Lecture- Contents

1. Introduction to Laser
2. Quantum Process
3. Relationship between Einstein's
coefficients
4. Components of Laser

1
 LASER System

LASER stands for Light amplification by stimulated emission of

radiation. Laser is a device which emits a powerful, monochromatic
collimated beam of light. The emitted light waves are coherent in
nature.
Characteristics of Laser Light
1. Directionality

Ordinary light spreads in all directions and its angular spread is

1m/m. But it is found that laser is highly directional and is angular
spread is 1mm/m. For example, the laser beam can be focused to very
long distance with a few divergence or angular spread.
Divergence or angular spread is given by
Where d1 , d2 are any two distances for the laser source emitted and

r1, r2 are the radii of the beam spots at a distance d1, and d2
respectively as shown
2. Intensity:
Since an ordinary light spreads in all directions, the intensity
reaching the target is very less. But in the case of laser, due to high
directionality, the intensity of laser beam reaching the target is of
high intense beam. For example, 1 mill watt power of He-Ne laser
appears to be brighter than the sunlight.
3. Monochromatic:
Laser beam is highly monochromatic; the wavelength is
single, whereas in ordinary light like mercury vapour lamp, many
wavelengths of light are emitted.
4 Coherence:
It is an important characteristic of laser beam. In lasers the wave
trains of same frequency are in phase, the radiation given out is in
mutual agreement not only in phase but also in the direction of
emission and polarization. Thus it is a coherent beam. Due to high
coherence it results in an extremely high power.
Principle of Spontaneous and Stimulated emission – Einstein’s
Quantum theory of radiation (Quantum Process)
We know that, when light is absorbed by the atoms or molecules,
then it goes from the lower energy level (E1) to the higher energy

level (E2) and during the transition from higher energy level (E2) to

lower energy level (E1) the light is emitted from the atoms.
Let us consider an atom exposed to light photons of energy E2 -E1= hv ,
three distinct processes take place.
a. Absorption
b. Spontaneous emission
c. Stimulated Emission
Absorption:
An atom in the lower energy level or ground state energy level
E1 absorbs the incident photon radiation of energy hv and goes to the

higher energy level or excited level E2 as shown in figure.

This process is called absorption
If there are many numbers of atoms in the ground state then
each atom will absorb the energy from the incident photon and goes
to the excited state. then,
The rate of absorption (R12) is proportional to the following
factors.
According to Bohr’s law atomic system is characterized by discrete
energy level.
When atoms absorb or release energy it transit upward or downward.
Lower level E1 & Excited level E2

So, hν = E2 – E1

The rate of absorption depends on no. of atoms N1 present in E1 &

spectral energy density u(ν) of radiation
Therefore, R12 α N1 u(ν)

R12= B12N1 u(ν)

Where B12 is a constant (Einstein's absorption coefficient) which
gives the probability of absorption of absorption transition per unit
time.
Normally, the atoms in the excited state will not stay there for a long
period of time , rather it comes to ground state by emitting a photon of
energy E=hν Such an emission takes place by one of the following two
methods.
Spontaneous Emission

An atom in excited state

remains for 10-8 sec. It then,
of its own accord, jumps to
lower energy state emitting
a radiation. This process is
called spontaneous
emission of radiation.
 Such an emission is random and is independent of incident radiation.
If N1 and N2 are the numbers of atoms in the ground state (E1) and

excited state (E2) respectively

The probability of spontaneous emission E2 → E1 depend only on the

properties of states E1 and E2, and the number of the atoms in excited

states i.e., N2.

R21 (spont) N2

R21 (spont) = A21 N2

A2 1is called Einstein’s coefficient for spontaneous emission of radiation

Stimulated (Induced) Emission

The atom in the excited state can also return to the ground state by
external triggering or inducement of photon thereby emitting a photon
of energy equal to the energy of the incident photon, known as
stimulated emission. Thus results in two photons of same energy,
phase difference and of same directionality as shown.
The probability of stimulated emission depends on the energy density
of incident radiation, number of atoms in the excited state i.e., N2 as

well as on the properties of state E1 and E2.

