How Laser Diodes Work - The Learning Circuit

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  • čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
  • In this The Learning Circuit lesson, Karen teaches about laser diodes. She begins by explaining how a standard PN diode works. However, laser diodes are PIN diodes. Understanding the I, which stands for “intrinsic” layer, is important to understanding what makes laser diodes different, and how they are able to produce such a small, focused beam. Since laser diodes can be dangerous, Karen reviews laser safety, then wraps up the video by showing off some of the many uses for laser diodes. Keep your eyes peeled for the next video from The Learning Circuit where Karen shows how to use a laser diode to make a trip wire alarm! bit.ly/3nJP5tU
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  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 104

  • @MrCardeso
    @MrCardeso Před 3 lety +7

    Merry Christmas, Karen! And thanks for the video!

  • @LennyHirsch
    @LennyHirsch Před 2 lety +13

    Small correction: lenses are not how lasers make different shapes. Lenses focus (converge) or defocus (diverge) a beam. Diffraction gratings and/or holograms are used to make the beam into a pretty picture.

    • @donaldviszneki8251
      @donaldviszneki8251 Před rokem +1

      I forget what those lenses are called that focus by diffraction through a bunch of tiny holes..

    • @dozog
      @dozog Před 10 měsíci

      ​@@donaldviszneki8251zoneplates?
      They work similarly to Fresnel lenses.

    • @compwiz00
      @compwiz00 Před 5 měsíci

      @@donaldviszneki8251 smoke machine. it turned my ebay laser into a smoke machine.

  • @johnpaulcolthrust8207
    @johnpaulcolthrust8207 Před 2 lety +19

    Good video. Slight correction though: Both portions of the diode, n and p are essentially neutral in charge. However in the n-type portions the CHARGE CARRIERS are negative (electrons), as is the case in a metallic conductor; and in the p-type portion the CHARGE CARRIERS (holes) are positive. At the junction, in the depletion region, electrons cross over from the n-type portion to fill the holes of the p-type region (or, if you please, the holes cross from the p-type to be filled by electrons in the n-type, the two statements are equivalent), so that in the depletion region (very close on each side of the junction) there is a net negative charge in the p-type and a net positive charge in the n-type.

    • @jackhamerordewey9552
      @jackhamerordewey9552 Před rokem

      Was going to say this too, thanks for correction. Its worth noting that although there is more electrons or holes in the conduction bands, for every DONATED or ACCEPTED charge carrier a positive or negative ion is created respectively, effectively neutralizing the material.

    • @christopherleubner6633
      @christopherleubner6633 Před 8 měsíci +2

      Yup the lasing portion is essentially a very heavily doped region with the lesser doped regions supplying the charge injection into the lasing region. I used to bake laser diodes at a company called Boston Lasers using a MOCVD machine that would build them layer by layer on 2 inch wafers of gallium arsenide. For visible ones they used aluminum to replace gallium to make the wavelength shorter. One day we were making 633nm wafers and the injection valve gave 2 extra shots of trimethyl aluminum and we rolled with it. We ended up making bright orange laser diodes of 604nm that made about 250mw at 1.2A and 15 degC temperature. Seeing that much pure orange light from a laser diodr was very cool.❤

  • @enigmavariations3809
    @enigmavariations3809 Před 9 měsíci +1

    A great video that finally helped me to understand diodes. Thank you!

  • @MacOdis
    @MacOdis Před 3 lety

    Very good information. Nicely done

  • @techtopics5782
    @techtopics5782 Před rokem +3

    Duck Hunt for Nintendo doesn't use a laser to hit the screen. When the trigger is pulled the screen flashes. If the controller is pointed at the correct spot the sensor picks up on the dot that is flashed on the screen over where the target was. This is picked up by the controller and registers a hit or a miss depending. Just so you know

  • @JudgeFredd
    @JudgeFredd Před 3 lety

    Nice explanations - thank you

  • @farshidkianinasab6827
    @farshidkianinasab6827 Před 2 lety

    Hi Tnx for your learning video.
    in the video you mentioned a laser safety graph, i would like to know more about it and its reference so i can use it at my university lab.
    I'll be grateful for your help...

  • @pendalink
    @pendalink Před 3 lety

    Suuuuuper amazing video! subbed!

