Einstein’s coefficients

Einstein coefficients are mathematical quantities which are the measure of the probability of
absorption or emission of light by an atom or molecule.
• The probability that an absorption transition occurs is given by
P12=B12ρ(ν)
ρ(ν) – Amt. of energy supplied.
Where B12 is proportionality constant known as the Einstein coefficient for induced absorption. It is
constant characteristics of atom and represents properties of energy states E1 and E2.
• The probability that a spontaneous transition occurs is given by
(P21) Spontaneous = A21
A21 is a constant known as Einstein coefficient for spontaneous emission.A21 is a constant
characteristics of atom and is known as the radiative rate measured in units of S-1. 1/A21 is the
lifetime of the upper state against spontaneous decay to the lower state.
• The probability that a stimulated transition occurs is given by
(P21)stimulated = B21 ρ(ν) – Energy Emitted
B21 is a constant known as Einstein coefficient for stimulated emission. It is constant characteristics
of atom and represents properties of energy states E1 and E2.
• The coefficients indicated by B are related to the induced transition that is transitions
induced by external photons. Thus, B12 represents the transition induced by a photon from
lower energy level E1 to the higher energy level E2, where B21 denotes the transition induced
by a photon from higher energy level E2 to the lower energy level E1.
• The coefficients indicated by A is related to the spontaneous transition that is transition
occurred on its own without the assistance of external agent. Since a spontaneous transition
can not take place from lower energy state E1 to higher energy state E2, we do not have the
coefficient A12.
In other words, A12 =0
• Properties of lasers
• Monochromaticity - When the laser produces only one wavelength then it is fully monochromatic. This is
impossible, in principle and in practice also. If ‘Δλ’ is the range of wavelengths included in a laser beam of
wavelength l, then ‘Δν’ is the corresponding frequency. This frequency band ‘Δν is called the 'line width'. For
white light consisting of all visible frequencies, the line width is ~1014 Hz, while for a good laser it is about 102
Hz.
• Coherence - The light emerging from a laser is coherent both in space and time. The existence of finite
bandwidth Δν means that the different frequencies present in laser can get out of phase width each other.
• Directionality - A laser has high degree of directionality and can travel very large distances without
deviation. For a typical laser, the divergence is about 10–3 radians. This means that the laser beam diverges
by ~1 mm for every meter that it travels. The reason is that the active material is placed in a resonant cavity.
The light is reflected back and forth in the cavity and light travelling parallel to the axis gets emitted as the
laser beam. The light travelling in the other direction is reflected back in the cavity.
• Brightness - A laser radiates light into a narrow beam and its energy is concentrated in a small region. This is
due to the fact that the divergence is very less. This results into extremely high intensity. Even a 1 W laser
appears more intense than a ordinary 100 W lamp. This high concentration is used in many applications such
as drilling, welding and cutting.