Technical Center: Laser Glossary of Terms

 

 

Watt

A unit of power (equivalent to one Joule per second) used to express laser power.

Watt

/cm2A unit of irradiance used in measuring the amount of power per area of absorbing surface, or per area of CW laser beam.

Wave

An sinusoidal undulation or vibration; a form of movement by which all radiant electromagnetic energy travels.

Wavelength

The length of the light wave, usually measured from crest to crest, which determines its color. Common units of measurement are the micrometer (micron), the nanometer, and (earlier) the Angstrom unit.

Window

A piece of glass (or other material) with plane parallel sides which admits light into or through an optical system and excludes dirt and moisture.

 


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