UNIT 2: LASER AND APPLICATIONS

LECTURE 3

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 Revision Lecture 1
2

When a photon of energy (hν) travel through a material three

different processes occurs

1. Induced Absorption,
2. Spontaneous Emission
3. Stimulated Emission

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 Revision Lecture 2
3

Populations of energy levels is given

by Boltzmann’s distribution

ܴ௔௕ ൌ ܴ௦௣ ൅ ܴ௦௧

Absorption rate, Rab
Stimulated Emission rate, Rst
Spontaneous Emission rate, Rsp

Photon density (ρ)

Planck’s law
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
 Revision Lecture 2

Ratios of stimulated emission rate to rate

of spontaneous emission and rate of
induced absorption will give us an Idea
about what we need to realize LASER
To have LASER action dominant Stimulated emission is required
For that, we have to have high R1 and R2

1. Population inversion
2. High photon density
3. Metastable state

1. POPULATION INVERSION by Pumping

2. METASTABLE STATE to increase life time
3. Large photon density (ρ
ρ) –Optical resonant cavity
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
Quick Quiz

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 Quick Quiz Response on the 8/29/2018 Lecture

No Question Attempts Right Wrong

1 In normal conditions, absorption is more
probable, and hence spontaneous
58 20 38
emission dominate the stimulated
emission.. Why?
2 Einstein coefficient B12 for the absorption
transition is equal to B21 of the 58 31 27
stimulated transition .. Means?
3 Laser actions at high frequencies are
difficult to achieve (x-rays 57 20 37
onwards).. Why?

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

7

In normal conditions, absorption is more probable,

and hence spontaneous emission dominate the
stimulated emission.. Why?

a) More atoms are in the ground state compared to excited state.

b) Less atoms are in the excited state compared to ground state.
c) All of the above.
d) None of the above.

Ans: C
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
8

Einstein coefficient B12 for the absorption transition is

equal to B21 of the stimulated transition .. Means?

a) When atoms are placed in a radiation field probability

upward transition is more
b) When atoms are placed in a radiation field probability
downward transition is more
c) Probability for downward and upward transition are
equal
d) None of the above
Ans: C
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
9

Laser actions at high frequencies are difficult to

achieve (x-rays onwards).. Why?

a) Coefficient of stimulated emission B21 is inversely

proportional to the cube of the frequency
b) Coefficient of stimulated emission B21 is directly proportional
to the cube of the frequency
c) Coefficient of stimulated emission B21 is nothing to do
anything with frequency
d) None of the above

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
 LECTURE SCHEDULE

29/8/18 Lecture 1:Fundamentals of laser- energy levels in atoms, Radiation matter

interaction, Absorption of light, Spontaneous emission of light, stimulated
emission of light, Einstein A and B coefficients
30/8/18 Lecture 2: Einstein’s relation, Population of energy levels, Metastable state,
population inversion, Resonant cavity.
31/8/18 Lecture 3: Components of Laser, Excitation mechanisms,
lasing action, properties of laser
5/9/18 Lecture 4:Type of Lasers: Nd - YAG, He-Ne Laser, Semiconductor
Laser,
6/9/18 Lecture 5:Applications of laser in engineering, Holography.
7/9/18 Lecture 6:

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 COMPONENTS OF LASER

11

1. Active medium- metastable state to reduce A21

2. Pump- population inversion to realize N2>>N1
3. Optical resonant cavity- confinement of photons to increase ρ

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 COMPONENTS OF LASER

12

1. ACTIVE MEDIUM

When energy is given to laser medium (solid, liquid or gas), only a small fraction
of laser medium shows lasing action. This part of laser medium is called active
medium or active centre. Thus, due to this reason, the laser medium is also called
the heart of a laser.
No active medium ..no metastable state or LASER
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
 COMPONENTS OF LASER
13

2. PUMP
Laser pumping is the act of energy transfer from an external
source into the laser medium. The energy is absorbed in the active
medium, producing excited states in its atoms continuously and
population inversion is maintained always

Pump: agency which supply energy

 Optical pumping- for solid state
medium
 Electric field- for gas medium
 Chemical
 nuclear

No pumping ..no population inversion or LASER

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
 COMPONENTS OF LASER

14

3. OPTICAL RESONANT CAVITY

Electronic oscillator- an amplifier with a +ve feed back.. Source of electrical signal at low frequency

Laser: also an amplifier..an optical amplifier..

Source of coherent, collimated, high intense
electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies

Amplification happens in the active medium and feed back is provided by the optical
cavity. A pair of optically plane parallel mirror forms optical resonant cavity also
known as Fabry-Perot resonator.