  • @wafiullah-shafia
    @wafiullah-shafia Před 3 lety

    So much information
    Thank you

  • @richardgoff6739
    @richardgoff6739 Před rokem

    Outstanding explanation. I never got lost.

  • @MrZenerTech
    @MrZenerTech Před 3 lety

    Great Explanation.

  • @armink2057
    @armink2057 Před rokem

    Thank you very much.
    You help me alot

  • @yuriycas1719
    @yuriycas1719 Před 2 lety +1

    hi, thanks for the explanation, but light does not come in parallel and collimated straight from the diode, rather it can be collimated with a lens if the source is point (single-mode, with waveguide width less then the wavelength)

  • @adamrak7560
    @adamrak7560 Před 2 lety +3

    Haven't mentioned my favorite type VCSEL (Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser), This is a much more advanced alternative to PIN diodes, it is really powerful and quite cheap for near infrared.

    • @dozog
      @dozog Před 10 měsíci

      She is confusing the two types.
      Look at how she shows the cavity with the light bouncing, and the direction of the collimated beam perpendicular to it. That makes zero sense.

    • @christopherleubner6633
      @christopherleubner6633 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Yup those are very interesting because the active layer is so thin they can be modulated extremely quickly. The power was low for a very long time until a company called Novalux found an ingenious way to stack the quantum wells to make much higher powers. Next they packaged them with KTP or KNbO3 crystals and made extremely efficient lasers operating at visible wavelength. Then the blue and green nitride lasers ate their lunch.😂

  • @Drxxx
    @Drxxx Před 3 lety

    Super video!

  • @Brainwizard.2
    @Brainwizard.2 Před 3 lety +2

    Hello Karen,
    Thank you so much and the team for those contents.
    Enabling so many educational path for younger tinkerer.
    Sometimes i believe, because of the opensource thoughts in the community, we build a future of small heroes, who are building the gears for medicin, bakers, schools or science.
    Electric Engineering is a major to understand more deeply our creational cause rather intriguied conspiracy ideologies.
    In the head is not in the hand, and nature is providing us with so much variety of projects.
    For Example freaking lasers!!
    Projects for people, Projects with people or Projects be creative! :)
    Have a wonderful and healthy Christmas!
    Thank you element14!
    Best Greetings from Germany
    Viet

  • @christopherleubner6633
    @christopherleubner6633 Před 8 měsíci

    I remember my first laser diode came out of a xerox docutech printer. It was a barely visible red light that came from a optical assembly with a few lenses in it. Eventually that got used with a real red laser diode of 635nm...fast forward to 2023. You now have cheap blue GaN lasers that can burn holes in stuff that can be powered by a single lithium battery.😮 The most interesting ones are the green output ones at about 515nm that can be used to replace big bulky argon lasers for many applications.❤

  • @hariharan.c6404
    @hariharan.c6404 Před 2 lety

    Beautiful explanation madam👍👌🏻

  • @ywk7282
    @ywk7282 Před 3 lety

    Thank you for the video is the biggest difference between laser diode and an LED that it has a polished mirroring layer? and what would this be made of in material perspective??

    • @dozog
      @dozog Před 10 měsíci

      Not necessarily polished (the process) but highly reflective and flat.
      Reflectivity on one side as close to 100% as one an get, on the opposite side about 95+% so that some of the beam can escape.
      The multiple reflections between the "mirror" surfaces is what creates the Amplification (the A in LASER).
      Note that her drawing in the beginning of the video is incorrect.

  • @gopinathan2856
    @gopinathan2856 Před 2 lety

    Nice explanation

  • @STONEDay
    @STONEDay Před 2 lety +3

    Nintendo light gun does not use lasers. It's an optical sensor.

  • @jhhtaylor
    @jhhtaylor Před 2 lety

    Great video

  • @touseefkhan6683
    @touseefkhan6683 Před 3 lety

    Bhaot acha vidio hai👍😘🥰 knowledge wala

  • @sotecluxan4221
    @sotecluxan4221 Před 3 lety

    Sooo nice!

  • @giuseppedanieli7878
    @giuseppedanieli7878 Před 3 lety +1

    I use 450 mn laser for engrave/print a lot of things, actualy with FAC tecnology and double beam can easy cut plywood. But the big problem is how extract heat from the module 'cos the fan isn't enought. Any suggestion?

