How It Works

Lasers
A laser is a device that produces a beam of
2 The excited atoms begin returning to the
intense light of a specific wavelength (color). ground state, emitting photons in the process.
Unlike light from a flashlight, laser light is These initial photons travel in all directions.
coherent; that is, it does not spread out as it
travels through space. The precise nature of
Excited state Ground state
lasers led to their use in pointing and aiming
devices, CD players, optical fiber data E2 E2
transmission, and surgery.

1 The spiral-wound high-intensity lamp flashes, Photon emitted

supplying energy to the helium-neon gas mix-
ture inside the tube. The atoms of the gas absorb
the light energy and are raised to an excited E1 E1
energy state. Before After

Sprial flash lamp

1 3 The emitted photons hit other excited atoms,
2 and 3 causing them to release additional photons.
These additional photons are the same wave-
length as the photons that struck the excited
atoms, and they are coherent (their waves are
in sync because they are identical in wavelength
and direction).
5
Emitted
coherent Excited state Ground state
Mirror 4 light
E2 E2
Helium and Partially
neon filled tube transparent
mirror
Incident photon
4 Photons traveling parallel to the tube are
reflected back through the tube by the flat
mirrors located at each end. The photons
strike additional excited atoms and cause Two coherent
photons emitted
more photons to be released. The intensity
of the light in the tube builds. E1 E1
Before After
5 Some of the laser's coherent light passes through
the partially transparent mirror at one end of the
tube and exits the laser. These photons make up the
light emitted by the laser.

1. Inferring How does the material used in 2. Relating Cause and Effect Why is one
the laser affect the type of light emitted? mirror partially transparent?

144 Chapter 5 Electrons in Atoms