Laser physics is the study of how lasers work, focusing on the principles of light amplification and emission. A laser, which stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, produces a coherent beam of light through a process called stimulated emission. This involves exciting atoms or molecules to higher energy levels and then allowing them to release energy in the form of light. The key components of a laser include a gain medium, which provides the atoms that emit light, and an optical cavity, which reflects the light back and forth to amplify it. Lasers have various applications, including in medicine, telecommunications, and manufacturing, due to their ability to produce focused and intense beams of light.