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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
1) Absorption: Consider two energy levels of energies E1 and E2 such that E2 > E1 for an atom.
Let N1 and N2 be number of atoms per unit volume
in energy level E1 and E2 as shown in figure. Let us
assume that the atom is initially situated in the
ground state i.e. energy level E1.
When the photon of energy h = E2 E1
incident on the atom, the incident photon stimulates
the atom in the lower level E1 to absorb its energy. After absorbing energy, the atom transits to
energy level E2 (excited state) .This process of exciting the atom to higher energy level by
absorbing the incident photon is known as Absorption.
3) Stimulated emission: Consider two energy levels of energies E1 and E2 such that E2 > E1 for
an atom. Let N1 and N2 be number of atoms per unit
volume in energy level E1 and E2 as shown in
figure. Let us assume that the atom is initially
situated in energy level E2.
When the photon of energy equal to the
energy difference between E1 and E2, incident on
the atom, the incident photon stimulates the atom in
the higher energy level E2 in a time less than life time (10-8 sec). Then the atom from E2 transits
to the lower energy level E1 by emitting a photon of energy h = E2 E1 as well as incident
photon. The two emitted photons will have same energy, same frequency and same phase.
This process where the excited atom after getting stimulated by the incident photon
transits to lower energy level by emitting photons is known as stimulated emission of radiation.
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
Einstein coefficients:
1) The probability of the occurrence of Absorption process from state 1 to state 2 depends
on the properties of states 1 & 2 and is proportional to energy density u ().
Thus P12 u ()
P12 = B12 u ()
Where B12 is proportionality constant, known as the Einstein coefficient of absorption and
is the frequency of the incident photon.
2) The probability of spontaneous emission from state 2 to state 1 depends only on the
properties of states 1 & 2. This is independent of energy density u () of incident
radiation.
(P21)spontaneous = A21
Where A21 is known as Einstein coefficient of spontaneous emission of radiation.
3) The probability of stimulated emission from state 2 to state 1 depends on state 1 & 2 and
is proportional to energy density u ().
(P21)stimulated = B21 u ()
Where B21 is known as Einstein coefficient of stimulated emission of radiation.
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
ii) B12 = B21 i.e. the probability of stimulated emission is same as absorption.
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
Population inversion:
Consider two energy levels of energies E andE . Let N , N be the number of atoms per unit
volume in E and E levels.
( )
N = N e
Metastablestate:
In general, the lifetime of an atom in excited state is 10-8 sec, i.e. the excited state has very less
life time. An excited state, which has a long lifetime of an atom, is called metastable state. The
metastable state provides necessary population inversion for the laser emission
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
Let Ni be the number of atoms in the excited state Ei, =
The right hand side of above equation has an exponential function of a negative power. Thus this
exponential function can have a maximum value of 1. This happens only when KT >> Ei.
Even at this extreme case Ni can be equal to N0, but it will never exceed N0. Hence higher
energy level cannot be more populated than a lower energy level, i.e. by direct pumping,
population inversion is not possible.
The restriction imposed on a two-level laser system can be overcome in three and four-
level systems.
Three-level laser system:
The three-level pumping system requires high pumping powers. If pumping is done
continuously, stimulated emission rate exceeds absorption rate. This immediately depopulates
the laser level and populates the lower level. Hence it is impossible to maintain population
inversion continuously. Ex: - Ruby-laser
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
population inversion is established between E3 and E2. It is easy to maintain the population
inversion between E3 and E2. The atoms from E2 level decay through fast decay to E1 level.
If E2 to E1 transition is relatively slow the four level laser systems will give pulsed laser
beam. Example: nitrogen laser.
If E2 to E1 transition is relatively fast the four level laser systems will give continuous
laser beam. Example: Helium-Neon laser.
First requirement in the generation of laser is the creation of population inversion. Input energy
in various forms have to be supplied to the gain media for excitation and transition of ground
level atoms, molecules, ions or electrons as the case may be, to higher levels to create population
inversion and consequent generation of laser. Commonly used excitation techniques are
Optical pumping: In solid-state lasers (SSLs), the laser media are in the form of optically
transparent solid materials with active ions having strong absorption bands in the visible or near
infrared region. A pump source, giving maximum emission at wavelengths to excite atoms in the
laser material, is most suited for SSLs. Noble gas filled flash lamps, metal vapor discharge
lamps, tungsten-halogen filament lamps etc. are all used in this connection. Xenon flash lamps
for pulsed operation of lasers are the most commonly employed optical pumps.
