Laser (Light Amplification by

Stimulated Emission of Radiation)

BY SUMITESH MAJUMDER

What is Laser?
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
A device produces a coherent beam of optical radiation by
stimulating electronic, ionic, or molecular transitions to
higher energy levels
Mainly used in Single Mode Systems
Light Emission range: 5 to 10 degrees
Require Higher complex driver circuitry than LEDs
Laser action occurs from three main processes: photon
absorption, spontaneous emission, and stimulated
emission.

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.

Basic concepts for a laser

Absorption
Spontaneous Emission
Stimulated Emission
Population inversion

Absorption

Energy is absorbed by an atom, the electrons

are excited into vacant energy shells.

Spontaneous Emission

The atom decays from level 2 to level 1

through the emission of a photon with the energy
hv. It is a completely random process.

Stimulated Emission

atoms in an upper energy level can be triggered or

stimulated in phase by an incoming photon of a
specific energy.

Stimulated Emission
The stimulated photons have unique properties:
In phase with the incident photon
Same wavelength as the incident photon
Travel in same direction as incident photon

Stimulated Emission

Laser Diode Optical Cavity

One reflecting mirror is at one end while the other end
has a partially reflecting mirror for partial emission
Remaining power reflects through cavity for amplification
of certain wavelengths, a process known as optical
feedback.
Construction very similar to the ELEDs.

Mirror Reflections

The operation of the Laser

The operation of the Laser

E4
E3
E2

E1

The operation of the Laser

E4
E3
E2

E1
absorption

The operation of the Laser

E4
E3
E2

E1
Spontaneous emission

The operation of the Laser

Spontaneous emission

1. Incoherent light
2. Accidental direction

The operation of the Laser

E4
E3
E2

E1

The operation of the Laser

E4
E3
E2

E1
Stimulated emission

The operation of the Laser

Light: Coherent, polarized

The stimulating and emitted
photons have the same:
frequency
phase
direction

How a Laser Works

Condition for the laser operation

E2
E1

If n1 > n2
radiation is mostly absorbed absorbowane
spontaneous radiation dominates.

if n2 >> n1 - population inversion

most atoms occupy level E2, weak absorption
stimulated emission prevails
light is amplified

Necessary condition:
population inversion

Population Inversion
A state in which a substance has been
energized, or excited to specific energy levels.
More atoms or molecules are in a higher excited
state.
The process of producing a population inversion
is called pumping.
Examples:
by lamps of appropriate intensity
by electrical discharge

Boltzmanns equation
E2
E1
n2
( E2 E1 )
exp
n1
kT

n1 - the number of electrons of

energy E1
n2 - the

number of electrons of

energy E2

example: T=3000 K

E2-E1=2.0 eV

n2
4
4.4 10
n1

E2

Einsteins relation

E1

Probability of stimulated absorption R1-2

R1-2 = ()n1 B1-2 where spectral density is ()
& Einstein coeff. of absorbtion is B1-2
Probability of stimulated and spontaneous emission :
R2-1 = () n2B2-1 + n2A2-1
Einstein coeff. of stimulated and spontaneous emission are B 2-1& A2-1
Assumption : For a system in thermal equilibrium, the upword and downword
transition rate must be equal :
R1-2 = R2-1

n1 () B1-2 = n2 ( () BA2-1 +/AB2-1)

2 1

2 1

n1 B1 2
1
n2 B21

According to Boltzman statistics:

() =

n1
exp( E2 E1 ) / kT exp(h / kT )
n2

A2 1 / B2 1
B1 2
h
exp( ) 1
B2 1
kT

8h 3 / c 3
exp(h / kT ) 1

Plancks law

B1-2/B2-1 = 1

A2 1 8h

B2 1
c3

The probability of spontaneous emission A2-1 /the probability of stimulated

emission B2-1(:

A2 1
exp(h / kT ) 1
B2 1 ( )
1.

Visible photons, energy: 1.6eV 3.1eV.

2.

kT at 300K ~ 0.025eV.

3. stimulated emission dominates solely when h/kT <<1!

(for microwaves: h <0.0015eV)
The frequency of emission acts to the absorption:

if h/kT <<1.

n2 A21 n2 B2 1 ( )
A2 1 n2 n2
[1
]
n1B1 2 ( )
B2 1 ( ) n1 n1

x~ n2/n1

Two-level Laser System

Unimaginable
as absorption and stimulated processes
neutralize one another.
The material becomes transparent.

Two level system

E2

h
h=E2-E1

E2

E1
absorption

E1

Spontaneous
emission

Stimulated
emission

Three-level Laser System

Initially excited to a
short-lived high-energy
state .
Then quickly decay to
the intermediate
metastable level.
Population inversion is
created between lower
ground state and a
higher-energy
metastable state.

