eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Cosmetic Surgery

Lasers, General Principles and Physics: Multimedia

Author: Steve Lee, MD, Physician in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery, PLLC
Coauthor(s): James E Zins, MD, Chairman, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Yelena Bogdan, Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine (SUNY)
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 13, 2008

Multimedia

Atoms at their resting energy state, or ground st...
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Media file 1: Atoms at their resting energy state, or ground state (E0), can be excited to a higher energy state (E*) when they absorb electrical, optical, or thermal energy.
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Atoms at their resting energy state, or ground st...

Atoms at their resting energy state, or ground state (E0), can be excited to a higher energy state (E*) when they absorb electrical, optical, or thermal energy.

At the E* level, atoms are unstable and spontaneo...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 2: At the E* level, atoms are unstable and spontaneously return to their E0 ground state; this process liberates the absorbed energy as light or photons and is referred to as spontaneous emission of radiation.
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At the E* level, atoms are unstable and spontaneo...

At the E* level, atoms are unstable and spontaneously return to their E0 ground state; this process liberates the absorbed energy as light or photons and is referred to as spontaneous emission of radiation.

If, on their brief descent from E* to E0, the exc...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 3: If, on their brief descent from E* to E0, the excited atoms or molecules at E* are further bombarded with the same energy that caused the initial transition from E0 to E* or a proportional amount, the net result is the liberation of an amount of energy twice the original.
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If, on their brief descent from E* to E0, the exc...

If, on their brief descent from E* to E0, the excited atoms or molecules at E* are further bombarded with the same energy that caused the initial transition from E0 to E* or a proportional amount, the net result is the liberation of an amount of energy twice the original.

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Media file 4: Schematic representation of a ruby laser (animation).
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Schematic representation of a ruby laser (animati...

Schematic representation of a ruby laser (animation).

More on Lasers, General Principles and Physics

References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

general principles and physics of lasers, laser, laser physics, principles, carbon dioxide laser, chromophore, population inversion, continuous wave, pulse laser, Q-switching, light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, stimulated emission, CO2 laser, laser tissue welding, laser scanning cytometry, low-level laser therapy, Nd:YAG 

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Steve Lee, MD, Physician in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery, PLLC
Steve Lee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons and American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

James E Zins, MD, Chairman, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
James E Zins, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, Ohio State Medical Association, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Yelena Bogdan, Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine (SUNY)
Yelena Bogdan is a member of the following medical societies: Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Michael Mercandetti, MD, MBA, FACS, Consulting Staff, Department of Surgery, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
Michael Mercandetti, MD, MBA, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Sarasota County Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Dominique Dorion, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Program Director and Division Chair, Professor of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of Sherbrooke, Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Christopher L Slack, MD, Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders
Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society
Disclosure: Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting; US Tobacco Corporation unstricted gift unknown; Axis Three Corporation Ownership interest Consulting; Omni Biosciences Ownership interest Consulting; Sentegra Ownership interest Board membership; Syndicom Ownership interest Consulting; Oxlo  Consulting; Medvoy Ownership interest Management position

 
 
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