Laser Lighting Display

Also referred to as a laser light show, audiences get entertained by a series of moving lights. The complexity can range from projected beams that have been set to the music, or it could accompany many other forms of entertainment. One commonly used event includes live musical performers, such as concerts and night clubs.

The reason these features are so entertaining is due to them having a coherent nature. The narrow beams are detected by optical scanning, getting attention from people because of the images portrayed on the wall, and various patterns they make. Additionally, surfaces can be used in combination with theatrical fog and smoke to create a fun environment, without the need of refocusing to accommodate distance variations, commonly used in video projections. These beams are easily seen and that is why they are frequently used for entertaining people with effects. For example, making them ‘bounce’ off objects or in various positions using mirrors, which can create laser sculptures.

Scanning

A laser scanner uses small mirrors positioned on galvanometers for reflections. These controls how much voltage gets applied. Depending on the voltage applied, a specific amount of deflection is achieved. By combining two scanners, it creates an X-Y control which can be used for aiming beams to any position within a rectangular or square raster.

Therefore, giving the lighting designer the ability of creating various patterns, including that frequently displayed with oscilloscopes, known as Lissajous figures. However, there are many other ways this can be used as well, as it can create shapes, letters, or accompany intricate imaging. Another instance of X-Y control using galvanometer scanners include the picture tube within TVs.

Planes can be displayed by a conical or planar beam traveling through atmospheric fog or smoke.

Diffraction

Diffraction is a simpler approach that splits the monochromatic lighting up, creating various rays. Then, with the use of holograms it creates more complex gratings and divide into even more patterns.

This method utilizes a technique known as Huygens-Fresnel principle. Basically, the concept is that each wave front has forward light with propagating spherical wavelet. Initially, the wave front develops out of a straight line, similar to viewing a wave in the ocean coming in. The wave points sideways elements cancel out the spherical waves which divert to the sides. Many laser projectors use the diffraction method for projecting the light to various positions.

Static Beams

A single or multiple emitter can produce uninterrupted stationary beams. These are commonly used for designing aerial effects which are turned on or off at various intervals, therefore creating an exciting experience. This is often referred to as the simplest type of laser light because there is no manipulation, but are also thought to be an important precursor for the light shows that we have come to known today, from the dance club to on stage performances.