OPTI 544 Solution Set 6, Spring 2021

Problem 1

(a) For a 3-level system, with the rates indicated in the notes and lecture slides and setting
N 3 = 0 , we end up with the following Rate Equations :

(i) N! 1 = −PN 1 + Γ 21N 2 + σ Φ ( N 2 − N 1)

(ii) N! 2 = PN 1 − Γ 21N 2 − σ Φ ( N 2 − N 1)

Setting Eq. (i) equal to zero, multiplying out and solving for N 1 , we get

−(P + σ Φ)N 1 + (Γ 21 + σ Φ)N 2 = 0 ⇒ N 1 = Γ 21 + σ Φ N 2

P +σΦ

Then ( ) (
N = N 2 + N 1 = 1+ Γ 21 + σ Φ N 2 = P + Γ 21 + 2σ Φ N 2
P +σΦ P +σΦ
)
⎛ 2(P + σ Φ) ⎞ (P − Γ 21)
and ΔN 3level = 2N 2 − N = ⎜ − 1⎟ N = N
⎝ P + Γ 21 + 2σ Φ ⎠ P + Γ 21 + 2σ Φ

For a 4-level system, with the rates indicated in the notes and lecture slides and setting
N 3 = 0 , we end up with the following Rate Equations :

(i) N! 0 = −PN 0 + Γ 10 N 1

(ii) N! 1 = −Γ 10 N 1 + Γ 21 N 2 + σ Φ ( N 2 − N 1)

(iii) N! 2 = PN 0 − Γ 21 N 2 − σ Φ ( N 2 − N 1)

Set Eq. (i) = 0 ⇒ −PN 0 + Γ 10 N 1 = 0 ⇒ N 0 = Γ 10 N 1 .

P
Set Eq. (ii) = 0 ⇒ −(Γ 10 + σ Φ)N 1 + (Γ 21 + σ Φ)N 2 = 0 ⇒ N 1 = Γ 21 + σ Φ N 2
Γ 10 + σ Φ

Combining this, we get ( )

N = N 2 + N 1 + N 0 = N 2 + 1+ Γ 10 N 1
P

⎛ (1+ Γ 10 /P)(Γ 21 + σ Φ) ⎞ Γ 10 + σ Φ + (1+ Γ 10 /P)(Γ 21 + σ Φ)

= ⎜ 1+ ⎟⎠ N 2 = N2
⎝ Γ 10 + σ Φ Γ 10 + σ Φ
 And finally

⎛ ⎞
ΔN = N 2 − N 1 = ⎜ 1− Γ 21 + σ Φ ⎟ N 2 = Γ 10 − Γ 21 N 2 = Γ 10 − Γ 21 N
⎝ Γ 10 + σ Φ ⎠ Γ 10 + σ Φ Γ 10 + σ Φ + (1+ Γ 10 /P)(Γ 21 + σ Φ)

Multiply top and bottom with P and rearrange to get

P (Γ 10 − Γ 21)
ΔN 4level = N
P (Γ 10 + Γ 21) + Γ 10Γ 21 + (2P + Γ 10 ) σ Φ

(b) For a 3-level system we have a small-signal gain (set Φ = 0 in expression for ΔN )

σ (P − Γ 21)N
g 0(ω) = σ ΔN =
P + Γ 21

Now let Φ > 0 and g(ω) = σ ΔN . Plug in ΔN 3level from part (a) and divide top and
bottom with P + Γ 21 to get

g 0(ω)
g(ω) = , Φ sat = P + Γ 21
1+ Φ / Φ sat 2σ

For a 4-level system we follow the steps above, using ΔN 4level and dividing top and
bottom with P (Γ 10 + Γ 21) + Γ 10Γ 21 , to get

g 0(ω) σ P (Γ 10 − Γ 21) N P(Γ 10 + Γ 21) + Γ 10Γ 21

g(ω) = , g 0(ω) = , Φ sat =
1+ Φ / Φ sat P (Γ 01 + Γ 21) + Γ 10Γ 21 (2P + Γ 10)σ
Problem 2

