They can and do use fiberoptics to direct/relay laser. In the medical industry they use it a lot. You can't aim a 200kg laser by hand when trying to cut something inside the chest of a person. They even claim that the fibre-based one is a bit too bulky for the surgeons. Remember, there are optical fibres that have quarts cores... KreAture ----- Original Message ----- From: "Spehro Pefhany" To: Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 3:26 PM Subject: Re: [ot]: laser question > At 09:23 AM 2/4/2003 -0500, you wrote: > >I recall a science center demonstration had a huge laser that would > >cause wood to burst into flame. They said they had to use Quartz > >optics, as glass would melt under the laser. > > Or explode. > > >I imagine that the effect the fiberoptics has on the laser, and the > >laser on the fibers, would be directly related to the material the fiber > >is made of and the wavelength/power of the laser. > > You can get fiber optics that handles IR, at least up to many watts, > which is enough to burn wood. > > >This is an area that has likely been researched quite a bit for > >industrial purposes - powerful lasers are not small, and if you can move > >the laser via fiber then the machinery has a lot less work to do. > > CO2 lasers are used for various cutting purpose. We sometimes get metal > parts cut by laser, but I'm not sure whether they move the laser or the > optics. > > Best regards, > > Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" > speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com > Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com > > -- > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body