Module 1 : LASERS
Dr. Mily Jashank
CONTENTS
Lasers:
● Introduction ● He-Ne laser: Construction and Working.
● Spontaneous and stimulated emission ● Fiber laser: Construction and Working
● Population Inversion, Pumping ● Application :
● Active medium & Active center
(i) Elementary knowledge of LiDAR
● Resonant cavity
● Coherence length (ii) Barcode reader
● Coherence time
(iii) Application of laser in metal work
● Characteristics of lasers
LASER (Introduction)
Ordinary Light vs LASER
Spontaneous Emission
● The atom in the excited state E2 returns to the ground state E1 by emitting a photon of energy
hν without any external energy. Such emission of radiation not initiated by any external
influence is called spontaneous emission.
● This emission is uncontrollable.
● The rate of spontaneous
emission R21 (Sp) is
proportional to number of
atoms or molecules present in
the excited state.
i.e R21 (Sp) ∝ N2 where A21 is a constant which gives the probability
of spontaneous emission transitions per unit time.
R21 (Sp) = A21 N2
Stimulated Emission
● A photon of energy hν can stimulate the atom to move to its ground state. During this process
the atom emits an additional photon whose energy is also hν. As the emission is stimulated by
external photon, this process is known as stimulated emission.
● This emission is Controllable.
The rate of stimulated emission R21 (St) is
proportional to,
1. Energy density of incident radiation (ρν)
2. No. of atoms in the excited state (N2)
R21 (St) ∝ ρν N2
R21 (St) = B21 ρν N2 where B21 is a constant which gives the probability of
stimulated emission transitions per unit time
Population Inversion
● The population is maximum in ground state as compared with excited state. i.e N1 > N2 .
● If the situation is reverse, i.e N2 > N1 , there are more atoms in an excited state than the ground
state as shown in fig(b), this condition is called “Population inversion”.
Pumping
● The process of achieving population inversion is called pumping.
● Pumping can be classified into the following types based on the type of source of pumping:
● Optical pumping : Here the atoms are excited with the help of photons emitted by an optical
source. The atoms absorb energy from the photons and raises to excited state. Optical
pumping is used in solid laser.
Examples : Ruby Laser, Nd-YAG Laser
● Electrical pumping : Electrical discharge pumping is used in gas lasers. Since gas lasers have
very narrow absorption. The electrons are accelerated to very high velocities by strong electric
field and they collide with gas atoms and these atoms are raised to excited state.
Examples : Argon Laser, CO2 Laser, He-Ne Laser
● Chemical pumping : Due to some chemical reactions, the atoms may be raised to excited state.
Examples : Dye Laser.
Optical Pumping: Three Level Systems
● Three Energy Levels:
● Population Inversion:
○ Ground State
○ Intermediate level accumulates more atoms than
○ Upper Excited State
the ground state
○ Intermediate Level (Upper Laser Level)
○ Achieved with sufficient pump intensity
● Optical Pumping:
● Laser Transition:
○ Use of pump light with shorter wavelength
○ Stimulated emission from intermediate level to
(higher energy)
ground state
○ Excites atoms from ground state to the upper
○ Key to achieving laser action
excited state
● Prevention of Unwanted Stimulated Emission:
● Relaxation Process:
○ Fast relaxation to intermediate level prevents
○ Atoms relax from the upper excited state to the
direct stimulated emission from the upper excited
intermediate level
state
○ Involves spontaneous emission or
non-radiative processes (e.g., phonons)
Optical Pumping: Four Level Systems
Energy Levels:
● Ground State
● Lower Laser Level (slightly above ground state)
● Upper Laser Level (third level)
● Highest Excited State
Laser Gain with Lower Excitation:
● Moderate pump intensity required for population in the upper laser level
● Lower laser level quickly depopulated via non-radiative transfer to ground state
Efficient Population Inversion:
● Small population in lower laser level
● Moderate population in upper laser level sufficient for amplification
Key Advantage:
● Lower threshold for achieving laser gain compared to three-level systems
Components of Lasers
● Active Medium:
○ Material where laser action occurs
○ Types: Solid crystals (e.g., Nd), liquid dyes, gases (e.g., CO₂,
He-Ne), semiconductors (e.g., GaAs)
○ Determines the wavelength of laser radiation
○ Contains "Active Centers" for amplification via stimulated
emission
● Pumping Energy Source:
○ Excites active centers from ground to excited state
○ Achieves population inversion
○ Types of pumping: Optical, electrical, or chemical (depending on
the medium)
● Resonance Cavity:
○ Contains two mirrors: one fully reflecting, one partially reflecting
○ Active medium placed between the mirrors
○ Photons bounce between mirrors, increasing light intensity
○ Laser beam exits through the partial mirror
Coherence length
●
Coherence time
● Coherence time is the time duration over which a wave (or signal) maintains a specified degree of
coherence. It is the temporal counterpart to coherence length.
● A longer coherence time indicates that the wave remains coherent for a longer period, which is
critical for maintaining the phase relationship in applications such as time-domain interferometry.
