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The power density of a surgical laser beam: Its meaning and measurement
Author(s) -
Fisher John C.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900020403
Subject(s) - meaning (existential) , power (physics) , optics , laser , beam (structure) , laser beams , medical physics , medicine , psychology , physics , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
Abstract This paper discusses the fundamental concepts of matter, energy, power, and power density, with specific emphasis on the power density of a laser. It points out that a laser beam does not have a single, unique value of diameter within which all of its radiation is confined. Therefore, a computation of power density requires both a value of diameter, and the value of the fraction of total power which is transmitted within that diameter. Some possible means of measuring diameter, power, and power density are presented.