Editing Laser pointer (section)

==Applications==

===Pointing===
[[File:Green-lased palm tree (crop).jpg|thumb|A 5 mW green laser pointer directed at a [[palm tree]] at night.]]

Laser pointers are often used in educational and business [[presentation]]s and visual demonstrations as an eye-catching pointing device. Laser pointers enhance verbal guidance given to students during surgery. The suggested mechanism of explanation is that the technology enables more precise guidance of location and identification of anatomic structures.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Badman |first1=Märit |last2=Höglund |first2=Katja |last3=Höglund |first3=Odd V. |title=Student Perceptions of the Use of a Laser Pointer for Intra-Operative Guidance in Feline Castration |journal=[[Journal of Veterinary Medical Education]] |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=1–3 |doi=10.3138/jvme.0515-084r2 |pmid=27128854 |year=2016 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Red laser pointers can be used in almost any indoor or low-light situation where pointing out details by hand may be inconvenient, such as in [[construction]] work or interior decorating. Green laser pointers can be used for similar purposes as well as outdoors in daylight or for longer distances.

Laser pointers are used in a wide range of applications. Green laser pointers can also be used for [[amateur astronomy]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bará |first1=S |last2=Robles |first2=M |last3=Tejelo |first3=I |last4=Marzoa |first4=RI |last5=González |first5=H |title=Green laser pointers for visual astronomy: how much power is enough? |journal=[[Optometry and Vision Science]] |volume=87 |issue=2 |pages=140–4 |doi=10.1097/OPX.0b013e3181cc8d8f  |pmid=20035242|year=2010 |s2cid=5614966 }}</ref> Green lasers are visible at night due to [[Rayleigh scattering]] and airborne dust,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Robert M. |title=The Physical Chemist's Toolbox |date=2012 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-88925-1 |page=207 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vhump_5PsaoC&q=green+laser+rayleigh+scattering&pg=PA207 |access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref> allowing someone to point out individual stars to others nearby. Also, these green laser pointers are commonly used by astronomers worldwide at [[Star party|star parties]] or for conducting lectures in astronomy. Astronomy laser pointers are also commonly mounted on telescopes in order to align the telescope to a specific star or location. Laser alignment is much easier than aligning through using the eyepiece.

===Industrial and research use===
[[File:Laser-Level.jpg|thumb|Laser level used in construction.]]
Laser pointers are used in industry. For instance, construction companies may use high quality laser pointers to enhance the accuracy of showing specific distances, while working on large-scale projects. They have proven to be useful in this type of business because of their accuracy, which made them significant time-savers. What is essentially a laser pointer may be built into an [[infrared thermometer]] to identify where it is pointing, or be part of a [[laser level]] or other apparatus.

They may also be helpful in [[scientific research]] in fields such as [[photonics]], [[chemistry]], [[physics]], and [[medicine]].

Laser pointers are used in [[robotics]], for example, for [[laser guidance]] to direct the robot to a goal position by means of a laser beam, i.e. showing goal positions to the robot optically instead of communicating them numerically. This intuitive interface simplifies directing the robot while visual [[feedback]] improves the positioning accuracy and allows for implicit localization.<ref name=Paromtchik2006>
{{cite journal
|last1=Paromtchik |first1=Igor
|title= Optical Guidance Method for Robots Capable of Vision and Communication
|journal=Robotics and Autonomous Systems
|publisher=Elsevier
|year=2006
|volume=54|issue=6|pages=461–471
|url=https://app.box.com/s/h7mt5efgolt7isfghu71
|format=PDF
|doi=10.1016/j.robot.2006.02.005}} 
</ref><ref name=Paromtchik2002>
{{cite web 
|title=Mobile Robot Guidance by Laser Pointer
| website=[[YouTube]] | date=15 October 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PgL6Npkmeg
 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/2PgL6Npkmeg| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|format=Video
|access-date=3 May 2015}}{{cbignore}} 
</ref>

===Leisure and entertainment===
[[Entertainment]] is one of the other applications that has been found for lasers. Clubs, parties and outdoor concerts may use high-power lasers, with safety precautions, as a spectacle. [[Laser lighting display|Laser shows]] are often extravagant, using [[Lens (optics)|lenses]], [[mirror]]s and [[fog]].

Laser pointers are a popular plaything for pets (e.g. [[cats]], [[ferrets]] and [[dogs]]) whose natural predatory instincts are triggered by the moving laser and will chase it and/or unsuccessfully try to catch it as much as possible,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hyman |first1=Ira | author-link = Ira Hyman |title=It's Alive! Why Cats Love Laser Pointers |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-mishaps/201101/its-alive-why-cats-love-laser-pointers |website=[[Psychology Today]] |date=January 11, 2011 |access-date=June 29, 2019 }}</ref> providing entertainment for the pet owner as well.

However, laser ''pointers'' have few applications beyond actual pointing in the wider entertainment industry, and many venues ban entry to those in possession of pointers as a potential hazard. Very occasionally laser gloves, which are sometimes mistaken for pointers, are seen being worn by professional dancers on stage at shows. Unlike pointers, these usually produce low-power highly divergent beams to ensure eye safety. Laser pointers have been used as props by magicians during magic shows.

As an example of the potential dangers of laser pointers brought in by audience members, at the [[Tomorrow Land Festival]] in Belgium in 2009, laser pointers brought in by members of the audience of 200&nbsp;mW or greater were found to be the cause of eye damage suffered by several other members of the audience according to reports about the incident filed on the ILDA ([[International Laser Display Association]]'s) Web site.<ref>[http://www.laserist.org/2009-07_Belgian-incident.htm laserist.org]. laserist.org. Retrieved on 15 October 2011.</ref> The report says that the incident was investigated by several independent authorities, including the Belgium police, and that those authorities concluded that pointers brought in by the audience were the cause of the injuries.

Laser pointers can be used in [[hiking]] or [[outdoor activities]]. It can be used as a rescue signal in emergencies which is visible to aircraft and other parties, during both day and night conditions, at extreme distances. For example, during the night in August 2010 two men and a boy were rescued from marshland after their red laser pen was spotted by rescue teams.<ref>[http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=415061&SubjectId=12 UK Marine and Coastguard Agency] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229133933/http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=415061&SubjectId=12 |date=29 December 2011 }}. Nds.coi.gov.uk. Retrieved on 15 October 2011.</ref>

===Weapons systems===
Accurately aligned laser pointers are used as [[Laser sight#Laser sight|laser gunsights]] to aim a [[firearm]].