Example 8: Calculate the mirror reflectance required to sustain laser oscillations in a laser which is 0.

1 m
long given that the small signal gain coefficient is 1 m-1 (assume one mirror has 100% reflectance).

Solution: Gain of a laser amplifier is given by G=R1R2e2kL and for threshold it should be unity, therefore,

R 1R2 e-2kthL =1

or

Unit-4

4.28.

R1R2= e-2kthL

It is given that kth=1 m-1, R1=1, and L=0.1 m. The value of R2 is:

R 2=e-0.2=0.82

The reflectance of the second mirror (i.e. output coupler) is 82 %.

The efficiency of laser system is the ratio of the output light power to input pump power. It therefore
depends on how effectively the pump power is converted into producing a population inversion.