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Laser Principles and Design Overview

The document provides an overview of lasers, detailing their working principle as Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, and their essential characteristics such as monochromaticity, coherence, and directionality. It discusses key concepts including energy levels, population inversion, and the stimulated emission process, as well as the basic components and design considerations of lasers. Additionally, it outlines various types of lasers and their applications in fields like medicine, industry, and communication.

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4 views11 pages

Laser Principles and Design Overview

The document provides an overview of lasers, detailing their working principle as Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, and their essential characteristics such as monochromaticity, coherence, and directionality. It discusses key concepts including energy levels, population inversion, and the stimulated emission process, as well as the basic components and design considerations of lasers. Additionally, it outlines various types of lasers and their applications in fields like medicine, industry, and communication.

Uploaded by

bakasus861550
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Working Principle and Design of Lasers

PHYS 108 Engineering Physics

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 1 / 11


Introduction to Lasers

LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission


of Radiation.
Produces highly monochromatic, coherent, and
directional light.
Applications: Medicine, Industry, Communication,
Research.

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 2 / 11


Essential Concepts of Laser Physics
Energy Levels: Atoms have discrete energy states.
Absorption: Atom absorbs photon and moves to
higher energy level.
Spontaneous Emission: Atom returns to lower
level emitting a photon randomly.
Stimulated Emission: Incoming photon triggers
identical photon emission.

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 3 / 11


Population Inversion

Key requirement: More atoms in excited state than


ground state.
Achieved using a pumping mechanism: optical,
electrical, or chemical.
Enables net photon amplification.

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 4 / 11


Stimulated Emission Process
Incoming photon interacts with excited atom.
Atom drops to lower level releasing a photon.
Emitted photon is:
same frequency
same direction
same phase
identical polarization

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 5 / 11


Basic Components of a Laser
Active Medium: Provides amplification.
Pumping Source: Creates population inversion.
Optical Resonator: Usually two mirrors forming a
cavity.

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 6 / 11


Laser Design Considerations
Choice of active medium: gas, solid-state, liquid,
semiconductor.
Pumping efficiency and required energy.
Resonator geometry: plane, confocal, hemispherical.
Output coupling: percentage of light allowed to
escape.

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 7 / 11


Types of Lasers

Gas Lasers (He-Ne, CO2 )


Solid-State Lasers (Nd:YAG)
Semiconductor Lasers (Laser Diodes)
Dye Lasers
Fiber Lasers

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Characteristics of Laser Beam

Monochromaticity
Coherence
Directionality
High Intensity

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 9 / 11


Applications of Lasers

Optical communication
Holography
Material processing (cutting, welding)
Medical surgeries
Remote sensing

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Thank You

Questions?

Dr G. Kanimozhi Working Principle and Design of Lasers 11 / 11

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