Contents

1. Introduction 2. Lasers Vs. Regular Light 3. Stimulated Emission

4. Population Inversion
5. Mechanism 6. Applications 7. Future 8. Conclusion 9. Reference

Introduction It was Albert Einstein, who in 1917, led the foundation for the concept behind Lasers , i.e. STIMULATED EMISSION. Then in 1950, Charles Townes developed a device called MASER based on the principle of Stimulated Emission. In 1961 A. Javan at Bell Laboratories, developed the first gas LASER using a mixture of Helium and Neon gases. The following years saw the development of other LASERS as follows : a) 1964 : Argon Ion Laser b) 1966 : Blue Helium Cadmium metal vapor Laser. c) 1970 : Vacuum Ultraviolet Laser d) 1975 : Rare Gas Halide laser and Quantum well laser using GaAs. e) 1976 : Infrared laser using CO2 . f) 1985 : First Soft X-ray laser

Lasers Vs. Regular light

Sun (Spontaneous emission) 1. Polychromatic (all wavelengths) 2. Less Energy / not focused

Laser (Stimulated Emission) 1. Monochromatic (specified wavelength) 2. Energetic

3. Non polarized
4. Incoherent through time and Space

3. Polarized
4. Coherent through time and space

Stimulated Emission If an electron in the ground state is excited to any higher energy state with the help of light, electricity or kinetic energy, then the electron randomly returns to its ground state by emitting a photon or electro-magnetic wave of frequency h. This phenomenon is called SPONTANEOUS EMISSION. Now if the excited electron is made to strike with a passing photon, then the electron comes down to ground state emitting a photon. So, we have two Photons: 1) The Passing photon 2) The emitted photon. This phenomenon is called STIMULATED EMISSION.

Light
Electricity

K.E.
Spontaneous Emission Stimulated Emission

Population Inversion Generally in a collection of atoms in thermal equilibrium, the no. of atoms in the excited state (N2) is less than that in the ground state(N1). So the population difference (N1-N2) is positive. But if N2>N1 then there will be a large no. of atoms in the excited state to stimulate with an incoming signal and this is due to the negative population difference and this is called population inversion.

Pumping

Spontaneous Emission

Electrical Pumping

Mechanism The mechanism of a laser is shown below : it depends on spontaneous emission and population inversion.

Mirror 1

Mirror 2 with a microscopic opening

Applications The invention of Laser has opened various doors of new possibilities in various fields: 1. Medical : a) Photodynamic diagnostics to determine tumor. b)Photodynamic therapy 2. Metallurgy : Laser Cutters are used to cut metals. 3. Chemistry : Lasers are used to excite atoms in certain chemical reactions. 4. Computer Science : Compact Discs, Scanner, Optical Mouse, etc., have lasers in them. 5. Astronomy : Todays telescopes use Laser to track the exact position of objects in the sky or the imaginary celestial sphere. 6. Military : Laser guided missiles has the ability to track and destroy a moving target. 7. Entertainment : Lasers are used to give special effects in any show

Conclusions