Homebuilt: Laser Shotgun Insanity

Laser diode technology has taken massive leaps over the past decade, and its implications are following close behind. Very-highpowered blue and green laser diodes have become readily and cheaply available to a wide range of industries, whereas in the not so distant past, the sheer thought of a low-power blue laser diode lasting more than a couple thousand hours seemed like complete fantasy. These small, efficient, and powerful devices are a miracle in the world of science and engineering, where their unique combination of properties is unmatched in any other device. Their rich, colorful emission is unparalleled in projectors, and their wavelength tunability makes them great for use in scientific research.