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The laser is one of man 's
most incredible and spectacu–
lar inventions. lt produces a
beam of light billions of times
more intense than radiation
from the surlace ol the sun.
Used properly, the laser has
an amazing potentiallor good
-
for the benelit of mankind.
But the laser also has an awe–
some, mind-boggling poten–
tia/ lor war and destruction.
What wll/ be man 's decision?
Wi/1 we use the laser lor good
or for evil?
by
Robert A. Ginskey
M
an was created with a re–
markable abi lity to think,
reason. and invent. Whether
we consider a "simple" im·ention
like the wheel or the most complex
and sophisticated computer, man
has a marvelous and unmatched ca–
pacity to see a problem, analyze it.
and develop a solution.
Man has been given a truly
unique creative capacity which can
be used for the benefit of all. But
this creative ability can also be
channeled into heinously destruc–
tive channels.
Enter the Laser
The laser. a modern invention. is a
good case in point. The basic prin–
cipies of the laser were developed
back in 1958 as an extension of the
maser. a form of microwave ampli–
fier used in communications.
The laser is actually a device for
producing an incredibly intense
beam o.f light by stimulating atoms
to emit a certain wavelength. Ordi-
!ion billion times greater than the
light from the surface of the
sun.
Laser Communication
The laser also has great potential in
communications. By using " light
pipes" and " integrated optics." la–
sers can vastly increase Lhe number
of conversations or "information
channels' ' that can be transmitted.
Their capacity is stupendous.
Americans make sorne 10 million
interstate telephone calls every day.
But justa single laser could simulta–
neously handle 100 million conver–
sations in its beam. Since the
wavelength of laser Light is sorne
10.000 times shorter than the short–
est wavelength of an electronic de–
vice, the amount of information that
can be carried by a laser signa! is
10.000 times greater. To put it an–
o ther way. that single beam could
handle a ll radio, television. and tele–
phone signals in the world at the
same time.
THE LASER-FOR
GOODOR
EVIL?
The
PLAIN TRUTH
January
1977
nary ' 'white" light is made of many
"colors." or wavelengths. but laser
light is made of a narrow beam of
sing le-wavelength light where all
the waves are in step. The result is
that one can very accurately control
this powerful. intense beam and
make it do sorne fantastic things.
Probably the most obvious use is
in cutting holes. welding. and drill–
ing. Lasers can quickly cut through
almost anything. For example. in
just one second. a laser can cut
through a one-inch-thick steel sheet.
Lasers are excellent for "spot weld–
ing." where in sorne cases, precision–
con tr olled pulses of three
thousandths of a second are used.
Pulsed lasers are used to score
thin film electronic circuiLS with an
accuracy and smoothness unobtain–
able by other means. Sorne pulsed
lasers are so powerful that their out–
put could be compared to squeezing
Niagara Falls through a quirt gun
in a fraction of a second!
Lase rs have been produced which
have an intensity one hundred bil-
One of the greatest hopes is that
the laser can be used for generating
power from controlled nuclear fu–
sion. Many scientists believe the la–
ser holds the key to the fusion
process.
1
f successful. man would
have a virtually unlimited source of
power at his command.
Lasers are also used for de licate
alignments. The giant 747 jumbo jet
was built using the unerring beam
of a laser as a form of transit to
meet the demanding tolerances of
wing and control surfaces.
Holography
Then there's holography. which uses
a laser to re-create 3-D pictures of
an object that are "optically in–
distinguishable" from the realthing.
Even 360 degree holograms are now
available where you can actually see
a three-dimensional image just as
though you were walking around it
in a complete. 360-degree circle.
Lasers a re also used for determin–
ing distance. Range-finding lasers
have measured the distance to the
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