1. What is a laser pointer?

2. What is the basic structure of laser pointer?

3. What does “mW” mean?

4. What is laser wavelength?

5. What does “nm” mean?

6. Why green laser is more visible than red laser?

7. Why green laser is more expensive than red laser?

8. What is laser hazard? How serious it will be?

9. What is laser safety?

10. What is laser maintenance? 



1. What is a laser pointer?

“Laser” has got a technical definition of “Light Amplified by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation”.
A laser pointer or laser pen is a small handheld device with a power source (usually a battery) and a laser diode emitting a very narrow coherent low-powered laser beam of visible light, intended to be used to highlight something of interest by illuminating it with a small bright spot of colored light.

2. What is the basic structure of laser pointer?

Green and red laser pointers own different manufacturing structure. Green laser emits light from diode pumped laser diode, and red laser emits light directly from finished laser diode.

3. What does “mW” mean?

“mw” stand for milli watt, it is one thousand of a watt.
In lasers, mW is used as a unit to describe the power of lasers. Basically the higher the power, the brighter the dot and beam will be. Also, with more power comes more burning capability.

4. What is laser wavelength?

Human eyes are sensitive to light within a very small region of the electromagnetic spectrum labeled “visible light” with corresponded wavelength range of 400nm-700nm, including violet, blue, green, yellow, and red.

Human eyes are not capable to see radiation with wavelength range outside the visible spectrum. Ultraviolet radiation(100nm-400nm) has a shorter wavelength than visible violet laser. Infrared radiation (750nm-1mm) has a longer wavelength than visible red laser.

5. What does “nm” mean?

“nm” is the abbreviation of “nanometer”, used to define the wavelength of light produced by the laser.

Wavelength can basically be thought of as a very specific color. Commonly wavelength you will see are 405nm (violet), 450nm (blue), 460nm (blue), 473nm (blue), 515nm (forest green), 520nm (green), 532nm (green), 593.5nm (orange/yellow), 635nm (gorgeous) and 650-670nm (red). This is a good illustration of the visible spectrum.

6. Why green laser is more visible than red laser?

532nm green light is more sensitive to naked eyes than red light. Usually a green laser pointer will be more visible than a red laser pointer of equal output power. Green laser would always projects more visible and far brighter light than red laser.

7. Why green laser is more expensive than red laser?

Green laser is manufactured through complicated craftsmanship from efficient KTP crystal. Red laser is more easily available from usual laser diode. Green laser is always designed with battery components and better laser diodes.

8. What is laser hazard? How serious it will be?

Laser device projects extremely intense radiation in operation. The exposure to laser radiation can result in serious and permanent injury to skin and eyes. The intense laser beam can cause temporary or permanently blind. Laser users should also notice potential hazardous beam from invisible infrared laser and UV lasers.

9. What is laser safety?

Laser radiation is server dangerous. Never aim laser device or its reflection at an aircraft, moving vehicles and human at any distance. It is dangerous! Do not do it!

Safety tips:
Never look into the output of the laser pointer!
Viewing the laser light or a bright reflection can cause potential eye injury!
Do not allow children to operate laser device without instruction and close adult supervision.
Reflection from flat shiny mirror like surfaces can be as hazardous as the beam itself.
Eye injury is theoretically possible if the laser light source is aimed at people using optical light gathering instruments.
Never aim laser device near individuals who may interpret your actions as an emergency distress call, unless it is an actual emergency.

10. What is laser maintenance?  

Keep your laser device in the box and keep dry while not being used.
Clean the lens of your laser with a dry soft cloth.
Do not attempt to disassemble the laser device; this can lead to hazardous exposure.
Do not attempt any repair or modification, return to factory for all service. Opening the enclosure will void the warranty.
Take the battery out of the laser device when not in use.