Basic properties of Laser:

LASER is coin of terminology Light Amplification by Stimulated Emitted of Radiation. The

LASER beam has the following four characteristics.
1. Highly monochromatic.
2. Highly coherent.
3. Highly directional.

4. High intensity beam of light

Interaction of radiation with Matter

There are three possible ways through which interaction of radiation and matter can take
place. They are

1. Induced absorption
2. Spontaneous emission
3. Stimulated emission.

Induced absorption: Let E1 and E2 be two energy levels of the atom. E 1 be ground state energy
and E2 be excited state energt. If the energy difference between the two energy levels is E,
then

∆ E=( E 2−E1 )=h

If a photon of frequency  incident on the atoms., it gets absorbed and moves to excited state E 2.
This process is called induced absoption.
¿
atom+ p h oton ❑ atom
→

2. Spontaneous Emission:
Consider an atom in the excited state, the atom voluntarily emits a photon of energy E equal to
(E2 – E1) and the atom comes back to the ground sate E 1. Since the process happens without aid
of external agency, it is called spontaneous emission.This process can be denoted by as
¿
atom ❑ atom+ p h oton
→

Stimulated Emission: Consider an atom in the excited state in E 2. Let a photon having energy
E equal to (E2 – E1) interact with the atom, it stimulate the atoms to transit to lower energy by
emitting photons in addition to the incident photon, The two photons are emitted in the same
direction and are highly coherent. This process is known as stimulated emission. This process
can be represented as

¿
atom + p h oton ❑ atom+( p h oton+ p h oton )
→

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Einstein Coefficients:

Consider two energy states E1 and E2 of a systems of atoms (E 2 > E1). Let there be N1
atoms per unit volume in the energy state E 1 and N2 atoms per unit volume in the energy state E 2.
Let there be radiation of frequency  such that  = (E2 – E1)/h, incident on the system. Let U be
the energy density of radiation of the frequency . Then Ud will be the energy density of
radiation whose frequencies le in the range  and +d.

(i) Case of induced absorption:

The rate of absorption is proportional to the number density of lower energy state(N 1) and the
energy density (U).

Rate of absorption ∝ N 1 U ❑

Rate of absorption=B12 N 1 U ❑

Where B12 is the constant of proportionality called Einstein coefficient of induced absorption.

(ii) Case of Spontaneous Emission:

The rate of spontaneous emission which is proportional to only the number density in the
higher energy state (N2).
Rate of spontaneous emission=A 21 N 2

Where A21 is the constant of proportionality called Einstein coefficient of spontaneous emission.

(iii) Case of Stimulated Emission:

The number of stimulated emission per unit time per unit volume, called rate of stimulated
emission, which is proportional to the number density of higher energy state (N 2) and the energy
density (U)

Rate of stimulated emission ∝ N 2 U ❑

Rate pf stimulated emission=B21 N 2 U ❑

Where B21 is the constatnt of proportionality called Eiinstein coefficient of stimulated emission.

At thermal equilibrium,

Rate of absorption=Rate of spontaneous emission+ Rate of stimulated emission

Hence we have
B12 N 1 U ❑= A21 N 2+ B12 N 2 U ❑
 U ❑ ( B12 N 1−B21 N 2 ) =A 21 N 2

[ ]
A21 1
U ❑=
B 21 B 12 N 1
−1
B 21 N 2
According to Boltzmann’ s law
N 2 −( )=e−hkT
E2−E 1
kT
=e
N1

Hence
h
N1
=e kT
N2

Hence,

[ ]
A21 1
U ❑=
B 21 B12 kTh
e −1
B 21

According to Planck’s law the equation for U is,

[ ]
3
8 π h❑ 1
U ❑= 3 h
c kT
e −1

Comparing above two equations, we get

A 21 8 π h❑3
= 3
B21 c

B12
=1❑ B12=B21
B 21 ⇒
Which implies that the probability of induced absorption is equation to the probability of
stimulated emission. Because of the above identity, the subscript in A and B can be dropped, the
above equation can be written as

A
U ❑=
[ ]
h
kT
B e −1

The above equation is for energy density at thermal equilibrium. The A and B are called Einstein
coefficient.

Condition for Laser Action

Consider a LASER system. Let an atom in the excited state is stimulated by a photon of right
energy so that atom makes stimulated emission. Two coherent photons are ob- tained. These
two coherent photons if stimulate two atoms in the exited state to make emission then four
coherent pho- tons are emitted. These four coherent photons stimulate 4 more atoms in the
excited state resulting in 8 coherent pho- tons and so on. As the process continues number of
coher- ent photons increases. These coherent photons constitute an intense beam of LASER.
This phenomenon of building up of number of coherent photons so as to get an intense LASER
beam is called lasing action.

Laser action can be achieved through population inversion and metastable state.

If a system is under thermal equilibrium the number of atoms in excited state is less than the
number of atoms in the lower energy state. For the production of LASER num- ber of stimulated
emission must be more when compared to induced absorption and spontaneous emisstion. This
is possible only if the number of atoms in the higher energy state is more than the number of
atoms in the lower energy state and is called population inversion. This can be achieved by
achieved by supplying energy from a suitable source is called Pumping. In addition to have more
stimulated emissions, the life time of atoms in the excited state myst be longer. Thus the
essential conditions for population inversion are
1. Higher energy state should posses a longer life time.
 2. The number of atoms in the higher energy state must be greater than the number of
atoms in the lower energy state.