  • @camadams9149
    @camadams9149 Před 2 lety +1

    A housing where the ceiling of each room has an optical fiber lighting array running across it; which is then covered with a coat of diffuser material.
    Then connect each array to a central light generating unit that sends light through the array when a light switch is turned on.
    Instead of lightbulbs, lamps, and copper wiring, the ceiling of the room would emit its own light

  • @yogurtpimple3455
    @yogurtpimple3455 Před 3 lety +1

    thank you very much. now I know how they work, but can anyone explain how they are made ( manufacturing process) ? I dont get how they make the mirrors in between the junctions, I cant find a satisfactory explanation.

    • @donaldviszneki8251
      @donaldviszneki8251 Před rokem

      I'm skeptical that the animation is accurate. For example, how does the light turn almost 90 degrees to escape the intrinsic layer? I believe the mirrors might be the edges of the intrinsic layer that are not attached to the semiconductors. But i could be wrong

  • @hashimhamas2155
    @hashimhamas2155 Před 2 lety

    Hello .
    Can you tell me why the laser diode itself is tiny and why they don’t make a laser that has a big crystal inside

  • @mohammadadankhan8053
    @mohammadadankhan8053 Před 2 lety

    Nice info

  • @alexjaybrady
    @alexjaybrady Před 2 lety

    thanks!

  • @metallurgyandmaterialscien7348

    is it possible to optical pumping (light) for semiconductor lasers or nanowire based lasers?

    • @christopherleubner6633
      @christopherleubner6633 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Yes they did that with Coherent's optically pumped semiconductor lasers such as the 488nm Sapphire system. In that a 800nm laser diode optically pumps a semiconductor laser that lases at 976nm and that is doubled to 488nm using a lithium borate crystal.❤

  • @GauravGupta-pb8mk
    @GauravGupta-pb8mk Před 3 lety

    Thank you mam

  • @artmota6434
    @artmota6434 Před 2 lety

    wow this is the first time i see this beautiful video of laser
    and i love laser and this love starter when i was 22 years old
    now im 58 years old
    and how this love for laser starter
    back in 1984 i went to a beautiful
    Pink Floyd concert in Oakland coliseum and they have all thos laser and i belived is the first band or show using this ligths in all world

  • @zhouyang7055
    @zhouyang7055 Před 3 lety

    thanks

  • @markkeown9532
    @markkeown9532 Před 3 měsíci

    Ok how and why are the photons 'released' from the laser inphase and all paralel. How is this done?

  • @sreekumarUSA
    @sreekumarUSA Před 3 lety

    Thanks.

  • @alfredkaserekasivanzire9488

    Sorry to ask you something different: My project consist of a blanket with température sensor, heartbeat sensor and alarm to avoid death by malaria. Sometimes babies die in bed by malaria, temperature rises nobody will notice. Which sensor to use? In blanket, on socks or in mattress?

  • @arnelcondino2634
    @arnelcondino2634 Před 3 lety

    Hi Karen merry Christmas

  • @SuleWentDigital
    @SuleWentDigital Před rokem

    Is this the same principle as a Diode Laser for Hair Removal?

    • @dozog
      @dozog Před 10 měsíci

      If it is a "diode laser" for hair removal, then yes. (Basically, the principles are the same, the way they are manufactured could be one of several sub-types)
      The manufacturer of your consumer device will not be specific.

  • @zagzone4843
    @zagzone4843 Před 2 lety

    Love Lasers !!!! 😍😍😍 !!!!

  • @johnpeters6147
    @johnpeters6147 Před rokem +1

    The diagram should have referenced the end mirrors

  • @zinhaboussi
    @zinhaboussi Před 2 lety

    nice

  • @PAA-ne3pc
    @PAA-ne3pc Před 3 lety +3

    4:27 so of course no one should build a robot to shine it directly to the eye

    • @ablasttv
      @ablasttv Před 3 lety

      Psh, no one would ever do that...

