Star Trek," "Battlestar Galactica" -- laser technology plays a pivotal role in science fiction movies and
books. It's no doubt thanks to these sorts of stories that we now associate lasers with futuristic warfare and
sleekspaceships.
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But lasers play a pivotal role in our everyday lives, too. The fact is, they show up in an amazing range of products and
technologies. You'll find them in everything from CD players to dental drills to high-speed metal cutting machines to
measuring systems. Tattoo removal, hair replacement, eye surgery -- they all use lasers. But what is a laser? What
makes a laser beam different from the beam of a flashlight? Specifically, what makes a laser light different from other
kinds of light? How are lasers classified?
In this article, you'll learn all about the different types of lasers, their different wavelengths and the uses to which we
put them. But first, let's start with the fundamentals of laser technology: go to the next page to find out the basics of
an atom.