Copper Bromide laser in operation. Seen in South Florida in February 2006.

A laser lighting display or laser light show involves the use of laser light to entertain an audience. A laser light show may consist only of projected laser beams set to music, or may accompany another form of entertainment, typically a rock concert or other musical performance. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 348 KB) Classical Specatular featured state of the art laser and lighting designed by Durham Marenghi Photo taken at ISO 1600 with no tripod File links The following pages link to this file: Laser Lighting ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 348 KB) Classical Specatular featured state of the art laser and lighting designed by Durham Marenghi Photo taken at ISO 1600 with no tripod File links The following pages link to this file: Laser Lighting ... Image File history File linksMetadata CopperBromideLaser. ... Image File history File linksMetadata CopperBromideLaser. ... Experiment with a laser (likely an argon type) (US Military) In physics, a laser is a device that emits light through a specific mechanism for which the term laser is an acronym: light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. ... The items in the Metroid series are the driving force behind its gameplay. ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ...

Laser light is useful in entertainment because the coherent nature of laser light causes a narrow beam to be produced, which allows the use of optical scanning to draw patterns or images on walls, ceilings or other surfaces including theatrical smoke and fog. Laser scanners consist of small mirrors which are mounted on galvanometers to which a control voltage is applied. The beam is reflected a certain amount which correlates to the amount of voltage applied to the galvanometer scanner. Two galvanometer scanners can enable X-Y control voltages to aim the beam to any point on a square or rectangular raster. This enables the laser lighting designer to create of patterns such as Lissajous figures (such as are often displayed on oscilloscopes); other methods of creating images through the use of galvanometer scanners and X-Y control voltages can generate letters, shapes, or even images. (The use of X-Y raster scanning to create images is also used in television picture tubes.) A planar or conical moving beam aimed at smoke or fog can display a plane or cone of light known as a "laser tunnel" effect. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Tangent galvanometer be merged into this article or section. ... Lissajous figure on an oscilloscope- the shape of the ABC logo Lissajous figure in three dimensions In mathematics, a Lissajous curve (Lissajous figure or Bowditch curve) is the graph of the system of parametric equations which describes complex harmonic motion. ... Illustration showing the interior of a cathode-ray tube for use in an oscilloscope. ... Cathode ray tube employing electromagnetic focus and deflection Cutaway rendering of a color CRT Electron guns Electron beams Focusing coils Deflection coils Anode connection Mask for separating beams for red, green, and blue part of displayed image Phosphor layer with red, green, and blue zones Close-up of the phosphor...

Safety

Lasers can cause eye damage if aimed directly into the eye, or if someone were to stare directly into a stationary laser beam. Some high-power lasers used in entertainment applications can also cause burns or skin damage if a sufficient amount of energy (typically a stationary beam) is directed onto the human body. In the US, the use of lasers in entertainment, like other laser products, is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and additionally by some state regulatory agencies such as New York State which requires licensure of some laser operators. Safety precautions used by laser lighting professionals include beamstops and procedures so that the beam is projected above the heads of the audience. It is possible, and in some countries commonplace, to do deliberate audience scanning. In such a case, the show is supposed to be designed and analyzed to keep the beam moving, so that no harmful amount of laser energy is ever received by any individual audience member. // A human eye. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... FDA logo The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, biological medical products, blood products, medical devices, radiation-emitting devices, veterinary products, and cosmetics in the United States. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... An audience watches a laser light show during the SIB trade fair in Rimini, Italy in 2002. ...

Lasers used outdoors can pose a risk to pilots of aircraft if too-bright light enters the cockpit. In the U.S., outdoor laser use is jointly regulated by the FDA and the Federal Aviation Administration. For details, see the article Lasers and aviation safety. Aviators are people who fly aircraft either for pleasure or for a job. ... Look up aircraft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... The United States Food and Drug Administration is the government agency responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, biologics and blood products in the United States. ... “FAA” redirects here. ... Under certain conditions, laser light or other bright lights (spotlights, searchlights) directed at aircraft can be a hazard. ...

Origin

The idea of using light to accompany music goes at least as far back as 1730, when Castel came up with an early color organ. However, laser light shows fully emerged in the early 1970s and became a form of psychedelic entertainment, usually accompanied with a live musical performance on stage or pre-recorded music at a Laserium. Blue Öyster Cult, on their 1976 Agents of Fortune tour, and Pink Floyd, on their Animals Tour, were one of the first high profile bands to use a laser in their concert shows. They infamously pointed the laser directly into the crowd in shows, creating controversy over the potential for harm. This practice is now highly regulated in the U.S., to the point where almost all U.S. shows do not have laser beams go into or close to the audience. The term color organ refers to a tradition of mechanical (18th century), then electromechanical devices built to represent sound or to accompany music, in a visual medium — by any number of means. ... Laserium is a registered trademark of Laser Images, Inc. ... Blue Öyster Cult is an American rock band formed in 1967 and still active in 2007. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde style and for being pioneers of progressive rock music. ...

See also

• International Laser Display Association
• Laserium
• Laser harp

The International Laser Display Association (ILDA) is the world organization dedicated to advancing the use of laser displays in art, entertainment and education. ... Laserium is a registered trademark of Laser Images, Inc. ... Jarre playing the laser harp A laser harp is an electronic musical instrument consisting of several laser beams to be blocked, in analogy with the plucking of the strings of a harp, in order to produce sounds. ...

External links

• U.S. FDA - Center for Devices and Radiological Health
• A Brief History of Laser Light Shows - Laser F/X On-line Newsletter
• International Laser Display Association
• Worldwide Laserdistribution