Final answer:
Lasers operate by selective stimulation, converting light into heat through a process called light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, which was a breakthrough in quantum physics. Key components include optical pumping to achieve population inversion and the use of mirrors to enhance stimulated emission, with only about 1% of light being the actual output.
Step-by-step explanation:
All lasers work by selective stimulation, a process that turns the light from a laser device into heat. The name laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.
This process was a significant advancement in quantum physics and led to a joint Nobel Prize in 1964. Lasers, including masers which produced microwaves, have been developed to produce a range of wavelengths from microwave to ultraviolet radiation. To create a laser, energy input is necessary, which can come from sources like a flash tube or electrical discharge in a process known as optical pumping.
A large percentage of the energy is dissipated, but a critical aspect of laser operation is to achieve a population inversion. Mirrors play a crucial role by enhancing stimulated emission through multiple passes of radiation through the lasing material. Interestingly, the actual laser output is just about 1% of the light that is contained within the laser's internal reflections.