Final answer:
The characteristics that define laser light are:
- Highly Monochromatic
- Highly Coherent
- Highly Directional
- Sharply Focused
- Light Amplification Through Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER)
Step-by-step explanation:
Laser light is unique compared to other types of light sources such as incandescent bulbs or the sun. The primary characteristics of laser light include its coherence and monochromaticity. Coherence means that the photons are in phase with one another, leading to a very precise beam of light that doesn't spread out as it travels. Monochromatic light, on the other hand, indicates that the light is of a single wavelength or color, unlike the broad spectrum produced by sources like the sun.
The question is: "Lasers and Laser Light What defines laser light? 1. Highly monochromatic: Spread in wavelength as small as 1 part in 1015. 2. Highly coherent, so can interfere one part of beam with another part that is very far away. 3. Highly directional: Beam spreads very little. Beam from Earth to Moon only spreads a few meters after traveling 4 x 10 m. 4. Sharply focused: power is concentrated into a tiny area. Can reach intensities of 1023 W/cm², compared to 103 W/cm² for oxyacetylene torch. 5. Light Amplification Through Stimulated Emission of Radiation"