Science Café: Ultra-fast lasers for manufacturing

Richard Carter, Herriot Watt.
Lasers are remarkable sources of light that can deliver energy with extraordinary precision, making them invaluable tools in both industry and medicine. This lecture introduces the basic physics behind how lasers work and explains how their unique properties enable applications ranging from cutting, welding, polishing, and 3D printing to advanced medical procedures and cancer treatment research. Through real-world examples, the talk demonstrates how controlling the wavelength, power, and pulse duration of laser light allows engineers and scientists to manufacture with extreme precision.