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Chapter 10: Problem 35

What is the origin of the word laser?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The word "laser" originates from an acronym, which stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation." The acronym summarizes the technological process used by lasers to generate coherent and focused light beams.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the word "Laser" as an Acronym

The word "laser" is an acronym. The letters in the word "laser" stand for the words in the phrase "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation."
02

Breaking down the Acronym

Let's break down the acronym into its individual components: L - Light A - Amplification S - Stimulated E - Emission R - Radiation
03

Explaining the Function of a Laser

A laser is a device that uses the process of stimulated emission to amplify light leading to the generation of coherent and focused light beams. The origin of the word "laser" comes from summarizing this process in an easy-to-remember acronym.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

If sunlight can be conceived of as a beam of photons, each of which carries a certain amount of energy and momentum, why don't we experience (or feel) any recoil as these particles collide with our bodies when, say, we're at the beach?

What is the de Broglie wavelength? What happens to the de Broglie wavelength of an electron when its speed is increased?

If an astronomer examines the emission spectrum from luminous hydrogen gas that is moving away from the Earth at a high speed and compares it to a spectrum of hydrogen seen in a laboratory on Earth, what would be different about the frequencies of spectral lines from the two sources?

Define what is meant by the term population inversion. Why must this condition be achieved before a system can successfully function as a laser?

Distinguish between a metastable state and a normally allowed energy state within an atom. Discuss the role of metastable states in the operation of laser systems.
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