Laser safety
Laser safety at IFA is handled by Michael Drewsen and Steen Brøndsted Nielsen. We can be reached at drewsen@phys.au.dk and sbn@phys.au.dk.
Before conducting laser experiments
i) Read the ‘Notes on Laser Hazards’, which also explains how lasers works.
ii) Find the safety goggles that match the laser to be used, color (wavelength), intensity, CW or pulsed. There are many suppliers of goggles. The attenuation is often given in OD, OD = 1 implies a reduction of light intensity by 101 = 10, OD = 2 a reduction by 102 = 100, and so forth.
iii) Always check that everyone in the lab is wearing laser goggles.
When performing laser experiments
i) Turn on the red lamp outside the lab when the laser is on!
ii) Remove reflective objects from body, e.g., watch and jewelry.
iii) Be particularly careful with non-visible laser light and pulsed lasers that deliver a high number of photons in a short time. To monitor IR light, use IR detection cards. UV light can be monitored by a small piece of paper from the visible fluorescence. Never point the detection card / paper so that light is reflected towards the eyes!
iv) Identify all reflections and block them.
v) Make sure that flammable objects are not irradiated by laser light.
vi) Never have your eyes in the height of the laser beams
vii) Always make sure the laser beams are close to be horizontally propagating
