Le_Forgeron <lef### [at] freefr> wrote:
> Le 14/11/2013 21:20, Samuel Benge a écrit :
> > clipka <ano### [at] anonymousorg> wrote:
> >> Am 14.11.2013 19:23, schrieb Samuel Benge:
> >>> "Anthony D. Baye" <Sha### [at] spamnomorehotmailcom> wrote:
> >>>> if you could use the light to drive an actual laser, it might be even more
> >>>> efficient.
> >>>
> >>> Has anyone ever converted direct sunlight into a laser? Or by "laser," do you
> >>> actually just mean "parallel light beam?"
> >>
> >> Lasing media are typically pumped (i.e. supplied with energy to emit
> >> actual laser light) by some kind of conventional light source - so why
> >> not sunlight?
> >
> > Never said it wasn't possible; I was just wondering it anyone had actually made
> > it work :\ Also, why would laser light be better than simply using parallel
> > rays?
>
> Laser has 3 main characteristics (compared to normal light):
>  1. parallel rays (due to the echo chamber, non parallel rays have been
> eliminated) (well, the dispersion cone is very tight)
>  2. single light-wave (at least very narrow spectrum, multiple rays are
> possible but due to pumping it's always an atomic transition of the
> electrons of the pumped material, unless a later frequency divisor is
> used, or a first laser is used to pump a second one)
>  3. synchronised phase of the photons
>
> The destructive power (or heating) is far more efficient due to point 3.
> Point 1 is just an easier way to a better control.
>
> Analogy: lighting a point with normal light is like having a team of
> basketball (or whatever your ball-sport), each with a ball, hitting a
> movable target (let's use your favourite political leader of the wrong
> party) at random time. You get effect but it's less effective than
> having all the balls hitting at the same time. (the purpose being
> obviously to have the target moving away with injuries)

Ah, of course. Makes sense!

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