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Chapter 21: Problem 26

In your own words, describe how a ruby laser operates.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The essential components of a ruby laser are the ruby rod, flashlamp, and mirrors. The steps in its operation include absorption, spontaneous emission, stimulated emission, and amplification. This process results in an intense, coherent, and monochromatic laser beam.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Ruby Laser

A ruby laser is a type of solid-state laser that uses a synthetic ruby crystal as the gain medium. It was the first successful laser developed in 1960 by Theodore H. Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories.
02

Essential Components

The main components of a ruby laser are: 1. Ruby Rod: It is a synthetic ruby crystal with a cylindrical shape. The ruby rod is made of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and is doped with chromium ions (Cr^3+) which act as the active laser ions. 2. Flashlamp: The flashlamp is an external light source that provides the energy required to "pump" the ruby rod and create a population inversion, which is necessary for laser action. 3. Mirrors: There are two mirrors, one at each end of the ruby rod, which form a resonant cavity. One mirror is highly reflective (almost 100%), whereas the other is partially transmissive (about 99% reflective) to allow emitted laser light to exit the cavity.
03

Mechanism of Ruby Laser Operations

The process of ruby laser operation includes several steps, such as absorption, spontaneous emission, stimulated emission, and amplification.
04

Absorption

When the flashlamp emits light, the chromium ions present in the ruby rod absorb the energy. This energy absorption promotes the chromium ions from their ground state to higher energy levels, also known as excited states.
05

Spontaneous Emission

Some of the excited chromium ions return to the lower energy level by spontaneously emitting energy as light or heat. However, many of the ions remain in the excited state long enough for the laser process to occur.
06

Stimulated Emission

As the remaining excited chromium ions release light, this emitted light interacts with other excited chromium ions leading to a process called stimulated emission. The emitted photons have the same wavelength, phase, and direction as the initial emitted light, causing amplification of the light.
07

Amplification and Laser Emission

The mirrors forming the resonant cavity reflect and amplify the light emitted by stimulated emission. The light bounces back and forth inside the cavity, stimulating additional emissions and thus causing more amplification. Eventually, the intensity of light reaches a critical point, and some of the light escapes from the partially transmissive mirror as an intense, coherent, and monochromatic laser beam.

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