The acronym LASER stands for what?

The acronym LASER stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation." This definition is fundamental to understanding how lasers function. In essence, lasers produce light through a process called stimulated emission, which occurs when an electron in an excited state falls to a lower energy level and releases a photon of light. The “Amplification” part of the term refers to the fact that this process can be repeated many times, leading to a coherent and highly focused beam of light.

Understanding this term is crucial in the field of lasers because it highlights the unique properties of laser light, such as its coherence, monochromaticity, and directionality, which differentiate it from regular light sources.