  • @Eternalelevators_and_more

    I had more than 5 experiences of my laser diodes becoming suddenly dim due to circuit boards over driven my diodes

  • @tonnyyan1949
    @tonnyyan1949 Před 2 lety

    good !ths

  • @Eternalelevators_and_more

    I have a Nichia NDG7475 1 watt 520nm green laser diode

  • @treasuretotrash2067
    @treasuretotrash2067 Před 3 lety +46

    Unlike most Karens, this one is cool 😎

    • @timscoviac
      @timscoviac Před 2 lety +3

      I wanna make a bet that the next generation of parents won’t name their daughters Karen, pretty sad as a name alone doesn’t automatically determine the character of a person but people just assume

    • @swiggityswonerr6005
      @swiggityswonerr6005 Před rokem

      Agreed

  • @docsmart2007
    @docsmart2007 Před 2 lety

    There is a new generation of blue laser diodes with a downconverting phosphor layer operating similar to white LEDs. They offer a considerably higher luminance, although a collimated beam is transformed to a uniform Lambetian one by a phosphor

    • @christopherleubner6633
      @christopherleubner6633 Před 8 měsíci

      Yup they use 5W blue or UV nitride lasers with a phosphor bonded to a sapphire window to build these laser driven light sources. They are quite popular for automobile headlamps and microscope/endoscope lamps mainly. If I ever get one I'll probably use it for a bright flashlight.❤

  • @OMNI_INFINITY
    @OMNI_INFINITY Před měsícem +1

    *Actually video game "light guns" are seemingly light detectors, not emitters*

  • @memena420
    @memena420 Před 3 lety +2

    i've found here information that i didn't know after 4 years studying laser technology...

  • @Kyrazlan
    @Kyrazlan Před 2 lety +1

    Duck hunt is not an example of lasers being used in video game controllers lmao.

  • @One-jz6sl
    @One-jz6sl Před 2 lety +2

    Those shapes are created by a grating, only after being fully collimated by a lens. Also, the light waves which escape don't act the way you showed them to behave, a very small portion of the photons which are alignted to exactly 90 degrees with the mirror facets, front and back (one mirror perhaps only reflecting 90%) will escape as collimated light.

  • @elxde0
    @elxde0 Před 2 lety +1

    6:09 a death weapon that will help me violate the geneva conventions and the treaty of versailles

    • @lennartlofdahl1612
      @lennartlofdahl1612 Před 2 lety +1

      We shall rule the world a New world order a better world

    • @elxde0
      @elxde0 Před 2 lety

      @@lennartlofdahl1612 yes brother

  • @kcoRwobniaR
    @kcoRwobniaR Před 3 lety +2

    5:55 Nintendo zapper didn't use LASER !

    • @jerther_
      @jerther_ Před 3 lety

      true. Even the super scope used IR for communication. I don't know of any game controller that uses lasers?

  • @alfredkaserekasivanzire9488

    We can count items on a conveyor belt by laser and a photosensitive surface perpendicular to the laser beam.

  • @xavierjouard3330
    @xavierjouard3330 Před 5 měsíci

    no subtitles and no transcription ? damn

  • @drbelli
    @drbelli Před rokem

    how about wall indirect light with rgb+white 256 colors? for tv room, for bar, for boAT AND ARIPLANUS ,,, dang myu disluxya is flayrn up , cyall laturs!

  • @mrengtop
    @mrengtop Před 11 měsíci

    The subject is not covered properly...!!!

  • @lennartlofdahl1612
    @lennartlofdahl1612 Před 2 lety +2

    Silicon = element 14

  • @vylbird8014
    @vylbird8014 Před 3 lety +4

    Most laser printers now use LEDs, not lasers. They used to use lasers, but advancements in LED manufacture allowed cheaper LED arrays to perform the same task. By that point though, the name had stuck - laser printers had come to be seen as an indicator of of quality and reliability, so no manufacturer would want to brand their printers as not-laser. They just carried on calling them laser printers even after the laser was removed.

    • @suhailab3634
      @suhailab3634 Před 3 lety

      Actually laser printers still do use lasers. They use a infrared usually 780nm diode to deposit ink onto the paper

    • @vylbird8014
      @vylbird8014 Před 3 lety

      @@suhailab3634 czcams.com/video/_saDCwsB9Ww/video.html
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_printer
      If you look around, I'm sure you can still find a real laser printer - but I work in IT support, and I've taken a lot of 'laser' printers apart. HPs mostly, an occasional Brother, some big Sharp multi-function units, and one Kyocera. I've yet to come across an actual laser in any of them. The industry moved to LED printing years ago because the quality is just as good, it's more reliable and costs less. They just kept on saying laser, because consumers associate laser with high-tech and LED with budget.