No resonant cavity.. no +ve feed back or no amplification of light or LASER

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
 COMPONENTS OF LASER
15

3. OPTICAL RESONANT CAVITY

Role of optical resonant cavity

1.Positive feed back to the lasing medium

2.Set its optic axis as the direction of laser beam
3.Select and amplify only certain frequencies
4.Suppress undesired transitions.., reduce noise

L- length of the cavity, n is the refractive index, m=1,2,3,4…..

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 Excitation mechanisms
16

The excitation mechanism is the mechanism to create population

inversion.

 Depending on the source of energy that raises the atoms in the

active medium into their excited state, excitation mechanism in
lasers vary.
 Source of energy used depends on the type of material of
lasing medium

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 Excitation mechanisms
17

 Excitation by photons→→ for solid active medium

 Excitation by Electric discharge→→mostly for gaseous active
medium
 Chemical reaction→→exothermic reaction used to raise the
energy of the atoms (Excimer Lasers)
 Nuclear→→high energy neutrons from nuclear rector is used to
excite atoms
Laser medium
(Host + active centers)

Source energy (pump)

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 Friendly reminder!!
18

Energy?........work (J)
Power?....................Energy/time. (Watt ;(J/s)
Intensity?.........................................Power/Area
James Prescott Joule (1818–1889): studied the nature of heat,
and discovered its relationship to mechanical work

James Watt(1736-1819): cost-effectiveness of steam engine

The intensity is defined as the energy per unit area transmitted

by the wave past a given position per unit time. We can quantify
it by considering the work done by the wave per unit time on an
area perpendicular to its velocity,

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 LASING ACTION
19

Condition for Lasing

When the optical resonator amplify a photon?.. hν

ν→→n hν
ν
• Main losses occurs at M1, (transmission) and in the laser
medium(scattering + diffraction + absorption)
• Main gain is due to stimulated emission (photon multiplication)
Let us consider the intensity change when a beam of photon
(light), n hν
ν make a round trip within the resonator
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
 LASING ACTION
20

Condition for Lasing

Let us consider a round trip journey of photon of initial intensity I0

1 2 3

4 5
Where r1,r2 are the reflectivity of mirrors M1 and M2, αs is the distributed
loss of intensity during the this round trip in the medium .. γ- is the
Amplification Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018
 LASING ACTION
21

Condition for Lasing

So gain we got by this round trip is

Eq.1

So losses are balanced when G=1,. But to have amplification we

need G ≥ 1.. Then equation 1 becomes

September 1,
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD
2018
 LASING ACTION
22

Take r1 and r2 to the R.H.S, then we have

By taking the natural logarithm on L.H.S and R.H.S

By taking the denominator of R.H.S to the

numerator

But ln (ex) = x

September 1,
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD
2018
 LASING ACTION
23

Condition for Lasing

Eq.2 Known as the condition for Lasing

Where γ, is the amplification. R.H.S. of Eq.2 account for all losses,

so we need to pump more atoms to the excited state to start lasing.

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 LASING ACTION
24

Condition for Lasing

So as the pump power is slowly increased, a value γth, called
threshold value is reached and laser start to work. So, at that point
in Equation 2 to L.H.S=R.H.S and γ = γth

Eq.2 Known as the threshold condition

for commencing Lasing

In in other word, γth, compensate all the looses in the optical

cavity, additional pumping increase power of the output laser.

September 1,
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD
2018
 LASING ACTION
25

 Initially active centers are at ground

state
By pumping we excite and reach
Population inversion
Mirrors account for high ρ
Spontaneous emission, stimulated
emission, photon multiplication, light
amplification all happens
Only wavelength that was defined by
the cavity dimension survive and
LASER beam comes out

September 1,
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD
2018
 Some fun
26

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

Quick Quiz

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

28

The excitation mechanism in Laser is the mechanism to

create population inversion. State True or False

a)True
b)False

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

29

Life time of atoms in the excited state is

a) < 10-8 s
b) > 10-6 s
c) ~106 s
d) ~10 s

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

30

Life time of atoms in the metastable state is

a) < 10-8 s
b) between 10-6 -10-3 s
c) ~106 s
d) ~10 s

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

 LECTURE SCHEDULE

29/8/18 Lecture 1:Fundamentals of laser- energy levels in atoms, Radiation

matter interaction, Absorption of light, Spontaneous emission of
light, stimulated emission of light, Einstein A and B coefficients
30/8/18 Lecture 2: Einstein’s relation, Population of energy levels, Metastable
state, population inversion, Resonant cavity.
31/8/18 Lecture 3: Components of Laser, Excitation mechanisms, lasing action,
properties of laser
5/9/18 Lecture 4:Type of Lasers: Nd - YAG, He-Ne Laser, Semiconductor
Laser,
6/9/18 Lecture 5:Applications of laser in engineering, Holography.
7/9/18 Lecture 6:

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018

32

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD September 1, 2018