M2 measurement refers to different things depending on the context. Here are some possible meanings:
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Area measurement: In the International System of Units (SI), a square meter (m2) is the unit of area, which is the area of a square with sides one meter in length. It is used to measure the area of a square or rectangle, as well as the area of a circle. To calculate square meters, you need to know the length and width of the square or rectangle, and then multiply them together.
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Laser beam quality measurement: M2 is a dimensionless factor used to measure the quality of a laser beam, which compares how close the beam is to the ideal TEM00 Gaussian beam. Lower values of M2 indicate better quality than higher values, and the best possible result is M2 = 1. Laser manufacturers provide the M2 factor in their specifications to give users an idea of how easy it will be to work with their laser.
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Money supply measurement: M2 is a measure of the money supply in the US Federal Reserves estimate, which includes all of the cash people have on hand plus all of the money deposited in checking accounts, savings accounts, and other types of deposits that are readily convertible to cash such as CDs. M2 is a more comprehensive calculation than M1 because it includes assets that are highly liquid but are not intended to be routinely used as cash. The weekly M2 numbers are closely monitored as indicators of the overall money supply.
In summary, M2 measurement can refer to area measurement, laser beam quality measurement, or money supply measurement, depending on the context.
