Page 170 - Chapter 3 - An Introduction to Laser/IPL Hair Removal

Chapter 3 – Fundamentals of Laser/IPL Hair Removal 1st Edition
Comparison between Lasers and IPL Systems
Lasers and IPL are completely different devices, although they both produce high energy light. We hear many people stating that “IPLs are rubbish – they’re not as good as lasers.” This is complete nonsense and merely shows their ignorance. Both are devices which generate light energy – that’s all they are! They just generate quite a lot of energy at the same time.
Diagram of a laser
Diagram of an IPL
Figure 80 - Diagram of an IPL
IPL systems use a flashlamp which generates a broadband light output of many wavelengths. These are then filtered out according to the user’s requirements.
Figure 79 - Diagram of a laser
All lasers have a source, which determines the laser output parameters, a pumping source, usually a lamp, mirrors and internal reflectors – all contained within a laser cavity. (Semi-conductor lasers are quite different in that they are essentially little electronic circuits).
Most lasers can produce a single, monochromatic wavelength – i.e. a single coloured beam.
A laser must consist of a number of components in order to generate a coherent, minimally divergent, monochromatic beam. These include a medium which determines the laser’s wavelength, a lamp to stimulate the laser emission, a reflector and two mirrors.
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