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Gas laser
Gas Laser A gas laser is a type of laser in which the stimulated emission of radiation occurs within a gas due to the excitation of atoms or molecules. The...
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Gas Laser A gas laser is a type of laser in which the stimulated emission of radiation occurs within a gas due to the excitation of atoms or molecules. The...
Gas Laser
A gas laser is a type of laser in which the stimulated emission of radiation occurs within a gas due to the excitation of atoms or molecules. The gas is excited by an external energy source, typically a laser beam, which causes the atoms or molecules to emit photons with specific wavelengths of light. These emitted photons are then collected by a cavity mirror, which reflects them back and forth, stimulating the process to continue.
Key Features:
Stimulated Emission: The process involves the excitation of gas atoms or molecules, which leads to the emission of photons.
Cavity Resonance: The cavity mirrors, with one surface highly reflective and the other highly absorbent, create a resonant cavity where the stimulated emission occurs.
Population Inversion: The gas atoms or molecules are arranged in a way that allows the stimulated emission of photons to occur more efficiently.
Threshold Power: A minimum amount of power must be supplied to the gas before it can sustain lasing.
Applications: Gas lasers find numerous applications in various fields, including communication, manufacturing, and medical diagnostics.
Examples:
Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Oxide (Nd:YAG) Laser: A gas laser that uses Nd atoms in a YAG crystal.
Helium-Neon Laser: A gas laser that uses helium and neon atoms in a glass tube.
Summary:
A gas laser is a type of laser that relies on stimulated emission of radiation within a gas due to the excitation of atoms or molecules. The cavity mirrors of a gas laser reflect the stimulated photons back and forth, stimulating the process to continue. Gas lasers find diverse applications in communication, manufacturing, and medical diagnostics