(a) The damping rate κ is the fractional loss in intensity per unit time, here given by the
fractional loss per roundtrip in the cavity divided by the roundtrip time,

κ = (1− R1R2 ) 2 = (1− 1× 0.99 ) × 3 × 10 m/s = 1.50 × 10 5/s

8

2L 2 × 0.1m

Then g t = κ = 1− R1R2 = 0.01 = 0.05 /m

c 2L 2 × 0.1m

g t 1− R1R2 2π 0.01× π
ΔN t = = = 2 = 3.14 × 10 /m
11 3

σ 2L λ 0.1m × (1× 10 m )
−6
2

(b) For lasing above threshold the saturated gain is equal to the threshold gain, and the
inversion is clamped at ΔN t . Using the result from Problem 1 and observing the
hierarchy of rates, we get

P (Γ 10 − Γ 21)N
ΔN t = ≈ PN
P (Γ 10 + Γ 21) + Γ 10Γ 21 + (2P + Γ 10 ) σ Φ P +σΦ

(N − ΔN t)
Φ = P ≈ PN
σΔN t gt

The output power is Pout = T2 !ω ΦA = T2 2π !c PN

λ gt
= 0.01× 2π × 1.05 × 10 JS × 0.5 × 10 −6 m 2 × 10 8 /s × 10 16 /m 3 0.05
−34

10 −6 m × 0.05 /m

= 20 × 10 −3 W/s = 20mW

(c) The Schawlow-Townes formula for the laser linewidth is

δν = 1 κ !ω 0N 2 = κ !ω 0N 2
2 2

2π ΔN t Pout ΔN t λ Pout

All the relevant quantities are either given in the problem text or found in parts (a) or (b)
above, except N 2 = 12 ( N + ΔN t ) ≈ 12 N , since ΔN t << N . This gives us

(1.5 × 10 7 /s )
2
× 1.05 × 10 −34 JS × 3 × 10 8 m/s × 12 × 10 16 /m 3
δν = = 5.64 Hz
3.14 × 10 11 /m 3 × 2 × 10 −2 × 10 −6 m
Problem 3
(a) From Problem 1 above and using Γ 10 >> P >> Γ 21 , we have

σ P ( Γ 10 − Γ 21) N P ( Γ 10 + Γ 21) + Γ 10Γ 21 !ω 21P

g0 = ≈σ N , I sat = !ω 21 ≈
P ( Γ 10 + Γ 21) + Γ 10Γ 21 ( 2P + Γ 10 )σ σ

Setting σ = λ = 2π c2 (strong collision broadening) we get

2 2
(b)
2π ω 21

( 3 × 10 8 m/s ) × 10 13 /m 3 = 3.619 /m
2

g 0 = 2π c 2 N = 2π
2

ω 21 (1.25 × 10 15 /s )
2

and also

1.05 × 10 −34 JS × (1.25 × 10 15 /s )

3

I sat = !ω 212 P =
3
× 10 14 /s = 3.627 × 10 7 W/m 2
2π c 2π × ( 3 × 10 m/s )
8 4

To estimate the propagation distance z for which I ( z ) = I sat , we solve

ln ( I sat / I ( 0 )) ln ( 3.627 × 10 7 W/m 2 / 1.0 W/m 2 )

I sat = I ( 0 ) e g 0l ⇒ l = = = 4.81 m
g0 3.619 /m

(c) In general we have a saturated gain g ( z ) = g0 . Thus

1+ I ( z ) / I sat
I ( z ) << I sat ⇒ g ( z ) = g 0 ⇒ I ( z ) = I ( 0 ) e g 0l
I sat
I ( z ) >> I sat ⇒ g ( z ) = g 0 ⇒ I ( z ) = I ( z 0 ) + g 0 I sat ( z − z 0 )
I (z)

Sketch: