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LASER
(Light Amplification by stimulated emission of Radiation)

Absorption:-
An atom in the lower energy state E1 is absorb the energy incident photon and jump
to the excited state E2. This Transition is known as absorption or induced absorption as shows
in fig. 1

BEFORE AFTER

Stimulated Upper E2
Absorption Level

Photon
Lower E1
Level
Fig. 1
In each transition made by an atom, one photon disappears from the incident beam
and it is represented by
A + h  = A*
Where A is an atom in the lower state and A* is an excited atom
The number of absorption transitions Nab occurring in the material at any instant Δt is
given by
Nab = A12 N1Q Δt

Spontaneous Emission:-
Excited state with higher energy is unstable because of a natural tendency of atom
which is stability and due to that excited atom makes a downward transition to lower energy
state spontaneously. Hence excited atoms do not wait in the excited state for a relatively
longer time and tend to return to the lower energy state by giving up the excess energy h  =
E2 – E1 in the form of spontaneous emission as shown in fig. 2. It is represented by
A* = A + h 

BEFORE AFTER

Spontaneous
Upper E2 One
Emission
Level Photon
or Decay

Lower E1
Level

Fig. 2

The number of spontaneous emission (Nsp) at any instant is depend on number of

atoms (N2) in the excited state E2 and time Δt
Nsp = A21 N2 Δt
Where A12 is the probability of spontaneous transition.

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Stimulated Emission:-
An atom in the excited state need not wait for occurring of spontaneous emission.
There exists an alternative mechanism by which an excited atoms are forced to make
downward transition and emit a photon as shown in fig. 3 .
A photon of energy h  = E2 - E1 is trigger the excited atom to make a downward
transition and releasing the energy in the form of a photon. The process of forced emission of
photons is called stimulated emission and It is represented by
A* + h  = A+ 2 h

The number of stimulated emission (Nst) at any instant Δt is given by

Nst = A21 N2 Q Δt

BEFORE AFTER

Stimulated Two
Upper E2
Emission Photon
Level
Photon
Lower E1
Level
Fig. 3

Properties of stimulated emission

1) The emitted photon is identical to the incident photon in all respects.
2) It has the same frequency v as that of incident photon
3) It will be in phase with the incident photon and travel in a same direction
4) The most important feature is that multiplication of photons takes place in the
process.

Population Inversion
The number of active atoms occupying an energy state is called population of that
states. For a laser action, light amplification means stimulated emission is to be maximized
which can be achieved by increasing the population of excited state. It means that the number
of stimulated emission is directly proportional to number of atoms in excited state. And to
achieve this condition by an artificial situation is known as population inversion.
In a state of thermal equilibrium the populations of energy levels E 2 and E1 are fixed
by Bolts Mann factor and it is given by
N2 / N1 = exp ( - ( E2-E1 ) / KT )-------------(1)
It is seen from euation 1 that, in state of thermal equilibrium there are more atoms in
the lower level than in the upper level. Therefore the non-equilibrium state is to be produce.
The N2 / N1 is produced a non-equilibrium state in which the population of the upper
energy level exceeds to the population of the lower energy level. This situation inverted the
population distribution between the level E1 and E2 and we get the population inversion. In
eqn (1) it is seen that N2 can exceed N1 only if the temperature were negative. There fore, the
state of population inversion is referred as a negative temperature state.

Metastable State
An atom is excited to a higher energy level by supplying energy to it. Normally
excited atoms have short lifetime and release excess energy through spontaneous emission. It
means that atom do not wait long time at the exited state for stimulated emission.
In order to establish the condition of population inversion, the excited atoms are
required to ‘’wait” at the upper energy level till a large number of atoms accumulate at that

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level. This type of situation is called metastable state. In metastable state atoms excited in the
order of life time 10 -6 to 10-3 sec
Therefore, the metastable state allows accumulation of a large number of excited
atom at that level. The metastable state population can exceed the population at a lower level
and establish the lasing action
“There could be no population inversion and hence no laser action, if metastable state
do not exist’’

Pumping Scheme
a) Three level pumping scheme
Let us assume that an atomic system has three energy level as shown in fig. 4
Highly Excited Level

Metastable Level
Laser Transition
Excitation

Population
Inversion
Between
These 2
levels

Ground State

Fig. 4
The state E1 is ground state and frequency  = ( E3 - E1 ) / h is incident on atom then
they get excited to uppermost state E3 called as pumping level . Pumping level E3 is not a
stable state. Hence atoms do not stay at the E3 level and undergo downward transitions either
to E1 or E2 level
The E2 is a metastable state, since the probability of spontaneous transition E 2 to E1
is extremely small. When the medium is exposed to radiation of frequency  , a large number
of atoms will be excited to the level E3 some of these atoms make spontaneous transition to
the lowest level E1 but many of them on level E2 through a non- radioactive transition. This
process continues because of pumping and after short time large number of atoms
accumulates on E2 and Hence population is invert in between E2 and E1 due to that stimulated
emission is occurred and we get laser action

b) Four level pumping scheme

The four level pumping scheme is shown in fig. 5. The state E1 is ground state and
frequency  = ( E4 - E1 ) / h is incident on atom then they get excited to uppermost state E4
called as pumping level . Pumping level E4 is not a stable state. Hence atoms do not stay at
the E4 level and undergo downward transitions either to E1 or E3 level
The E3 is a metastable state, since the probability of spontaneous transition E3 to E1
is extremely small. When the medium is exposed to radiation of frequency  , a large number
of atoms will be excited to the level E4 some of these atoms make spontaneous transition to
the lowest level E1 but many of them on level E3 through a non- radioactive transition.
Hence population is invert in between E3 and E2. While the level E2 is virtually empty.
Therefore the population inversion is achieved between the state E2 and E3 and the stimulated
emission occur and we get the laser action.

