Editing Laser Tool

The Laser Tool fires a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser laser] into the simulation in the direction of the cursor. If the laser intersects with an object with a [[Surface Simulation|simulated surface]], the laser will impart energy into the object, heating its surface. The rate at which this energy will be transferred depends on the laser's power and radius.

A real laser works by adding energy to a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_laser_medium gain medium], such as a crystal or gas. This energy, at a specific wavelength, drives [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stimulated_emission stimulated emission] in the medium and produces a narrow beam of light.

==Tool Details==

===Location===

The Laser button is located in the [[Interface#Tools|Tools]] menu in the [[Interface#Bottom Bar|bottom bar]].

===Settings===

The Laser Tool has a number of settings that affect the rate at which the laser will heat the surface of an object. 

* Preset
** Universe Sandbox provides a number of laser presets representing real and fictional lasers. 
** The Auto laser will automatically set its Radius and Power based on the size of the object it is fired at.
** The Magic Cold Laser will remove heat from the object's surface rather than adding heat. 
* Radius
** The Radius property represents the size of the spot that the laser shines on the object's surface. Radius, Total Power, and Power per Area are [[Locked Properties|locked properties]].
* Total Power
** The Power Out of the laser represents the rate at which energy will be added to the object that the laser hits. Radius, Total Power, and Power per Area are [[Locked Properties|locked properties]].
* Power per Area
** The Power per Area represents the power per area of the object's surface. Radius, Total Power, and Power per Area are [[Locked Properties|locked properties]].
* Auto Radius
** When the Auto Radius toggle is on, the radius of the laser will be set automatically based on the radius of the target object.
* Wavelength
** Lasers are characterized based on the wavelength (i.e., color) of light that they emit.
** Medium
*** This property represents the gain medium of the simulated laser, and will determine the Wavelength.
* Show Beam
** A real laser is not visible until it hits an object or passes through a material that will diffract its light. When Show Beam is turned on, the laser will be artificially visible.

==Simulation Effects==

===Surface Temperature===

When a laser hits a body with a simulated surface, energy will be added to that region of the surface at a rate determined by the laser's Power Out property. This energy will be used to [[Temperature Calculation|calculate the temperature change]] of that part of the surface.
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	When a laser hits a body with a simulated surface, energy will be added to that region of the surface at a rate determined by the laser's Power Out property. This energy will be used to [[Temperature Calculation\|calculate the temperature change]] of that part of the surface.		When a laser hits a body with a simulated surface, energy will be added to that region of the surface at a rate determined by the laser's Power Out property. This energy will be used to [[Temperature Calculation\|calculate the temperature change]] of that part of the surface.
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