visible beam?

[yellow]

so, the beam from a green laser 30+ mW will be visible even in daylight?
How about red ones? Are they never visible, even when the output is 100 and more?

2nd question:
just started lasers. Got a <5 mW green pointer.
On fresh alkalines this one is really bright. Much brighter than my old red model.

Now if I get a more powerful one in the 15 mW range (beam visible in smoke), would this be too strong to still be used as a pointer indoors?

 

[The_LED_Museum]

In answer to your last question: YES, 15mW is much too powerful to use as a pointer. Keep the power below 5mW to safely - and legally use it as a pointing device.

As far as beam visibility goes...the beam of a red laser will be visible if there is any particulate matter in the air such as dust, smoke, or fog. So yes, the beam from a 100mW red laser will be visible in darkness or subdued lighting in these conditions. But the beam from a 532nm green laser will be *FAR MORE* visible.

 

[Athoul]

If you mean daylight, as in outside during the day, then no..even a multi-Watt class laser won't do that. You will see the dot of the laser in daylight however.

A true 15mW green 532nm laser will have a visible beam even without smoke as long as the room is not overly bright. In a room lit by say 60Watt lights, you should be able to see the beam of a 15mW 532nm laser.

As for a pointer, anything over 5mW is too powerful to be used as a pointer, a 15mW will be able to make small holes in thin plastic...thus safe use is required even at this output.