An ultraviolet laser is a type of laser that emits light at ultraviolet wavelengths. Ultraviolet lasers are used in a variety of applications, including medical and scientific research, manufacturing, and military and law enforcement.
Ultraviolet lasers can be divided into two main categories: excimer lasers and solid-state lasers. Excimer lasers are gas lasers that use a mixture of rare gases to produce light at UV wavelengths. The most common excimer laser is the argon fluoride (ArF) laser, which emits light at 193 nanometers (nm). Solid-state lasers are made from crystals or glasses that contain rare-earth elements such as neodymium or yttrium. These materials allow the laser to generate light at shorter UV wavelengths than other types of lasers. The shortest wavelength UV solid-state laser is the neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, which emits light at 266 nm.
UV lasers have a number of advantages over other types of lasers. They can be used to create very small features on surfaces, making them ideal for microfabrication applications. Additionally, because UV photons have more energy than visible or infrared photons, they can be used to break chemical bonds and ablate material much faster than other types of lasers. Finally, UV radiation is invisible to the human eye, making it possible to perform surgery or other medical procedures without causing damage to the patient’s eyesight.
There are also some disadvantages associated with ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer and cataracts in humans, so safety precautions must be taken when using these types of lasers. Additionally, because UV photons are absorbed by many materials before reaching their target, these types of las