Characteristics of lASER
● Monochromatic: Single wavelength of light
● Coherent: Light waves in phase, focused beam, Stable phase relationship over time
and space
● High Intensity: Concentrated energy
● Directional: Narrow beam with minimal divergence
Helium - Neon (He-Ne) Laser
Construction of Helium-Neon Laser
Active Medium:
● Narrow quartz tube filled with Helium-Neon gas mixture
(10:1 ratio)
● Low pressure (~0.1 mm Hg)
● Ne atoms are active centers; He atoms assist in excitation
● Tube dimensions: ~50 cm length, 1 cm diameter
Optical Resonator:
● Two parallel mirrors at tube ends: one partly transparent,
one fully reflecting
● Mirror spacing = integral multiple of half-wavelengths of
laser light
Construction of Helium-Neon Laser
Pumping System:
● Electrical discharge via electrodes
connected to high-frequency AC source
● Collisions excite He and Ne atoms to
metastable states
● Energy transfer from He to Ne achieves
population inversion
Laser Action:
● Laser transition in Ne emits 650 nm photon
● Subsequent emission to lower metastable
state is incoherent
Working of He-Ne Laser
● Initial Excitation: Electrical discharge excites Helium
(He) atoms to metastable states. Excited He atoms
collide with Neon (Ne) atoms, transferring energy.
● Population Inversion: Energy transfer excites Ne
atoms to higher energy [Link] creates a
population inversion between specific Ne energy
levels.
● Laser Emission: Stimulated emission occurs as Ne
atoms transition from the excited state to a lower
energy [Link] coherent light at 632.8 nm (red).
● Optical Resonance: Photons bounce between mirrors
in the optical cavity, amplifying the light. The partially
transparent mirror allows the laser beam to exit.
● Output: The result is a stable, coherent, monochromatic
laser beam.
Fiber Laser
Components of Fiber Laser
● Pump Source: High-power laser diode excites ions in doped fiber.
● Optical Fiber: Single-mode fiber doped with rare-earth elements (e.g., Ytterbium, Erbium,
Neodymium).
● Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs): Act as mirrors forming the resonant cavity; one high reflector,
one output coupler.
● Cooling System: Essential for dissipating heat and ensuring stable operation.
● Couplers and Isolators: Combine pump and signal light; prevent destabilizing back
reflections.
Schematic Diagram
Working of Fiber Laser
● Pumping: Laser diode pumps light into the doped fiber core, exciting ions (e.g., Yb³⁺, Er³⁺).
● Absorption & Emission: Excited ions absorb pump light and emit photons during energy state
transitions.
● Stimulated Emission: Emitted photons stimulate further emission, amplifying the light within the
fiber.
● Resonant Cavity: Fiber Bragg gratings form a cavity, allowing specific wavelengths to build up and
amplify.
● Output: Amplified light exits through the output coupler FBG, producing a coherent laser beam at a
wavelength set by the FBGs.
Applications of LASER
Elementary knowledge of LiDAR
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that measures distances by illuminating a
target with laser light and analyzing the reflected light. Here’s a brief overview:
● Working Principle: LiDAR emits laser pulses towards a target. The time taken for the pulses to return to
the sensor is measured. Using the speed of light, the distance to the target is calculated.
● Components:
o Laser Source: Emits the laser pulses.
o Scanner and Optics: Directs the laser beam towards the target.
o Photodetector: Receives the reflected pulses.
o GPS and IMU: Provide precise location and orientation data for the LiDAR system.
● Applications:
o Topography and Mapping: Creating high-resolution maps and 3D models of terrain.
o Autonomous Vehicles: Navigation and obstacle detection.
o Forestry: Measuring tree heights and canopy density.
o Archaeology: Revealing hidden structures under vegetation.
Barcode reader
A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an optical device that can read printed barcodes and convert them into
digital data.
● Types:
o Pen-type Readers: A photodiode in the tip of a pen-like scanner moves across the barcode.
o Laser Scanners: Use a laser beam to scan the barcode.
o CCD Readers: Use an array of tiny light sensors to measure the intensity of light reflected from the
barcode.
o Camera-based Readers: Use a camera and image processing techniques to read the barcode.
● Working Principle:
o The scanner emits a light (LED or laser) onto the barcode.
o The light is reflected back to the scanner.
o The scanner's sensor detects the reflected light and converts it into an electrical signal.
o The signal is decoded into the barcode's data.
● Applications:
o Retail: Pricing and inventory management.
o Logistics: Tracking shipments and packages.
o Libraries: Managing book inventories.
o Healthcare: Tracking patient information and medication.
Application of Laser in Metal Work
● Laser Cutting:
o Process: A high-power laser beam is directed at the metal, melting and cutting it with precision.
o Advantages: High precision, ability to cut complex shapes, minimal material waste.
o Materials: Can cut various metals like steel, aluminum, and titanium.
● Laser Welding:
o Process: A laser beam is used to heat and melt metal edges, fusing them together.
o Advantages: Deep, narrow welds with minimal distortion, high-speed processing.
o Applications: Automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries.
● Laser Engraving and Marking:
o Process: A laser beam is used to remove material from the surface to create marks or engravings.
o Advantages: Permanent, high-precision markings, suitable for serial numbers, logos, and barcodes.
o Materials: Suitable for metals, plastics, ceramics, and more.
● Laser Cladding:
o Process: A laser is used to melt and fuse a material onto the surface of a metal to improve its
properties.
o Advantages: Enhanced surface properties, such as wear resistance and corrosion protection.
o Applications: Repairing worn-out parts, surface enhancement in manufacturing.
Thank You