Laser-Aided Manufacturing: Atom
to Application
Jyoti Mazumder
1 Introduction
Laser as a pure form of light offers new form of industrial energy that is being
harnessed for a multitude of manufacturing processes. Each form of new energy
ushered a new era [1]. Mechanical energy used via tools started the civilizations we
know it now. Steam energy started the Industrial Revolution. Table 1 lists different
forms of energy and its influence on society.
Lasers are now used for atomic level isotope separation [2] in Atomic Energy and
zapping of eyes for corrective eye surgery [3]. Lasers first came as imagination by
H. G. Wells in his story “War of the World” serialized in the Pearson magazine in U.K.
in 1897. Science of LASER came later. Laser is an acronym for “Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” Einstein [4] first observed the phenomenon
of “Stimulated Emissions” in 1916 while studying the interaction of an atom with
electromagnetic field.
The concept of generation of laser light includes three main components, i.e.,
optical cavity, electromagnetic energy for amplification, and atomic media. It was
first published by Schawlow and Townes [5]. Theodore Maiman made the first laser
operate on May 16, 1960 at the Hughes Research Laboratory in California, by shining
a high-power flash lamp on a ruby rod with silver-coated surfaces. In the beginning,
CO 2 laser [6] invented by C. K. N. Patel provided high power suitable for manufacturing use. Later on, solid-state lasers were adapted for high power. Now lasers
with dimers as medium with ultraviolet wavelength (~192 nm) to far-infrared CO 2
(10.6 µm) are being employed for various manufacturing applications [3]. Lasers
are now enjoying revenues exceeding $14 billion (see Fig. 1).
The market segment for the lasers is shown in Fig. 2 [7]. Material processing is the
largest segment of laser application. Auto industry has embraced lasers since 1978 in
J. Mazumder (B)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
e-mail: mazumder@umich.edu
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
U. S. Dixit and S. K. Dwivedy (eds.), Mechanical Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5712-5_11
255
to Application
Jyoti Mazumder
1 Introduction
Laser as a pure form of light offers new form of industrial energy that is being
harnessed for a multitude of manufacturing processes. Each form of new energy
ushered a new era [1]. Mechanical energy used via tools started the civilizations we
know it now. Steam energy started the Industrial Revolution. Table 1 lists different
forms of energy and its influence on society.
Lasers are now used for atomic level isotope separation [2] in Atomic Energy and
zapping of eyes for corrective eye surgery [3]. Lasers first came as imagination by
H. G. Wells in his story “War of the World” serialized in the Pearson magazine in U.K.
in 1897. Science of LASER came later. Laser is an acronym for “Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” Einstein [4] first observed the phenomenon
of “Stimulated Emissions” in 1916 while studying the interaction of an atom with
electromagnetic field.
The concept of generation of laser light includes three main components, i.e.,
optical cavity, electromagnetic energy for amplification, and atomic media. It was
first published by Schawlow and Townes [5]. Theodore Maiman made the first laser
operate on May 16, 1960 at the Hughes Research Laboratory in California, by shining
a high-power flash lamp on a ruby rod with silver-coated surfaces. In the beginning,
CO 2 laser [6] invented by C. K. N. Patel provided high power suitable for manufacturing use. Later on, solid-state lasers were adapted for high power. Now lasers
with dimers as medium with ultraviolet wavelength (~192 nm) to far-infrared CO 2
(10.6 µm) are being employed for various manufacturing applications [3]. Lasers
are now enjoying revenues exceeding $14 billion (see Fig. 1).
The market segment for the lasers is shown in Fig. 2 [7]. Material processing is the
largest segment of laser application. Auto industry has embraced lasers since 1978 in
J. Mazumder (B)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
e-mail: mazumder@umich.edu
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
U. S. Dixit and S. K. Dwivedy (eds.), Mechanical Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5712-5_11
255