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Highly Excited Level

Metastable Level

Population

Emission
Inversion

Excitation
Between

Laser
These 2 levels

Lower
Laser Level
Natural
Depopulation

Ground State

Fig. 5

Characteristics of LASER
1) Coherence: - A conventional light source such sun produces in coherent light since they
have different wavelength with no common phase relationships. The light from the laser
source will be in Phase and have same frequency. Hence light by a laser is highly coherent.
2) Directionality: - The conventional light sources emit light in all directions. Laser emits
light only in one direction as the photons traveling along the optical axis of the system.
3) Divergence: - Light from conventional sources spreads out in the form of spherical wave
front and it is highly divergent. The divergence or angular spread of the laser beam is
extremely small.
4) Intensity: - Intensity of light from a conventional source decrease with distance as it
travels in the form of spherical wave front. A LASER emits light in the form of a narrow
beam which propagates in the form of plane wave. The intensity of the laser beam is constant
and extremely height.
5) Monochromatic: - light emitted by a laser is more monochromatic than that of any
conventional monochromatic source.

Resonant cavity
A resonance cavity is a system which amplify the stimulated radiation and increases
the intensity of the beam It obtain the laser beam from a medium in which population
inversion achieved.
An optical resonator consists of two opposing plane mirror with the active medium
placed in bet them. One of the mirrors is semi transparent while the other one is made 100%
reflecting. This type of structure is known as fabry- perot Resonator. As shown in fig.

Mirror
Energy Supply Mirror
Reflecting
semitransparent
(100%)

Active Medium

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Action of Optical Resonant

Initially, the active centers in the medium are in ground state, which is shown in
fig.(a).
Through suitable pumping mechanism the material is taken into a state of population
inversion is shown in fig (b).
Spontaneous photons are emitted in initial stage in every direction and due to the
interaction of photon, stimulated photons are emitted, which is shown in fig (c).
While propagating in the opposite direction they de-excite more and more atoms and
build up their strength is shown in fig (d).
At the 100% reflecting mirror some of the photons are absorbed but a major portion
will be reflected and travelling through the medium due to that beam of photon get amplified
is shown in fig (e).
To attain the maximum possible amplification of light, the stimulated photons are to
be made to pass through the medium back and forth between the mirrors many times. Hence
the amount of stimulated emission increases and increasing the intensity of the beam and they
meet a resonance condition which is shown in fig (f)

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Ruby LASER
Construction:- The schematic of a ruby laser is shown in fig, the ruby is taken in the form
of a cylindrical rod of about 4 cm in length and 1 cm in diameter. Its ends are grounded and
polished such that the end faces are exactly parallel and also perpendicular to the axis of rod.
One face is silvered to achieve 100% reflection while the opposite face is partially silvered to
make it semitransparent. The silvered faces constitute the mirror of fabryperot resonator. The
rod is surrounded by a helical photographic flash lamp filled with xenon.

Fig.

Working:- The energy levels of Cr3+ ions in the crystal lattice are shown in fig. They form
basically a three-level system. The xenon discharge generates an intense white light lasting
for a few milliseconds. The green component of the spectrum having wavelength 5500 Å is
absorbed by Cr3+ ions raising them from the ground state E1 to the band of level E3. The
excited levels are highly unstable. The Cr 3+ ions rapidly lose part of their energy (E3-E2) to the
crystal lattice and undergo non-radiative transitions to the state E2. E2 is the metastable state. If
pumping occurs at a faster rate the population at the level E 2 exceeds that of the ground level
E1 in a short time. The state of population inversion gets established between E 2 and E1 level
and we get the lasing action in the form of red color
Internal Energy Transfer
to Metastable State by
non-radiative processes
Energy (eV)

Metastable
State
Pumping

Pumping

Stimulated
Emission

0
Ground State

Fig.

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Helium-Neon LASER
Construction:- The schematic of a typical He-Ne laser is shown in fig 10. It consists of a
long discharge tube of length about 50cm and diameter 1cm. The tube is filled with a mixture
of helium and neon gases. Electrodes are provided to produce a discharge in the gas and they
are connected to a high voltage power supply. On the axis of the tube, two reflector are fixed
which form the fabry-perot resonator the distance between the mirror is adjusted such that it
equals mλ/2
Working:- Helium-Neon laser employs a four level pumping scheme. The energy level
diagram is shown in fig. 11.
When the power is switched on, the electric field ionizes some of the atoms in the
mixture of helium and neon gores. Due to the electric field, the electrons and ions will be
accelerated towards the anode and cathode. Since the electrons have a smaller mass, they
acquire a higher velocity. The helium atoms are more readily excitable than neon atoms
because they are lighter. The energetic electrons excite helium atoms through collision to the
excited level F2 and F3 which is at 19.18 eV and 20.61 eV. These two states are metastable
state and the excited helium atoms cannot return to the ground states. The excited helium
atoms can return to the ground state by transferring their energy to neon atoms through
collision.
The neon atoms acquire energy and go to the excited state on collision with helium
atoms which return to the ground state after transferring the energy. The kinetic energy of
helium atoms provides the additional 0.05eV for exciting the neon atom to E 6 level. This is
the main pumping mechanism in He-Ne system. Neon atoms are the active centers and the
role of helium is to excite neon atoms and cause population inversion. The E 6 and E4 are
metastable state and population inversion achieved between E6, E5 and E3 and also between E4
and E3 we get lasing action as follows
1. E6 E3 Transition:- This transition generates a LASER beam of Red
colour of wave length 6328 Ao
2. E4 E3 Transition :- It produces Infrared beam
3. E6 E5 Transition :- It also produces Infrared beam

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Fig. 11

Fig . 10

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