What is LASER?

Light Amplification by Stimulated

Emission of Radiation
 ‘L’ stands for LIGHT
Ordinary vs. Laser Light

1. Many wavelengths 1. Monochromatic

2. Multidirectional 2. Directional
3. Incoherent 3. Coherent
 ‘A’ stands for AMPLIFICATION

The laser may be activated by a

few photons, but then many,
many more are generated. The
initial light is amplified to make a
very bright compact beam.
 ‘S’ stands for STIMULATED

the photons are amplified by stimulating an atom to release

more photons.
 ‘E’ stands for EMISSION

The excited atom emits a photon when another photon comes by

The photons bounce between the two mirrors until enough photons have
been emitted that some pass through the semi-silvered mirror on one
end. These are the photons which are seen as the laser beam.
 ‘R’ stands for RADIATION

Radiation refers to the photons

which are being emitted.
 GENERAL OBSERVATION ABOUT LASERS

They produce narrow beams of intense light

They often have pure colors

They are dangerous to eyes

 PROPERTIES OF LASER

Monochromatic

Concentrate in a narrow range of wavelengths (one specific colour).

Coherent

All the emitted photons bear a constant phase relationship with each
other in both time and phase

Directional

A very tight beam which is very strong and concentrated.

9
Interaction of Radiation with Matter
 What is LASER?

Light Amplification by Stimulated

Emission of Radiation
 PROPERTIES OF LASER

Monochromatic

Concentrate in a narrow range of wavelengths (one specific colour).

Coherent

All the emitted photons bear a constant phase relationship with each
other in both time and phase

Directional

A very tight beam which is very strong and concentrated.

3
Interaction of Radiation with Matter

Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh

Principle of Laser Action

The main principle for amplifying light in a Laser system is the stimulated emission
Absorption
Probability for absorption

𝑃12 = 𝐵12 𝑢 𝜈

B12 is called the Einstein

coefficient of Absorption

Total number of upward transitions

𝑁1 𝑃12 = 𝑁1 𝐵12 𝑢 𝜈

Energy is absorbed by an atom, the electrons

are excited into higher energy state.
Spontaneous Emission Probability for spontaneous emission

𝑃′21 = 𝐴21

A21 is called the Einstein coefficient

of Spontaneous Emission

Number of downward transitions due

to spontaneous emission

𝑁2 𝑃′21 = 𝑁2 𝐴21

➢ Excited atoms normally emit light spontaneously

➢ Photons are uncorrelated and independent
➢ Incoherent light
Stimulated Emission
Probability for stimulated emission
′′
𝑃21 = 𝐵21 𝑢 𝜈

B21 is called the Einstein

coefficient of Stimulated Emission

Number of downward transitions due

to stimulated emission
′′
𝑁2𝑃21 = 𝑁2 𝐵21 𝑢 𝜈

❑ Atoms in an upper energy level can be triggered or stimulated in

phase by an incoming photon of a specific energy.
❑ The photon produced is of same energy as the incident photon.
❑ Emitted photon is in phase with the incident photon; travel in the
same direction.
Relation Between Einstein Coefficients

In Thermal Equilibrium
𝑁2 𝑃21 = 𝑁1 𝑃12
where N1 and N2 are the populations of E1 and E2
′′
𝑁2 𝑃21 + 𝑁2 𝑃′21 = 𝑁1 𝑃12
Substituting for Probabilities we get

𝑁2 𝐵21 𝑢 𝜈 + 𝑁2 𝐴21 = 𝑁1 𝐵12 𝑢 𝜈

Rearranging this we get

𝐴21
𝑢 𝜈 =
𝐵12 𝑁1
𝐵21 −1
𝐵21 𝑁2

Reference Book for Derivation: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh

From Maxwell- Boltzmann law we have 𝑁1 𝐸2 − 𝐸1
= 𝑒 𝑘𝑇
𝑁2
𝑁1 ℎ𝑣
= 𝑒 𝑘𝑇
𝑁2
Also, according to Einstein

So, we get
Reference Book for Derivation: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh

From Planck’s radiation Law we have

Comparing the 2 equations we get

Relation between Einstein’s coefficients A & B

 Concept of Population Inversion
In thermodynamically equilibrium
N2 E2

N2 E2 E2-E1 = h

E2-E1 = h N1 E1

N2 > N1
N1 E1 Required for LASER Action

Process of producing a population inversion

N1 > N2 is called pumping.

