halogen - 30-10-2005 at 12:10
I am currently interested in making a laser. My preliminary design includes a potassium permanganate solution and a/some xenon strobe light(s).
1. Would the lasing medium work?
2. Are there other cheap mediums?
3. Could the design work at all?
4. Would I be better off making a gass laser? (CO2 or perhaps N2)
5. If so how could I achieve sufficient power. I have access to an old tv, but not much else electronicswise.
6. In any case; where might I get a semi silvered mirror OR how to make one cheaply?
Marvin - 30-10-2005 at 19:58
I think it very unlikely your idea would work.
The important question is what do you want the laser to do?
halogen - 31-10-2005 at 08:07
To emit light in phase at a lowered budget. You know - bragging rights...
12AX7 - 31-10-2005 at 10:38
Well first of all, #3 is your biggest obstacle. Some water-soluble pigments and fluorescents can lase, but I haven't heard of KMnO4 for this
purpose.
You certainly can make a laser at home and, some day, sooner or later, I'll do it myself. I'll probably start by finishing the N2 laser in
the college physics lab that some student didn't complete...
CO2 would be nice but you need exotic IR lenses and mirrors. Would be kickass to have a 10-20W CO2 laser on hand to burn metals and whatnot though
Hook it up to a CNC table and viola.
Tim
Marvin - 31-10-2005 at 12:05
Laser pointers are very cheep but leave nothing for bragging rights anymore.
You'd have to work very hard to make a laser more impressive than a a $5 laser pointer.
Twospoons - 31-10-2005 at 13:21
Sam's Laser FAQ is the best single web resource I have ever found for home built lasers. Go read, and enjoy!