C.I.E. Abbreviation for Commission International de l'Eclairage, the French
translation for: International Commission on Illumination.
CALORIMETER An instrument which measures the energy, usually as heat generated
by absorption of the laser beam.
CARBON DIOXIDE Molecule used as a laser medium. Emits far energy at 10,600
nm (10.6 m).
CATHODE A negatively charged electrical element providing electrons for an
electrical discharge.
CLOSED INSTALLATION Any location where lasers are used which will be closed
to unprotected personnel during laser operation.
CO(2) LASER A widely used laser in which the primary lasing medium is carbon
dioxide gas. The output wavelength is 10.6 m (10600 nm) in the far infrared spectrum.
It can be operated in either CW or pulsed.
COAXIAL GAS A shield of inert gas flowing over the target material to prevent
plasma oxidation and absorption, blow away debris, and control heat reaction.
The gas jet has the same axis as the beam,so the two can be aimed together.
COHERENCE A term describing light as waves which are in phase in both time
and space. Monochromaticity and low divergence are two properties of coherent
light.
COLLIMATED LIGHT Light rays that are parallel. Collimated light is emitted
by many lasers. Diverging light may be collimated by a lens or other device.
COLLIMATION Ability of the laser beam to not spread significantly (low divergence)
with distance.
COMBINER MIRROR The mirror in a laser which combines two or more wavelengths
into a coaxial beam.
CONTINUOUS MODE The duration of laser exposure is controlled by the user (by
foot or hand switch).
CONTINUOUS WAVE (CW) Constant, steady-state delivery of laser power.
CONTROLLED AREA An locale where the activity of those within are subject to
control and supervision for the purpose of laser radiation hazard protection.
CONVERGENCE The bending of light rays toward each other, as by a positive (convex)
lens.
CORRECTED LENS A compound lens that is made measurably free of aberrations
through the careful selection of its dimensions and materials.
CRYSTAL A solid with a regular array of atoms. Sapphire (Ruby Laser) and YAG
(Nd:YAG laser) are two crystalline materials used as laser sources.
CURRENT REGULATION Laser system regulation in which discharge current is kept
constant.
CURRENT SATURATION The maximum flow of electric current in a conductor; in
a laser, the point at which further electrical input will not increase laser output.
CW Abbreviation for continuous wave; the continuous-emission mode of a laser
as opposed to pulsed operation.