-electron Normal Population Population Inversion

RECAP

LASERS

✓Introduction
✓General properties
✓Interaction of Radiation with Matter
❑ Absorption
❑ Spontaneous Emission
❑ Stimulated Emission
✓Relation between Einstein A & B coefficients
✓Population Inversion
 Concept of Population Inversion
Normal Population Population Inversion
N2 E2

In thermodynamic equilibrium

N2 E2 E2-E1 = h

E2-E1 = h N1 E1

N2 > N1
N1 E1 Required for LASER Action

Population Inversion: State of the medium in

which there are larger number of atoms in higher
N1 > N2 energy state as compared to the lower energy
-electron state. Non-equilibrium state.
 Concept of Metastable States

The existence of metastable state enhances

the probability of population inversion.
• Excited states have very short lifetime (10-8 s)
→ excited atoms decay very quickly to the
ground state → Difficult to obtain population
inversion.
• Metastable states have much longer lifetime
(10-3 s) → large number of atoms can
accumulate → population inversion b/w
metastable state and ground state.
No population inversion & hence laser action in
the absence of metastable states. Rate of decay from the excited level to the
ground level is slower than the rate at which
the atoms decay from the excited level to the
metastable state → population inversion b/w
the metastable and ground state.
 ❑ Not possible to achieve population
inversion (laser action) in a 2 level
system. Why?
→ B12 = B21, so even with very strong
pumping the population in the higher &
lower energy levels can at best be made
equal

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 4 Level system
3 Level system

Assignment question: why is a 4-level laser better/more efficient than a 3-level laser?

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 Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh
Possibility of Lasing action in different energy level systems

Lasers that maintain a population

inversion indefinitely produce
continuous output: termed CW
(continuous wave) lasers

Lasers that have a short-lived

population inversion produce pulsed
output: these are pulsed lasers
Types of Pumping methods Process of producing a population inversion
is called pumping.
Optical Pumping → supply luminous energy from a light source. The energy is supplied in the form of
short flashes of light. E.g., in Ruby laser.

Electrical Pumping → A strong electric field is applied to the atomic system with the use of high
voltage power supply. The high energy electrons collide with the atoms and transfer their kinetic
energy to the later. As a result, atoms rise to the higher states. E.g., in Gaseous Ion lasers.

Inelastic atom-atom collision → Atoms excited by electrical discharge method collide in-elastically
with other atoms. E.g., in He-Ne laser.

Chemical Pumping → energy for the pumping is obtained from chemical reactions. E.g., when
hydrogen combines with fluorine to produce hydrogen fluoride, a large amount of heat (energy) is
generated; CO2 laser.

Direct conversion → Electric energy is converted into light energy with the help of LEDs. E.g., in
Semiconductor laser.
Note: Self study, notes will also be provided
Components of a Laser System / Construction of Laser

❑ Active Medium (Gain Medium)

❑ Pumping Mechanism (Pump)

❑ Optical / Resonant Cavity

Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh

When the LASER light comes out from the front mirror, it undergoes diffraction as the semi-transparent front
mirror acts as a circular aperture. Accordingly, it spreads out and the angular spread is given by

1.22λ where, ‘d’ is the diameter of

Ω=
𝑑 curvature of the front mirror and λ
is the laser wavelength.

If this laser beam is focused with the help of a lens of focal length ‘f’, the areal spread is given by

β= 𝑓∗Ω 2

If I be the intensity of a laser beam of power P, then 𝐼 = 𝑃/β

The coherence length L for a laser beam is determined by L = c*t, where t is the corresponding coherence
time and c is the speed of light.
Types of Lasers

Solid state Lasers: The active medium is solid crystal such as Ruby, Nd:YAG (Nd:Y3Al5O12 ) etc.

Gaseous Lasers: The active medium is gaseous such as He-Ne laser, CO2 laser etc.

Dye Lasers: Macromolecules used for different laser light from single medium

Semiconductor Lasers: PN junction diode (semiconductor) used for producing LASER

Assignment Questions / Self-Study

❑ Why is a 4-level laser better/more efficient than a 3-level laser?

❑ Why stimulated emission gives coherent light, but spontaneous emission gives incoherent light?

❑ Different pumping methods.

RECAP
LASERS
✓ Introduction
✓ General properties
✓ Interaction of Radiation with Matter
❑ Absorption
❑ Spontaneous Emission
❑ Stimulated Emission
✓ Relation between Einstein A & B coefficients
✓ Population Inversion
✓ Metastable States
✓ 3 level & 4 level lasers
✓ Types of Pumping
✓ Construction / Components of Laser
 Ruby Laser
Solid –State Laser
Three Level Laser
Pulsed Laser
Operation duration is only few hours

He-Ne Laser
Gas Laser
Four Level Laser
Continuous Laser
Operation duration is of ~ 10,000 hours

Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh

 Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh
Ruby Laser
A ruby laser is a solid-state laser that uses a synthetic ruby crystal as its gain medium.

