Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!mit-amt!joel
From: joel@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (joel s. kollin)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: LASER diodes
Message-ID: <2213@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: 2 Apr 88 01:27:35 GMT
References: <5451@spool.cs.wisc.edu| <2547@ihuxv.ATT.COM> <5479@spool.cs.wisc.edu> <1988Mar30.181100.922@utzoo.uucp>
Reply-To: joel@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (joel s. kollin)
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge MA
Lines: 13
Keywords: IR Lasers ==> Safety Hazard
Summary: Danger, Will Robinson...

Please be careful around invisible lights sources in general, and
lasers in particular. In order to see near IR radiation, you'll
probably have a LOT of it entering your eye, and if the source is
collimated it will come to a focus at the back of your retina.
This can cause damage at VERY LOW power levels.

I haven't played with laser diodes but I do work with gas lasers,
and have heard enough horror stories.  Please read up on the safety
considerations for IR lasers and buy the proper eauipment.
I believe you can purchase a material which converts the IR into
visible light, and presumably diffuses it too.  I think it's
relatively inexpensive.

joel