Three-level Laser System

3 2 1 2
Nd:YAG laser

1.06 m
2 2.3 104 s

He-Ne laser

1 3.39 m 2 0.6328 m
3 1.15 m

100ns 1 10ns
2

Four-level Laser System

Laser transition takes
place between the
third and second
excited states.
Rapid depopulation of
the lower laser level.

Four-level Laser System

3 2
Ruby laser

1 0.6943m
2 0.6928m

10 s 3 10 s
3

Multimode Laser Output

Spectrum
Mode
Separation

(Center Wavelength)

g()

Longitudinal
Modes

Lasing Characteristics
Lasing threshold is
minimum current that must
occur for stimulated
emission
Any current produced below
threshold will result in
spontaneous emission only
At currents below threshold
LDs operate as ELEDs
LDs need more current to
operate and more current
means more complex drive
circuitry with higher heat
dissipation
Laser diodes are much
more temperature sensitive
than LEDs

Fabry-Perot Laser
(resonator) cavity

Modulation of Optical Sources

Optical sources can be modulated either
directly or externally.
Direct modulation is done by modulating
the driving current according to the
message signal (digital or analog)
In external modulation, the laser is emits
continuous wave (CW) light and the
modulation is done in the fiber

Types of Optical Modulation

Direct modulation is done by
superimposing the modulating (message)
signal on the driving current
External modulation, is done after the light
is generated; the laser is driven by a dc
current and the modulation is done after
that separately
Both these schemes can be done with
either digital or analog modulating signals

Direct Modulation

The message signal (ac) is superimposed on

the bias current (dc) which modulates the laser
Robust and simple, hence widely used
Issues: laser resonance frequency, chirp, turn
on delay, clipping and laser nonlinearity

Laser Construction
A pump source
A gain medium or laser medium.
Mirrors forming an optical resonator.

Laser Construction

Pump Source
Provides energy to the laser system
Examples: electrical discharges, flashlamps,
arc lamps and chemical reactions.
The type of pump source used depends on
the gain medium.
A helium-neon (HeNe) laser uses an
electrical discharge in the helium-neon
gas mixture.
Excimer lasers use a chemical reaction.

gain medium
Major determining factor of the wavelength of
operation of the laser.
Excited by the pump source to produce a
population inversion.
Where spontaneous and stimulated emission
of photons takes place.
Example:
solid, liquid, gas and semiconductor.

Optical Resonator
Two parallel mirrors placed around the
gain medium.
Light is reflected by the mirrors back into
the medium and is amplified .
The design and alignment of the mirrors
with respect to the medium is crucial.
Spinning mirrors, modulators, filters and
absorbers may be added to produce a
variety of effects on the laser output.

Laser Types
According to the active material:
solid-state, liquid, gas, excimer or
semiconductor lasers.
According to the wavelength:
infra-red, visible, ultra-violet (UV) or x-ray
lasers.

Solid-state Laser
Example: Ruby Laser
Operation wavelength: 694.3 nm (IR)
3 level system: absorbs green/blue
Gain Medium: crystal of aluminum oxide (Al 2O3)
with small part of atoms of aluminum is replaced
with Cr3+ ions.
Pump source: flash lamp
The ends of ruby rod serve as laser mirrors.

Ruby laser

Energy

Al2O3

Cr+

rapid decay

LASING

How a laser works?

Ruby laser
First laser: Ted Maiman
Hughes Research Labs
1960

Liquid Laser
Example: dye laser
Gain medium: complex organic dyes, such
as rhodamine 6G, in liquid solution or
suspension.
Pump source: other lasers or flashlamp.
Can be used for a wide range of
wavelengths as the tuning range of the
laser depends on the exact dye used.
Suitable for tunable lasers.

dye laser

Schematic diagram of a dye laser

A dye laser can be considered to be basically a four-level system.
The energy absorbed by the dye creates a population inversion, moving the
electrons into an excited state.

Gas Laser

Example: Helium-neon laser (He-Ne laser)

Operation wavelength: 632.8 nm
Pump source: electrical discharge
Gain medium : ratio 5:1 mixture of helium and neon
gases

He-Ne laser

1 3.39 m 2 0.6328 m 3 1.15 m

Semiconductor laser
Semiconductor laser is a laser in which semiconductor serves as
photon source.

Semiconductors (typically direct band-gap semiconductors) can be

used as small, highly efficient photon sources.

Applications of laser
1. Scientific
a. Spectroscopy
b. Lunar laser ranging
c. Photochemistry
d. Laser cooling
e. Nuclear fusion

Applications of laser
2 Military
a. Death ray
b. Defensive applications
c. Strategic defense initiative
d. Laser sight
e. Illuminator
f. Rangefinder
g. Target designator

Applications of laser
3. Medical
a. eye surgery
b. cosmetic surgery

Applications of laser
4. Industry & Commercial
a. cutting, welding, marking
b. CD player, DVD player
c. Laser printers, laser pointers
d. Photolithography
e. Laser light display