Lasers and fiber optics technologies have exploded
into mainstream science since their invention in the
1960’s. Today, engineers are looking for new ways to
apply lasers to health care, manufacturing, and communications,
and students are scrambling to get an education in the
latest in scientific laser technology.
Back in the 1960’s, the oil industry explored lasers
as a new way to solve an old problem. Every time a drilling
crew reached a different layer of rock—such as granite
or shale—they lifted the drill and screwed in a new
drill bit. This is a slow process, and expensive. But
oil companies were hesitant to retire their less expensive
rotary drills in favor of the new technology. Today,
the Argonne National Laboratory has demonstrated that
a 1.6 KW laser can cut, crack, or melt virtually any
type of rock, using less energy. A hollow optical fiber
is also being considered to deliver the laser down the
oil well. The potential savings for oil companies is
estimated at $15 Billion.
The health care market for lasers is also expanding.
Medical Laser Insight reports that more than 130,000
domestic physicians and 135,000 overseas physicians
have the opportunity to use lasers in their cosmetic
and aesthetic medical procedures. LightLance is a precision
laser that can be used in doctors’ offices, nursing
care centers, blood banks, hospitals, and disaster settings.
It may help over 475,000 medical facilities to save
lives. It may also help the 11 million Americans with
diabetes to perform their daily insulin injections.
Our SLC Fiber Optics Modules and Lasers Modules can
give your students an introduction to this exploding
technology. Check out our educational lasers and scientific
lasers, as well as the technology education activities
in our fiber optics curriculum, to teach your students
the fast-growing world of lasers.