It was the first type of laser invented, and was first operated by Theodore H. "Ted"
Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories on 1960-05-16 .

The ruby mineral is aluminum oxide with a small amount (about 0.05%) of Chromium
which gives it its characteristic pink or red color by absorbing green and blue light. Note
that Chromium ions are the active centers.

The ruby laser is used as a pulsed laser, producing red light at 694.3 nm.

After receiving a pumping flash from the flash tube, the laser light emerges for as long
as the excited atoms persist in the ruby rod, which is typically about a millisecond.

Ruby Laser - Definition, Construction and Working (physics-and-radio-

(1) Ruby Laser - YouTube
electronics.com)
Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh
Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh
Ruby Laser (Three Level Laser)

Short-live state 10-8sec

E3
Radiation-less Transition
Optical
Pumping
Metastable state 10-3sec
E2
5500 Å Stimulated 6943 Å
Spontaneous Emission
Emission 6943 Å 6943 Å

E1
Ground State

Chromium Energy Levels

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He-Ne Laser

• Gas Laser (First gaseous laser to be developed)

• Four-level laser
• Emits wavelength of 6328Ȧ (632.8 nm; visible spectrum)
• Active medium is Helium & Neon (10:1 ratio)

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• Pumping method: Electrical discharge
• He atoms help achieve population inversion in Ne atoms
Construction and Working of Helium – Neon laser - YouTube
 WORKING: He-Ne Laser (Four Level Laser)

In-elastic collision
Energy
20.61 eV Meta-stable state 20.66 eV
Transfer

6328 Å 6328 Å

6328 Å
Electron
Impact 18.70 eV
Spontaneous
Emission
c

Radiation-less
Transition
Ground
He State Ne
Reference Book: Engineering Physics, Malik & Singh
 Working of He-Ne laser
The working of He-Ne laser is based on the fact that the Ne has energy levels very close to
meta-stable energy levels of He.

When the power is switched on, the electrons from the discharge tube excite the gaseous
atoms, thereby pumping takes place and He & Ne atoms excited and reaches to excited
energy levels at meta stable state of 20.61 eV.

Some of the excited He atoms transfer their energy to Ne atoms by inelastic atom-atom
collision with an amount of 0.05 eV. Thus the purpose of He atoms is to help in achieving
the population inversion in Ne-atoms.

When an excited Ne-atom passes through the excited state of 20.66 eV to the lower state
of 18.70 eV, it emits a photon of wavelength 6328 Å.
 This photon travel through the gas mixture, and if it is moving parallel to the axis of the
tube, it reflect back and forth by the mirror ends until it stimulates an excited Ne-atom and
causes it to emits a fresh photon of 6328 Å in exact phase with the stimulating photon.

This stimulated transition from 20.66 eV to the lower state of 18.70 eV level is the laser
transition. This process is continue for all the excited Ne-atoms and when a beam of
coherent radiation becomes sufficiently intense, a portion (and all) of it escapes through
the partially silvered end.

The Ne atoms passes from the 18.70 eV level, spontaneously to the lower meta-stable
state emitting incoherent radiation and finally the Ne atoms come down to the ground
state through collision with the tube walls. The radiation from lower meta-stable state to
the ground state is radiation less transition.
 A He-Ne laser operates in continuous wave mode. The narrow red beam of this laser is
used in super markets to read the bar codes. The optical output powers is ranging from
1 mW to 100 mW.

The He- Ne Laser is used in Holography in producing the 3D images of objects.

He-Ne lasers have many industrial and scientific uses, and are often used in laboratory
demonstrations of optics.
 Ruby Laser He-Ne Laser
Solid State laser Gaseous laser
3 level 4 level
Pulsed Laser CW Laser
Optical pumping Electrical pumping
Coolant required No coolant required
Output power of 10kW Output power of 0.5 to 5mW
Operation duration is few hours Operation duration is ~ 10000 hrs
Applications of Lasers

Laser beams are very intense so are used for welding, cutting of materials.

Lasers are used for eye surgery, treatment of dental decay and skin diseases.

Lasers are used for barcode scanners in library and in super markets.

Laser is used in printers (Laser printers).

Lasers are used for Nuclear Fusion.

Laser is used in Holography.