Small Laser Components

Creating a visible beam requires the air to be laden with particles, like fog or smoke.

Been watching too many Hollywood movies have we ?

.... Phil

Depends on the output power. At around a megajoule per sqare cm, the beam in air will definately be visible from the side (given appropriate indirect imaging equipment so you've still got eyes to see it)!

I am inclined to agree with you however however that small (i.e. man portable) laser systems dont produce a beam visible off axis.

It always cracks me up when they show us a handheld laser gun without a 50Kg backpack for the power supply!

Just to clarify here....it's a display model. Just trying to give the appearance of weapons firing. I don't expect a hollywood solid blue beam....just some reflections from the dust in the air is enough. If that was not enough, I was thinking about putting some dry ice under it. In other words, i'd like to get a little more concentrated than a focused LED beam. Just enough for kids at a model show to say "wow!"

So, any component suggestions?

Captain Laser from 40 years ago had a big backpack, and while I can't put my hands on it easily to check, I always thought it was to power the laser and not an air supply.

But then, that backpack held two AA batteries, and there was no laser, just a light bulb of some sort, with colored plastic over it to give it color. The only LEDs at that point were in the laboratory, at the least very expensive.

The problem with a laser is that you can't guarantee that nobody will look on it straight on, and that's where the danger is, the concentration of light in a narrow beam.

Michael

Take up smoking. ;-)

Cheers! Rich

...

A fitting description IMO, except the "criminal" part suggests he has a life.