Meta-stable state
The life time of an energy level is of the order of 10 −8 second. If an atom posses
unusual longer life time in an energy state such a state is referred to as a meta-stable state.
Usually the life time of meta-stable state varies from 10−2s to 10−3s. Population inversion
could be achieved with the help of three energy state with one of them a meta-stable
state and is as shown in the figure 1.5. The population inversion is achieved between the
state E2 and E1 as state E2 is a meta-stable state.
The principles of Laser are

1. Stimulated Emission

2. Population Inversion
3. meta-stable State

Requisites of a laser system

The three requisites of a laser system are,

1) The excitation source provides energy in an appropriate form for pumping the atoms to
higher energy levels. If the energy input is in the form of light energy, then it is called
optical pumping (ex: Ruby laser). If the pumping is achieved by electrical energy input
then it is called electrical pumping (ex: He-Ne laser).
2) An active medium which supports meta-stable states. population inversion. Occurs at
certain stage in the active medium due to the absoption of energy.

3) Laser Cavity: The LASER Cavity2 consists of an active medium bound between two
highly parallel mirrors. The reflection of photons from the mirrors results in multiple
traverse of photons through the active medium inducing more and more stimulated
emissions. Thus amplification of light is achieved. This also helps to tap certain
permissible part of LASER energy from the active medium.The cavity res- onates and
the output will be maximum when the distance L between the mirrors is equal to an integral
multiple of C . Here h is the wavelength of incident suitable radiation.the length of the
LASER cavity is expressed as
 mh
L=
2

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Semiconductor Diode laser

Construction:

Gallium Arsenide laser is a semiconductor laser. It is a single crystal laser with direct
band gap characteristics. It is heavily doped n and p sections. The n-section is formed by doping
with tellurium, whereas p-section is obtained by doping with zinc. The doping concentration is in
the order of 1017 to 1019 dopant atoms/cm3. The overall size of the diode is very small and each
of its sides is of the order of 1 mm. The p-n junction layer has width varying from 1 m to 100
m.

.The current is passed through the ohmic contacts provided to the top and bottom
faces. The front and back faces are polished and made highly parallel to each other to
have a LASER cavity. The other two faces are roughened.

Working:

The energy band diagram for the diode under forward bias is shown in fig.

The Diode is forward biased using an external source. Therefore electrons and holes
flow across junction. Hence the current flows through the diode. When a ho meets an
 electron it recombines with electron emiting a photon. This could be considered as the
transition of electron from conduction band to valance band. When the current is low
spontaneous emission is predominant. If the current is sufficiently high population
inversion is achieved. The photons liberated initially due to spontaneious emissions
induce further stimulated emissions. The LASER cavity helps in the amplification of
light. Finally this results in a avalanche of photons and hence the LASER action is
achieved. The wavelength of the LASER emitted is 840nm.

Applications:

The semiconductor lasers fin important use in optical communication, since theyprovide
light beams of wavelengths which have low absorption loss in the optical fibers. They are also
used as reading devices for compact disc players.

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Laser Applications

Bar code scanners:

The barcode that have to be decoded is taken first. The laser scanner produces a laser spot by
which the barcode is being scanned. Laser scanner typically employ oscillating mirrors or
rotating prisms to scan the laser beam back and forth across the barcode. A photodiode is used in
the laser scanner in order to receive the light which is being reflected back from the barcode
symbols. This photodiode converts the optical energy that are received into pulses of electrical
current. The information that is carried by this electrical signal is decoded by some software after
it is being processed.

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Laser cooling

Laser cooling refers to the variety of techniques used for cooling down atomic and molecular
samples to a near absolute zero temperature. The techniques of laser cooling are based on the
fact that an atom (of any metal sample) changes its momentum (and energy) when it absorbs and
then re-emits a photon.

Laser cooling is primarily based on the fact that an atom (of any metal sample) changes its
momentum (and energy) when it absorbs and then re-emits a photon. For laser cooling, the
frequency of the laser is tuned below the frequency of the wave emitted by the atomic transition.

When the atom approaches the laser beam, as a result of the Doppler effect the frequency of light
increases with respect to the atom. Therefore, the atoms that move towards the laser beam have
an increased probability of absorbing a photon. The converse happens when the atoms move
away from the laser beam.

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How laser printer works

Step 1: Image Processing
Once you click on the print command on a certain document or image, the computer immediately
sends the information to the laser printer’s internal memory. Here, the printout data is stored and
prepared for processing.

Step 2: Charging
The laser printer starts warming up. The corona wire heats up and gets ready to transfers its
positive static charge to the metal cylinder drum.

tep 3: Exposing
While the drum rotates, it receives a positive charge throughout its entire surface. A laser is then
activated and beamed to a chain of mirrors and reflected throughout the drum surface. The
reflected laser beam creates an outline of your print through an opposite negative electrical
charge.
Step 4: Developing
Positively charged carbon toner powder is gradually released from the toner cartridge onto the
drum while it rolls. The positively charged toner powder sticks to the negatively charged, laser
beamed areas since opposite charges attract (static electricity). Meanwhile, positively charged
areas on the drum are left without any trace of toner.

Step 5: Transferring
The paper or media slides across the printer and receives a positive charge via the transfer belt.
While it moves through the drum, the negatively charged toner gets drawn to the paper’s surface
and conforms to your print outline.

Step 6: Fusing
Heated rollers called the fuser unit melts the toner onto the paper. Your document or image is
imprinted into the page and is then ejected from the printer as the final printout.

Step 7: Cleaning and Recharging

Before the drum completes its revolution, it is subjected to an electrically neutral soft plastic
blade and cleaned from residual toner. The excess toner is then deposited into a waste reservoir.
Finally, the newly cleaned drum receives a fresh negative charge on its surface from a charge
roller, preparing it for another laser beam round.

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