4. Other fields of application

4.1 Industrial processes and controls

Thanks to their spatial coherence, it is possible to focus laser beams at the diffraction limit, thus obtaining power or light energy densities per unit area (illuminance or fluence) that are sufficient to machine most materials. This capability is exploited to cut, drill, weld or mark parts in a wide variety of industries, from automotive to textiles.

Lasers are also widely used in the building industry, particularly for alignment, measuring and levelling devices. Another example is laser cleaning of monuments soiled by pollution, a less abrasive method than sandblasting.

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