Yes, fiber lasers are infrared (IR) lasers.
Fiber lasers typically operate with a wavelength around 1090 nm. This falls within the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The infrared spectrum is generally defined as the region with wavelengths longer than visible light (approximately 700 nm) and shorter than microwave radiation.
Fiber lasers utilize optical fibers doped with rare-earth elements as the gain medium. When pumped with light, these elements emit photons at specific wavelengths, resulting in laser emission. The specific wavelength depends on the dopant material and the fiber design, but a common wavelength for fiber lasers is in the infrared range.
Because of their infrared output, fiber lasers are well-suited for applications like:
- Material processing: Including laser cutting, welding, marking, and engraving of metals and other materials.
- Telecommunications: In optical fiber communication systems.
- Medical applications: In certain surgical and therapeutic procedures.
- Lidar: For distance measurement and remote sensing.
In summary, fiber lasers, with their characteristic wavelengths in the 1090 nm range, definitively belong to the infrared laser category.
