Re: Unauthorized Laser Illumination Event

Gatt writes:

Garden-variety laser pointers aren't the same as the newer high-powered
green lasers, though, are they? (For example:
http://www.greenlaserbeam.com/ )

No, they are not. They are still not the most collimated beams around, but
they are collimated enough to cover just about the area of a person's face at
a few thousand feet.

The total energy delivered to the eye in this case would be in the range of
microwatts at several thousand feet, and it would be virtually impossible to
accurately aim a handheld pointer at this range. So it would be more of a
nuisance to vision than a damage hazard.

Unfortunately, there are still more powerful lasers available. Most people
dramatically underestimate the hazards of laser light. I'd be nervous about
those green pointers just out of concern for my own vision. All you have to
do is accidentally aim it at a reflective surface, and next thing you know you
have a retinal burn.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Rabbits and Lasers
    ... I've heard of people pointing lasers at airplanes and getting arrested. ... Any intently concentrated light in those wavelengths aimed directly into the eye is going to affect the eye more than any other wavelength, which is why the warnings came out with green lasers, not the red ones. ... I've experimented with how bright the reflections from 5 mWatt green lasers can get, and how much they can spread, off of various colored and textured walls and glass, and how it affects the eyes, and there is a danger factor of temporarily blinding someone if they're dark adapted to some degree. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Flash Blinded By Green Laser
    ... >green laser pointer but I have a unique opinion of green lasers because I ... "Pollution" is something we live with. ... More than one study has clearly demonstrated that casual exposure to visible ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Unauthorized Laser Illumination Event
    ... high-powered green lasers, though, are they? ... They are still not the most collimated beams ... hazard. ... there are still more powerful lasers available. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • Re: laser sight?
    ... about the wattage one green lasers .I did see that the 10mw + ones are ... control how lasers are labeled. ... most laws involving lasers are designed to manage usage. ... possibility of eye damage. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
Loading