Laser Pointer Classifications

Laser pointer consumers especially new ones are puzzled about laser pointers’ kinds, they have no idea the difference between red laser pointer and 532nm 5mW laser pointer. Laser pointers are classified into different groups by different information, such as color, power, size etc. By knowing that, one can choose suitable laser pointer for specific applications.

Laser’s wavelength determines laser pointer’s color. There are visible colors and invisible colors laser pointers. There are four main visible colors laser pointers in the market, violet blue, blue, green and red. Besides them, yellow laser pointer is created nowadays. IR laser pointer belongs to invisible one which can’t be seen by human’s eyes.

Violet laser pointer is the shortest wavelength one that is visible to human’s eyes, it is in 405nm. Then it is blue laser pointer, mainly existed form is in 445nm, 460nm and 473nm. Because of their short wavelength, they work well in thermal and burning experiments.

Green laser pointer’s wavelength is longer than previous two colors, 515nm and 532nm are being widely used. And 532nm green laser pointer is the most popular one which is used for pointing tool, as human’s eyes is most sensitive to it, which is much brighter than any other colors. For instance, a 532nm green laser pointer is 10 times brighter than a red laser pointer in the same output power.

Red laser pointer means the wavelength more than 600nm, mainly is 635nm and 650nm. It is the earliest developed one. With fully development of finished red laser diode, the price of red laser pointer is the most competitive one. It is mainly used in class teaching, lecture and other indoor meeting.

Invisible laser pointer is also called IR laser pointer in short, their wavelength is even longer the red laser pointer, such as 808nm, 980nm and 1064nm. IR laser pointer produce a dot invisible to the naked human eyes but detectable with night vision device, they are used widely by taking advantages of this feature, for example, scientific research, optical treatment, military targeting without noticed by enemy etc.

Laser pointer’s power means the max output power that it can emits. It is in unit of mW, the abbreviation of milliwatt. The bigger the output power, the more powerful the laser pointer even in different colors. For example, a 10mW red laser pointer is more powerful than a 5mW green laser pointer, even the latter one seems more shining than the previous one by eyes.

For ordinary pointing, 5mW is enough. While for thermal and burning experiment, it should be at least 100mW. 100mW laser pointer can pop balloon easily, while it needs at least 300mW to burn match.

Laser pointer is also made in different sizes for various applications. There are portable and handheld kinds. Portable laser pointer is in smaller size, like a pen which is easily to hold in hand or put into pocket; while handheld laser pointer is as big as flashlight. Usually, low power laser pointer is portable size, higher laser pointer is designed bigger for good heat dissipation.

By knowing the classifications of laser pointers and their specialty, one can choose suitable laser pointer for their specific uses conveniently.