Lesson 2: What is Wavelength and Power Density?

In this lesson I want to tell you about the importance of wavelength and power density. Everything in the Universe is light measured in waves called the electromagnetic spectrum.

Looking at the table you can see the very shortest waves to the left are cosmic rays, then gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet rays, visible light waves, infrared, microwaves and then to the far right the longest waves are radio waves. The wavelength tells you what type of laser you have. In other words, the wavelength is the hardware of your laser and is measured in nanometers or 1/1000 of a meter from peak of tip of one wave to the peak of the tip of the next wave. Visible light ranges from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers and infrared ranges from 700 to 1000 nm and are seen as blue, green, red or are not seen because the wave is invisible to the human eye. Most laser diodes used in healing lasers are in the red light range and near infrared light spectrum. Currently, because of the high cost, not many blue or green low level laser diodes are used for healing, even though they are quite effective. Both the visible and invisible ranges used in the QLaser System are very safe ranges, far away from the damaging ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma and cosmic rays. Although the longer waves such as microwaves and radio waves are usually considered safe, there are some that think they might be damaging to the very sensitive individual. The shorter the wave the more the risk of damaging cells. One company is actually selling an ultraviolet laser claiming it kills cancer cells. It is well known in the laser physics world that ultraviolet waves of 320 nanometers will cause cancer not kill it. I do not trust a laser that kills. I can tell you that I would not risk using an ultraviolet laser on me or my family. One thing that is clear about wavelength is “one wavelength will not do it all”. It requires multiple wavelengths to make the best use of lasers for pain control and healing. Don’t be fooled by claims that one wavelength is all you need. Now that you have the hardware called wave length, one of the next most important things to consider is the amount and type of power that is used to drive the laser. Laser Output Power is measured in milliwatts or 1/1000 of a watt and the formula for calculating power density is Watts/cm2. Many people only think of lasers as cutting lasers. In order to cut with lasers, it is necessary to increase the power density from 300, the range used in low level lasers, up to 10,000 W/cm2. There is just a warming effect from zero to 5 watts, which is the range of a resonating low level laser operate in. Lasers do not even have a warming affect unless they are operated above 5 W/cm2. The Q1000, a resonating low level laser, operates from 1 to 3 milliwatts (mW). Stimulating low level lasers such as the 660 Enhancer operates at 30 mW and the 808 Enhancer operates at 300 mW.

Higher power over a similar sized area increases the power density and depending on which organ or tissue is being treated could affect the results. Delicate tissue such as organs, glands or even bellies of muscles requires less power density. If too much power density is used, the body sets up polarity, or impedance, to the laser energy and becomes less effective. Also if the power density varies or fluctuates, it causes the body to set up impedance quicker. To avoid causing the body to set up impedance it is necessary to precisely control output power with accurate computers such as those found in the Q1000.... Some lasers that combine LEDs with laser diodes produce more of a warming effect, even though the energy is not very high. Throughout the world when low level lasers fail to produce the expected benefits, scientists and manufacturers have increased the power density with the idea that more power will drive the energy into the body – not so - more power is not better unless you want to cut. More power heats up the tissue and cuts, but is not as beneficial as lower power for re-energizing cellular membranes. Restoring cellular energy should be the main purpose of using low level lasers. A low level laser that gets its energy source from a 110 or 240 volt system is not as effective for resonating cells, organs and glands as a DC driven laser. AC current connects your laser to hundreds of miles of electro-magnetic contamination that is transferred down the high power electric line. This can cancel out the subtle energy cellular benefits of low power low level lasers. On the other hand most DC battery driven lasers cannot maintain a constant power density, thus negatively affecting results. Each time when a non computer controlled laser is turned on, it drains the battery. While the laser appears “on” the power density is affected and there is a different output. The body does not like this and sets up polarization against the same energy we are administering in hopes that it will cure something. However the Q1000, with its patented power density control feature, solves this problem by keeping the power density constant regardless of the energy. In this section, you have learned the importance of wavelength and that one laser (one wavelength) cannot do it all and the importance of the right type and amount of power.