Laser pointers of yore were of limited quantity because of the high price it demands. These pointers were only usually used by professors or lecturers who want to train the distracted student’s eye on a specific part of the screen. However, the 1990s saw an increase in laser pointers production, and market competition have brought the prices down. Laser pointers of today are now relatively cheaper than its earlier counterparts, and they are also better.

Majority of laser pointers can be bought with just a few bucks – usually ranging from 1 dollar to 10 dollars for the red laser diode with 630nm wavelength. Power levels of hand-held lasers are typically measured by milliwatts. Your average laser will have an output of 5mW. They fall into the general category of Class IIIa laser devices. This is the classification given to devices that are safe for consumer use.

Red laser pointers are the ones that are frequently seen by consumers, but there are more powerful types of lasers. One of them is the green laser pointer, which is around 50 times stronger as compared to red lasers. They have a wavelength of 532nm, thus making them visible even when in mid-air. Green laser pointers can be used to locate objects that are as far as 2.5 kilometers even at night. Red lasers are definitely cheaper than green lasers, which cost 50 dollars to 100 dollars. Manufacturers have also been developing blue lasers that have shorter wavelengths.

At the base of the laser beam, the light produced by laser pointers is typically only about 1 millimeter wide. The laser pointer decoheres as time passes. A number of laser pointers have been known to produce lights with wavelengths that are not visible to the naked eye. These are then filtered through a device that doubles its frequency so that it can produce visible light.

Another type would be the combination of these three which would be the ones used for foll colour projection systems. This would be the RGB laser. RGB laser systems are basically made up of fiber coupled diode laser modules, a diode current supply, a power supply, a diode plug-in unit that comes with a control sub-system and a laser head and cooling unit.

Many people use lasers as toys for children or for cats, tools for experiments regarding optics, sights for firearms, and of course, presentations. There have been documented cases of people pulling pranks using lasers. Lasers can be shined directly into the eyes of truck drivers, musicians, aircraft pilots, and performers on stage. This can prove to be very dangerous. Health agencies have already taken steps to prohibit using lasers for mischief, and concert-goers and guests have been prevented from ringing in lasers. Laws have also been passed against inappropriate use of lasers, such as shining it at a police officer.

Cheap laser pointers, combined with other devices have used to make impressive holograms by hobbyists. Security cameras have also been put out by lasers. A few countries before have used lasers to develop weapons, but a 1996 U.N. resolution has forbidden using lasers for warfare. Lasers can cause damage to the eyes, thus, its other name: “dazzler.”