How does a LASER work?

[lozgreeny]

could someone please explain a demonstration with everyday objects to show how a laser works? thanks very much.

[Potatoman]

Hope this helps:-

http://www.llnl.gov/nif/library/aboutlasers/how.html

[slimfandango]

LASER: Light Amplification by the Simulated Emission of Radiation.

 

[Bert]

Slimfandango meant to type "stimulated", not "simulated".  He/she did not really contribute much to an answer to lozgreeny's question, however.  I have always been troubled by the usual (simplistic)explanations of how a laser works.  This usually involves the light bouncing backwards and forwards between the mirrored ends of the ruby crystal, its energy increasing, until suddenly it bursts out.  Nobody ever seems to explain why it bursts out - why doesn't it just leak out gradually?