Lecture 8
Lecture 8
Lecture 8
ECE 455
• First, the assumption was to select a rectangular resonator with a small hole in it
• A 3-D box is selected since you can define a very broad range of associated
modes
• First, we can define an arbitrary plane wave inside the box that has
a k-vector associated with it
kx2 ky2 kz2
• The power spectral density per unit volume is just the derivative of this with
respect to ν, divided by the volume of the material (a3), and so we obtain
Using the chain rule
If dn/dν is approximately zero, if not n3 → n2ng where ng = n + ν(dn/dν)
• This is a number density (number per unit volume per hertz) of states or
modes
• If we assume each mode is driven by the same thermal energy, each mode
has energy kT giving
• Giving the power per unit volume per unit Hz that is produced by
the system
• Total energy is the integral of this equation over dν and volume
• Since the function is bound (goes to zero at small and large ν)
the power no longer blows up to infinity
• This expression was validated experimentally and will serve as the
basis for the introduction of the concept of stimulated emission
Einstein’s View
• Rather than assuming a resonator full of modes, let’s instead assume that we have two energy levels
associated with an emitter (again this can be a lot more complicated, and it usually is!)
• There are two processes easy to understand: absorption and spontaneous emission
• First, we can absorb (b) a photon of energy hν to excite the system to a higher energy
• It can also naturally decay (exponentially) via spontaneous emission (a) of a photon
• Einstein further said: let there be a third process by which one photon can lead to the emission of
another via stimulated emission (c)
Einstein’s View
N2 = Number per unit volume in excited state
N1 + N2 is a constant = “Number
per volume of possible emitters”
N1 = Number per unit volume in ground state
• Let’s further take these process to be time dependent, and are governed by the
following differential equations and coefficients A & B
Spontaneous Stimulated
Absorption (b)
Emission (a) Emission (c)
ρ(ν) is the
intensity of light
• And that they all take place at the same time present in units
of Watts/Hz/m3
Einstein’s View
• Now, let’s assume that we are in thermal equilibrium, such that the
time derivatives are zero (we are in the “steady state”)
Rewrite
0
• Comparing
• We can turn this into a flow (flux, really) if we know that we traversed a
length L in a time Δt
• Let’s continue and change our rate equation for the two-level system
• By substituting , , and
We will lump these together into an “cross-section” σ(ν) which has units of m2
Lineshape Function and Cross Sections
• And we can say that This has units of m-1 and will
become a gain coefficient γ
• So, “g2/g1” is also a function of ν in many systems
Gain = eγz
Example: Erbium Doped Fiber
Er3+
emission
NEXT TIME
MORE ON GAIN