Chapter 10: Problem 39

A friend tells you that physicists have just invented a new pulsed laser that is pumped with yellow light and produces laser light in the ultraviolet portion of the EM spectrum. Why might you be a little skeptical of this claim? Explain.

Short Answer

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Answer: It is unlikely for a laser to be pumped with yellow light and produce ultraviolet light as the output because a laser requires input energy that is higher than the output energy. Since ultraviolet light has more energy than yellow light, it is improbable that a laser would be able to use yellow light as the input and produce ultraviolet light as the output.

Step by step solution

Understand the EM spectrum and light energy

The EM spectrum is organized according to the energy of each type of electromagnetic wave. From lowest to highest energy, the types are radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. In the visible light portion of the spectrum, color order is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Higher frequency corresponds to higher energy, so ultraviolet light has more energy than visible light, and yellow light has more energy than red light but less energy than blue light.

Recall the energy input and output in a laser

A laser consists of a gain medium, which is pumped by an external energy source to produce coherent light. The input energy must be higher than the output energy for stimulated emission to occur and create laser light.

Compare the energy of yellow light and ultraviolet light

According to the EM spectrum, yellow light lies in the visible light range, while ultraviolet light has a higher energy level. The energy of these two types of light, thus, is different - ultraviolet light has more energy than yellow light.

Analyze the claim about the new laser

The claim states that this new laser uses yellow light to produce ultraviolet light. However, a laser requires input energy that is higher than the output energy. Since ultraviolet light has more energy than yellow light, it is unlikely that a laser would be able to use yellow light as the input and produce ultraviolet light as the output.

Conclusion

Based on the knowledge of the EM spectrum and the energy relationship in a laser, we can be skeptical of the claim about this new pulsed laser. It is improbable for a laser to be pumped with yellow light and produce ultraviolet light, because the input energy must be higher than the output energy for a laser to operate, and ultraviolet light has more energy than yellow light.

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A friend tells you that physicists have just invented a new pulsed laser that is pumped with yellow light and produces laser light in the ultraviolet portion of the EM spectrum. Why might you be a little skeptical of this claim? Explain.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understand the EM spectrum and light energy

Recall the energy input and output in a laser

Compare the energy of yellow light and ultraviolet light

Analyze the claim about the new laser

Conclusion

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