Electrical discharge: In gas lasers (helium-neon, argon ion and carbon dioxide lasers), electrical
discharge is employed to excite neon atoms, argon ions and CO2 molecules respectively to
higher levels to create population inversion. The most common type of excitation is either a
direct current electrical discharge or a radio frequency discharge. For high power CO2 lasers,
instead of having the discharge along the length of the laser tube, a transverse excitation, with a
series of electrodes spaced along the gas tube, is employed.
Inelastic collision: Here, the electric discharge is employed to cause collision and excitation of
the atom. In this method, a combination of two types of gases is used. Say A and B, both having
the same excited state A* and B* that coincide or nearly coincide. In the first step, during
electric discharge, A gets excited to A* (metastable) due to collision with electrons.
A + e A* + e1
A* + B A + B*
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
The excited A* atoms now collide with B atoms so that the latter atom gets excited to higher
energy B*. This type of pumping is used in gas lasers. Example: Helium-Neon laser.
Chemical reaction: in this method, the molecules undergo chemical reactions in which one of
the products of the reaction excites a molecule or an atom to excited state under appropriated
conditions. Under such conditions population inversion can occur. An example of this type of
lasers is the hydrogen fluoride chemical laser, in which hydrogen fluoride molecules can be
excited to a higher energy state with the help of heat energy released due to the following
chemical reaction.
H2 + F2 2HF + heat
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
Types of Lasers:
Ruby Laser:
Construction:
Working:
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
Working principle
Helium has three energy states. These are He1, He2 and He3 where He2 and He3 are metastable
states. When an electrical discharge passes through the gas mixture, the helium atoms are excited
by the impacts of accelerated electrons in the
discharge tube due to its lower mass. As a result,
some of the helium atoms are raised to its
metastable states He2 and He3 from its ground
state. The energy of the two excited states Ne4
and Ne6 of Ne are slightly less than the energy of
the two metastable states of He atoms. Thus,
after the collision of the excited helium atoms
with neon atoms, the neon atoms in the ground
state are raised to its Ne4 and Ne6 excited states
and helium returns to its ground state by
exchanging energy.
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
The light from He-Ne gas laser has high degree of monochromaticity and directionality
than that from solid state ruby laser. This happens due to imperfection in the crystal,
thermal distortion and scattering.
The solid state laser need cooling in time of operation while the gas lasers can operate
continuously without any cooling.
Semiconductors Laser:
When large current flows through junction ie.., increasing the Pumping rate (or) Injection
rate, the minority charge carriers injection takes place continuously and Population Inversion of
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
minority carriers are established in both n and p regions. The excess minority charge carriers
away from the junction recombine with majority charge carriers. Resulting in the release of
photons. These emitted photons increase the recombination of majority carriers. Thus stimulated
emission takes place more effectively.
Heterojunction laser:
Advantages:
Applications of laser:
Due to their high directionality, high coherence, high monochromacity and high intensity lasers
are used in various fields.
A) Lasers in medicines:
1. Lasers are used in destroying kidney stones, for this laser pulses are sent through optical
fibers to strike and destroy the stones into pieces.
2. Lasers are used for the removal of the cataract (cloud of the natural lens of the eye)
3. Lasers are used for the treatment of detached retina.
4. They are used in lamer diagnosis and therapy.
5. Laser fluorescence bronchoscope is used to detect lung tumor in the early stage.
6. Argon and CO2 lasers are used in the treatment of liver and lungs.
The advantages of laser surgery are as follows:
i. Laser is usually called as non-material knife.
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
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Lasers
Lecture notes CVR College of Engineering Dr V Seetha Rama Raju Ph.D.
CO2 Laser:
In He-Ne laser, the transitions are taking place among the various excited electronic states of an atom. In CO2 laser,
the laser transitions are occurring between different vibrational states of the CO2 molecule.
When there is a longitudinal flow of gasses, the maximum power obtained is about 50-60W/m. If the gas
flow is perpendicular to the discharge the output power can be raised to about 10kW/m. This type of CO2 laser is
known as Transversely Excited Atmospheric Pressure laser or TEA laser.
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Lasers