Laser

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

A laser is a directed-energy technology utilizing a beam of light in which all wavelengths are equal and all particles are in phase with one another. Due to this, the photon's motion is almost parallel, which allows the beam to travel over a great distance with very little increase of the beam's square area and the resulting loss of energy per area. Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers have a variety of uses in medicine, computers, mining and power generation, such as fusion reactors.

An industrial laser cannon was used by the laborers of the Orpheus Mining Colony on Luna in 2155. (ENT: "Demons")

A laser beacon was part of the Starfleet equipment issued aboard the USS Enterprise. Lieutenant DeSalle used the laser beacon to attempt to signal the ship visually from the surface of Gothos. (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos")

A tri-laser connector was a type of Eymorg tool used by Doctor McCoy when he reconnected Spock's brain in 2269. (TOS: "Spock's Brain")

A nanopulse laser was an exotic piece of equipment owned by Andromedan androids who aided Harry Mudd in capturing the Enterprise. (TOS: "I, Mudd")

Laser weapons also exist, such as the advanced laser pistols and laser cannons used by Starfleet in the 2250s, and the high-energy X-ray lasers mounted aboard Talarian warships. (TOS: "The Cage"; TNG: "Suddenly Human")

The Altec used laser weapons on their ships and once targeted them on the Enterprise-D in an attempt to acquire the Straleb Jewel of Thesia and Thadiun Okona. Picard noted that such lasers would not even penetrate their navigation shields. (TNG: "The Outrageous Okona")

In the Julian Bashir, Secret Agent holoprogram, Hippocrates Noah deploys earthquake-causing lasers around the Earth. (DS9: "Our Man Bashir")

[edit] References

• TAS: "The Terratin Incident" – bone-knitting laser, microscope laser, miniature laser
• TNG:
  • "Home Soil" – laser drill
  • "Loud As A Whisper" – optic nerve laser welding, laser weapons
  • "Brothers" – laser duel, laser pistol
  • "The Host" – laser scalpel
  • "Starship Mine" – laser welder
• DS9:
  • "Invasive Procedures" – laser scalpel
  • "The Alternate" – laser scalpel
  • "Civil Defense" – laser fusion initiator
  • "Visionary" – laser weapon
  • "Our Man Bashir" – laser cannon
  • "Explorers" – laser welder, laser cutter

[edit] External link

• Laser at Wikipedia

Laser technology
Tools: autosuture • bone-knitting laser • laser beacon • laser cannon • laser drill • laser scalpel • laser scanner • laser torch • laser welder • microscope laser • miniature laser • nanopulse laser • tri-laser connector
Weapons: Artonian laser • laser cannon • laser detonator • laser pistol • pulse laser • x-ray laser
Other: laser fusion initiator • laser micrometer • LIDAR • optic nerve laser welding