R21(Stim) N2 u(υ)

R21(Stim) = B21 N2 u(υ)

Where B21 is a constant (Einstein coefficient for Stimulated

Emission) which gives the probability of stimulated emission
transitions per unit time.
Thus total probability of emission of radiation is

R21 = R21 (spont)+ R21(Stim)= A21 N2+ B21 N2 u(υ)

 Relation between Einstein’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ coefficients (Einstein’s theory)
Under thermal equilibrium The rate of absorption = The rate of emission

R12 = R21

N1 B12 u(v) =
N2 [A21 + B21 u(v)]
𝑢 ( 𝜈 ) [ 𝐵12 𝑁 1 − 𝐵21 𝑁 2 ] = 𝐴 21 𝑁 2

𝐴 21 𝑁 2
𝑢 (𝜈)=
[ 𝐵12 𝑁 1 − 𝐵21 𝑁 2 ]

𝐴 21 1
𝑢 (𝜈)= … … ..(1)
𝐵21
[ 𝐵12 𝑁 1
.
𝐵21 𝑁 2
−1
]
According to Boltzmann distribution law number of
atoms N1 and N2 in energy states E1 and E2 in thermal equilibrium at
temperature T are given by
− 𝐸1
𝑁1 𝑒 𝑘𝑇
= −𝐸
𝑁2 2

𝑒 𝑘𝑇

−( 𝐸 1− 𝐸 2)
𝑁1 𝑘𝑇
=𝑒
𝑁2
( 𝐸2 − 𝐸 1 )
𝑁1 𝑘𝑇
=𝑒
𝑁2
( ∵ 𝐸 2 − 𝐸 1=h 𝜈 )

h𝜈
𝑁1
∴ =𝑒 𝑘𝑇 … … ..(2)
𝑁2
 Substituting N1/N2 in Eq (1), we get
𝐴 21 1
𝑢 (𝜈)= … …..( 3)
𝐵21
[ ]
h𝜈
𝐵12 𝑘𝑇
.𝑒 −1
𝐵21
Comparing it with Plank’s Radiation law
3
8 𝜋 h 𝜈 1
𝑢 (𝜈)= … …..( 4 )
[𝑒 ]
3 h𝜈
𝑐 𝑘𝑇
−1
W
e get 𝐵12
1. = 1;B12 = B21, The probability of stimulated emission is
𝐵21
same as that of induced absorption. This means that if
these two processes will occur at equal rates, so that no
population inversion can be attained in a two-level
system.
 𝐴21 8 𝜋 h𝜈 3
(2) =
𝐵21 𝑐
3

The ratio of spontaneous emission and stimulated emission is

proportional to v3. This implies that the probability of spontaneous
emission dominates over induced emission more and more as the
energy difference between the two states increases.
Ratio of magnitudes of Stimulated to Spontaneous emission rates

From rate equations of spontaneous and stimulated emission, we have

𝑅21(𝑆𝑡 ) 𝐵21 𝑢(𝜈) 𝑁 2
=
𝑅21(𝑆𝑝 ) 𝐴21 𝑁 2

𝑅21 𝐵21 𝑢(𝜈)

= … … … .(1)
𝑅12 𝐴21
Rearranging equation (3) , we have
𝐵21 1
𝑢 ( 𝜈 )=
𝐴 21
[ ]
h𝜈
𝐵12 𝑘𝑇
.𝑒 −1
𝐵21
Since B12=B21, then we have
𝐵21 1
𝑢 ( 𝜈 )= … … ..(2)
𝐴 21
[𝑒 ]
h𝜈
𝑘𝑇
−1
Comparing equation 1 and 2, we have
𝐵21 1 𝑅 21( 𝑆𝑡)
𝑢 ( 𝜈 )= h 𝜈 =
𝐴 21 𝑘𝑇
𝑒 −1[ 𝑅 21( 𝑆𝑝)
]
Generally Spontaneous emission is more predominant in the optical
region (Ordinary light). To increase the number of coherent photons
stimulated emission should dominate over spontaneous emission. To achieve
this, an artificial condition called Population Inversion is necessary.
Population Inversion:
Population Inversion creates a situation in which the number of atoms
in higher energy state is more than that in the lower energy state.

Usually at thermal equilibrium, the number of atoms N2 i.e., the

population of atoms at higher energy state is much lesser than the
population of the atoms at lower energy state N1 that is N1 > N2 .
 The Phenomenon of making N2 > N1 is known as Population
Inversion.

Conditions of Population inversion.

 There must be at least two energy levels E2 > E1.

 There must be a source to supply the energy to the medium.
 The atoms must be continuously raised to the excited state.