  • @Gin-toki
    @Gin-toki Před 2 lety +1

    People should really stop using laser pointers as pet toys, the reflected beam can still cause harm to the eye of the animal. Even if it's not immediate obvious that a surface can reflect the laser, it often can reflect enough to be harmfull.
    Also many laser pointers, especially the cheaper ones, outputs way more light than they advertise, especially in the infrared spectrum which despite being invissible, are still harmfull to the eye.

  • @OMNI_INFINITY
    @OMNI_INFINITY Před měsícem +1

    YAY...100th comment. Anyway, when heard "phonons" I was like....what? And then read some on wikipedia and now it seems I can simply make up any quantum theory and say it's legit.

  • @attikyahia9623
    @attikyahia9623 Před 28 dny

    How does a burning laser work🤔

  • @ryucoder5427
    @ryucoder5427 Před rokem

    Redefining "Keren"

  • @OMNI_INFINITY
    @OMNI_INFINITY Před měsícem +1

    Congratulations on not wearing those gloves anymore and moving into a place that looks clean. I am visiting dongguan now, so I wish I could say the view from the window looked that clean.

  • @dozog
    @dozog Před 10 měsíci +1

    I am afraid you are confusing edge emitters with surface emitters.
    Nobody believes the laser cavity is created by reflections between the boundary of the N-type material and the lasing medium on one side and the boundary of the P-type meterial and the lasing medium on the other side... and mysteriously the light is semi-collimated in the direction perpendicular to these surfaces.

  • @64etto
    @64etto Před 3 lety

    Ho fatto una stupida scoperta nel 1977 da bambino 12 enne, da un semplice (chiodo) OA85 un diodo a baffo di gatto al (anodo) tungsteno e germanio saldato sul reoforo con lo stagno che è il catodo, che alimentandolo a 9V inversamente si è illuminato come una lampadina da 75 W, tutto racchiuso da un cilindro in vetro, al confronto dei LED del 1962 si mostravano pallidi fatti con silicio drogato con arsenico e gallio e contatti e substratto in argento o oro e ora in alluminio che fa da specchio e la capsula fa da lente plastica anti riciclo, la cosa divertente :( e che nel 2010 gli scienziati scoprano il silicio e germanio drogati di stagno si illumina meglio e si fanno pure i migliori LASER a diodi a semiconduttori e si abbattono pure costi e inquinamento, fatta presente questa bella notizia del 1977 ben 44 anni dopo, non sanno che rispondere se hai la laurea al Faggin o al Oliver Twist.

  • @gbazil
    @gbazil Před 7 měsíci +1

    So many mistakes and corners being cut while explaining how it works. For instance, what exactly makes emission to be parallel ? You didn't explain that

  • @ParanormalBusters
    @ParanormalBusters Před 2 lety

    SHE SAID POST YOUR PROJECT .👻JUST MADE A REAL PROTON PACK WITH LASERS TOP SECRET GHOSTBUSTERS .🤐

  • @DAVIDGREGORYKERR
    @DAVIDGREGORYKERR Před 3 lety +1

    Just one thing if you are going to be working with these devices then please wear a welding helmet with the visor down if you value your eyes and your friends don't point the device at them also.

  • @philosoaper
    @philosoaper Před 3 lety

    a laser should NEVER be used as a "pet toy"

    • @jerther_
      @jerther_ Před 3 lety +1

      yeah, my dog choked on one once.

    • @philosoaper
      @philosoaper Před 3 lety

      @@jerther_ while that can be a problem sure.. it just takes a moment for that pointer to pass over a pets eye to blind them

    • @nullbeyondo
      @nullbeyondo Před 3 lety

      @@philosoaper It depends on the laser and of course no sane person would use such a dangerous laser on their pets.

    • @philosoaper
      @philosoaper Před 3 lety

      @@nullbeyondo even a cheap basic diode laser pointer is enough to blind if it hits directly in the eye.. so no.. there are no exceptions

  • @swedensy
    @swedensy Před 3 lety

    How laser work is covered here only 1 minute.
    Also not well explained.

  • @JPKB36
    @JPKB36 Před rokem

    the intros are bad, please remove the intros