Pulses of _____ are generated by the laser.

Pulses of light are generated by the laser, which is fundamental to its operation. A laser produces coherent light through the process of stimulated emission, where excited atoms or molecules release energy in the form of photons, which accumulate to form a focused, high-intensity beam of light. This is in contrast to other forms of energy like sound, air, or electricity, which do not represent the nature of the emitted energy from a laser. In LIDAR applications, for example, these light pulses are used to measure distances by bouncing off objects and returning to the sensor, enabling detailed mapping and analysis of environments. Thus, the correct identification of the output of a laser as light helps clarify the underlying principle of how LIDAR systems operate.