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Laser Intensity Formula:
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Laser intensity is a measure of the power per unit area delivered by a laser beam. It represents how concentrated the laser energy is over a specific surface area and is typically measured in watts per square meter (W/m²).
The calculator uses the intensity formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how much laser power is distributed over a given area, which determines the energy concentration of the laser beam.
Details: Calculating laser intensity is crucial for applications in materials processing, medical procedures, scientific research, and laser safety protocols. It helps determine the appropriate power settings for specific applications and ensures safe operation.
Tips: Enter the laser power in watts and the beam area in square meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the intensity in watts per square meter.
Q1: What's the difference between laser power and intensity?
A: Power is the total energy output of the laser (in watts), while intensity is the power distributed over a specific area (W/m²).
Q2: How do I measure the area of a laser beam?
A: For a circular beam, area = π × (radius)². For irregular beams, specialized beam profilers are used to measure the effective area.
Q3: Why is intensity important in laser applications?
A: Intensity determines what effects the laser will have on materials - higher intensities can cause cutting or ablation, while lower intensities might only heat or illuminate.
Q4: What are typical intensity values for common lasers?
A: Laser pointers might have intensities around 100-1000 W/m², while industrial cutting lasers can reach 10⁶-10¹² W/m² or higher.
Q5: How does intensity relate to laser safety?
A: Safety standards are based on maximum permissible exposure limits, which are intensity-based measurements that vary by wavelength and exposure duration.