Laser Optics Puns

Hi, I'm doing a project where I just have to research lasers, how they work, some real world applications for them, etc.

What I understand so far is that there is a gain medium composed of some material like a gas or plasma, just any material that is easily excited, between two mirrors, one totally reflecting and one partially reflecting. Then there's some energy source like another laser or a light source that gives pump energy into the medium, exciting atoms in the medium. Through spontaneous emission some of the atoms will randomly return to a non-excited state and give off a photon in any random direction, the photon having the same energy as the difference in energy of the change in energy of the atom changing from excited to ground state.

Then I understand that the protons emitted from spontaneous emission will then hit other atoms in the medium causing stimulated emission, changing the atom back into ground state and releasing another photon that is and is traveling the same as the original photon, which is what "amplifies" the photons/light.

There's a few things I don't really get about this though...

first is..How is it actually "amplifying" the light? Reading here it says it is the gain medium transferring energy into the emitted electromagnetic radiation; along with some other sources I read, I interpreted that as some of the pump energy from the pump source that was used to excite the electrons becoming new photons, but I don't get how creating new photons actually amplifies the light. My best guess is that just in creating more photons it is making the light more dense/intense, yet each individual photon/wave is unchanged. So that means the intensity of the laser is just how dense it is with photons, yet each photon never changes the amount of energy it has? When I asked my teacher about this part he said it must be because they create constructive interference, and have more with a higher amplitude, but then would that mean the photons actually sort of "combine together" to create one wave with greater amplitude, and thus higher energy, though all the sources I read just say it creates a new photon that matches wavelength, direction, and polarization.

Another thing that doesn't make any sense is how does it actually form a laser beam and not just a glorified flashlight? I read it is because it emits perfectly spatially coherent light, meaning it's all in phase with the same amplitude and w

I’m high school sophomore applying for a research position and I need to provide a research statement on what I’d be interested in studying. Are there any developing/emerging fields in optics and lasers that I should consider? Thanks

It just occurred to me that besides maybe Armenia/Azerbaijan I have never heard of two nearly equal entities with comparably advanced weaponry engaging in armed conflict in the 21st century (Crimea maybe?). I was wondering what the outcomes were.

Hey all!

I'm currently looking into ways to get that anti-laser reflective coating on periscopes and optics for modern vehicles.

I was originally thinking of painting the back of the clear part with clear gloss colors, and then placing a layer of chrome paint behind that.

But I've seen great results with the AFV club reflective stickers; and I was wondering if any of you had experience with it?

I'm also wondering if party confetti would be a good alternative? Since the vehicle I'm making doesnt exactly have a pre-made AFV set - and may require a large amount of the stuff.

Any opinions will be appreciated!